MODERN UNBELIEF

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 449, 3 September 1928, Page 14

MODERN UNBELIEF

ANSWER TO DOUBTERS EXISTENCE OF GOD Unbelief and some of its origins formed the subject of an address at the Church of Christ, Ponsonby Road, where Mr. H. R. Urquhart, M.A., continued his sermon on “Doubting the Existence of God.” Mr. Urquhart said that • in his previous address he had only been able to touch upon two fairly common causes of unbelief in modern times. First, the Bible itself, with all its apparent inconsistencies with its frequently weird and painfully inadequate estimates of the nature of God, previous to the time when that God was revealed more fully to us in Jesus Christ, constituted a stumbling block to many an honest man and woman. But if we approached the Bible, realising that in its pages we ha-d not a constant picture of the unchanging God of the Universe, as He was, is and always will be; but a history of man’s changing conception of that God, as He revealed Himself more and more fully to the sons of men, as they became capable of understanding, until we reach that final and full revelation of Him in Christ Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life. With this conception of God very many of our doubts would be cleared away. Then the speaker referred to the havoc, the late war, with all its tragedies, had created in the minds of men. That long, hideous drama of 1914-18 led many to deny the existence of a merciful God. But, he said, if man is to retain his free will, and to develop character individually and nationally, he must be left free to hate, to fear, to destroy, find to make war. as well as to love, to trust, to construct and to make peace. These two are as inseperable as the two sides of the same piece of paper, and yet the choice lies with man himself, and on the nature of that choice depends in a large measure the happiness and welfare of the race. There are also other causes which raise doubts in the minds of men as to the existence of God. Why does a God of Love allow the child to be burned to death, while the parents, frantic with grief, are unable’ to render any assistance; the bursting of a dam, whose pent-up waters, released from the leash which had hitherto held them, rush with torrential force down the mountain side, and carry death and destruction to the valleys below. A God of love could have averted these tragedies, the doubters say; but again is overlooked the fact that man himself is probably responsible because he is a free-will agent. “Yet,” said the speaker, “ I can weep with that mother who stood helplessly by while her little one was burned to death; I can sympathise with those who have been bereaved, because of some awful tragedy, and if in the anguish of their souls they cry aloud and say, ‘There is no God/ I would not be the one to blame them.” Against these we have on record many examples of belief in God in the face of awful tragedy. On June 10, 1886, Mount Tarawera broke forth into eruption and overwhelmed the little villages of Wairoa. When the sky was darkened and the earth rocked beneath the feet, a little band of men and women sheltering iii a room of the little hotel, not knowing whether the end for them had come or not, Jtnelt calmly down, while an English tourist led in prayer. When the Titanic careering toward America on her maiden trip, rushed on to an iceberg, the band marshalled on her decks for the last time and played that well-known hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” It is this sublime faith, beyond all, beyond the tumult, beyond the problems which perplex and defy the baffled mind of man, that there is the directing and overseeing mind of God who understands in whole, what man only understands in part. And it is because of this triumphant and all-conquering faith that men of the keenest intellect have been willing to spend and be spent in the service of a loving Heavenly Father. VISIT FROM LEADER DR. BURNHAM IN N.Z. Arriving in Auckland to-day,. Hr. F. W. Burnham, a leader of the Church of Christ, in America, will spend a fortnight in New Zealand before going on to the Federal Conference of the Associated Churches of Christ, which i being held in Adelaide next month. Dr. Burnham is pres-ident of the United Christian Missionary Society of the Disciples of Christ, the largest organisation of its kind in the world. He is also a director of the World Alliance for International Friendship Through the Churches. He is associated, too, with the Boy Scout movement, being on the American National Council. SPIRIT OF MAN AIMING FOR PERFECTION CHRISTIAN SCIENCE LESSONSERMON The subject of the lesson-sermon at the Christian Science Church yesterday was “Man,” the golden text being taken from Job. 32:8, “There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.” Citations comprising the lessonsermon included the following passage from the Bible: “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is i part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians, 13:10-12. Also included in the sermon r was the following passage from the Christian Science textbook: “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” by Mary Baker Eddy: “The divine demand, ‘Be ye therefore is scientific, and the human footsteps leading* to perfection are indispensable. Individuals are consistent who, watching and praying, can ‘run, and not be weary; . . . walk, and not faint/ who gain good rapidly and hold their position, or attain. slowly and yield not to discouragement. God requires perfection, but not until the battle between spirit and flesh is fought and .the victory won.” (p. 253). ZION’S SPIRIT JEWISH CONSCIOUSNESS STRENGTHENED PROGRESS IN PALESTINE “The Zionist spirit is undoubtedly extending among the Jewish community. It is .a splendid, unifying influence, and helps to strengthen our Jewish consciousness,” said the Rev. S. A. Goldstein, president of the Auckland Zionist Society, at the 24th annual meeting yesterday afternoon. Mr. Goldstein pointed out the stim-

ulus given to the movement by the broadening *of its platform, and the inclusion among its followers of such men as Lord Melchett (Sir Alfred Mond), and Lord Reading. With the constitution of the Jewish agency in the terms of the Palestine Mandate, the movement would operate at its full strength. Not many years ago Palestine was a land of ruins, a country of dreams and shadows. People now emigrated to Palestine to await new life, and to make it worth living in. Under the British mandate there was an atmosphere of freedom. The speaker read an inspiring appeal made by Leiutenant-General Sir John Monash, honorary president of the Australian Zionist Federation, who had urged his hearers, both as Jews and as British citizens, to associate themselves with the movement. He also quoted the contents of a congratulatory letter sent to the Zionist organisation by Sir James Parr after his visit to Palestine, paying a glowing tribute to the work accomplished.