THE BIBLE AND REVS. CROKE, BULLER AND BACKHOUSE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 147, 29 March 1872, Page 3

THE BIBLE AND REVS. CROKE, BULLER AND BACKHOUSE.

To the Editor of tlic THAMES GUARDIAN.

Slit, —It would appear from what has recently been said and written by these champions of supernaturalisrn and expounders of a theology (the mysteries of which cannot be surpassed by the pro-

found inventions of the Chaldeans or Priests of the Juggernaut), that we are about to have a revival of sectarian hostility, which has been the fruitful cause of most of the corruptions, bitteranimosities, and fatal discords, that have cursed the race since the mythical pair ate apples in the Fabled Eden. Each of these clerical teachers, of a soul cramping and antagonistic theology, would arbitrarily determine what particular compilation of ancient records, we should receive as the “ Word of God,” and at the same time denounce favourite creeds and dogmas of each other in language oftener heard coming from a fish-stall than a pulpit. It must be exceedingly gratifying to the outside, unregenerahd, and unconverted sinner, to bear these great apostles of opposing creeds, and church theories of salvation, so disagree, and listen to their pulpit calumnisrs - and rancorous expressions of hostility towards each other, so that if either one of their chimerical doctrines be true, the common sinner will not escape the inlliction of priests or persons in that illuminated abode, to which lie is sent, by them, so often on earth.

The absurd dogma of the Romish Church, of what Mr Bailor calls “ a weak, frail mortal,” whoso teachings he calls “ the drivclings of a certain old gentleman at Rome,” is only equalled by his own (Mr Buller’s) faith in the infallibility of a pastoral and paper book he calls the Bible or the “ Word of God,” and in the favourite tenets of his church creed of “Faith,” “Atonement,” “Original Sin,” “Free Agency,” and other ridiculous and imaginative doctrines acknowledging no necessary connection with, or dependence upon, either reason or common sense.

From the earliest history of the human race these incomprehensible and chinieri-

cal theories have taken no cognizance of the social necessities and natural wants of mankind, hut have divided the world into petty sects* and spread hostility and discord among every people where they have been reached and upheld by those who gain living by their religion. Each one of these religious teachers has urged upon their ignorant and superstitious followers that their own was the only true religion, the pernicious influence of which was so uninistakeably manifested at the Mechanics’ Institute the other night by those incessant demonstrations of sectarian intolerance and party rancour made by a few ignorant bigots on that occasion.

Buch teaching deforms and enslaves, but does not reform and emancipate, the human mind from its degrading influences. We arc told that it is impossible to he heaven-worthy and good independent of the Bible and the 'Church. We arc taught to believe in a God of Love, who at the same time encourages hate ; and in a God of Heaven, who permits the endless duration of a Hell ! Thus the children and youth of this Colony are early contaminated by a wrong system of instruction, which the Church would wish to seo established and consolidated.

But when the people shall emerge from ignorance, and throw olf for ever the trammels of sectarian prejudice, standing on the light of reason, and all the marvellous revealments of Nature’s divine law, then they will better understand the principles of universal happiness and public and individual felicity. With the spirit of Burns they may exclaim : “ Take tent of tiulh, and heed it well, The man that sins makes his own licll ; There is no worse I)ca'l than hiniscl, For Cod is strongest ; And when pure human hearts rebel, Jle hands out longest. The man who does the best he can, Need never fear tlie Church’s ban, Or Hell's damnation ; For God will need no special plan For his salvation. S. R. C. Imperial Hotel, Tararu, March 25, 1872.