The Spread of Sospticism.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3576, 12 June 1880, Page 1

The Spread of Sospticism.

No. I.

Scepticism is gaining ground rapidly at the present time, and indeed, hai been doing|so for the last few years, bat nevertheless the dignitaries of the rarioni churches hare not waxed feeble in the attempt to keep their . congregations together, and stem the current of scepticiam into which the minds of many hare of late been drifting. This hai in many cases been accomplished, bat it is impossible to stop the onward march of thought, whether on religions or social topics, and the attempt to do so will ' result in bringing matters religious to a crisis. Many people who hold diverse opinions to those generally professed, bury their ideas in their ewn bosoms, and never permit them to see light—being aware, of the immensity' of the' subject and the difficulty of coming to any definite conclusion on points'in dispute. Indeed, there are a great number of these embryo philosophers, .who although professing or following orthodox faith, hold altogether -heterodox ideas, and'the Eublic are deceived as to their real numers. Others, being more bold, do not hesitate to parade their scepticism before the world, from the rostrums of lecture halls, or in other places fitted, for the discussion of the subject.. Although scepticism has never been spoil en of to any great extent in churches, still many of the ecclesiastics of the day are going with the tide, and are in se.veral eases' introducing a more liberal iv/iew of orthodox theology. This has been wit* nessed in the Church of Englanfyjrhen the Low have advanced to the Broad and the Broad to the High. More music hai , been allowed to become part of the , Church service, and in various other ways the articles of the Church have become modified and modernised. Clergymen do , not now preach so dogmatically, out take , into consideration the possibility of running like Don Quixote against the theological windmills of their congregations, and are in many cases endeavoring to educate the minds of their hearers np to a partial credence in scepticism, by putting the two sides of the question before them, and by pointing out. the points on which orthodoxy will admit of ""■ careful consideration and reflection. Thus the congregations of the present day are led to become sceptics. This may appear a strong assertion 1, but we will just take a peep at the meaning and derivation of the word " scepticism,' j»nd see if the assertion niade ; » n6t borne out by fact. The word "scepticism" ia derived from the Greek word tkeptomai,which means "I ponder over," or'"I, consider" and strictly denotes tbtfi ' condition in which-the mind ia.hefereif '/ has arrived at definite and conclusive opinions—when it is still uncertain, and m the act''of reflecting, examining, or pondering over subjects of thought. Scepticißin-is_thexe£Qra-il»^pi!Oßile 0f.... dogmatism. The common jpMßrtrrg " disbelief," is a partly erroneous one; aritt ■ if at all correct, can only be applied to - the word after every other meaning con* sistcnt with its derivation has been used. Centuries back, when New Zealand lay perdu, when Great. Britain was only peopled by painted and barbarous races, and long before Christianity,. disturbed the simple religion of the hardy islanders with her mythology, when Rome and Greece were tho rulers of the known world, the term was used as applicable to men of thought—men who pondered over the graver subjects which some time or other-engross the, thoughts of man during life.. It is only within tho last few hundred years that the word has been used in tho erroneous sense it is. The large mass of mankiud are subject to , a peculiarity which is supposed to be the sole property of the fair sex—that of rushing to conclusions. The power, of a superior mind over an inferior one 'is always strikingly apparent. It is not, therefore, difficult that men who are not well up in a subject, or are not particularly interested therein, should be easily prevailed on by the various members of the church to adopt, orthodox views. They hear one side of the question, and with* out waiting for the contra opinion, rush to the conclusion that the religion they have embraced is the true one. But after a while they hear ideas in favour of heterodox views and become in the strict

tense of the word " sceptics, 1' because they consider the question from both sides. The arguments in favor of heterodox theology put forward by the discerning pnd dispassionate few are -so much at variance with those entertaining orthodox ideas, that the latter are for the time being- thunder-struck, and in their ignorance apply the word " sceptic " to those who happen to disagree with them. "Whereas they in reality, but uuwittingly call their dissentients with the name which applies to themselves. Through this misuse of the word, its meaning has become distorted, and from meaning a j " thinker " it hus been changed to a " dis- j believer," two widely dfferenfc words; and j thus also is scepticism considered tanta- ; mount to infidelity, and infidelity with us j means a disbelief in the generally pro- | fessed orthodoxy of the present epoch. In the usage of the word in the following its meaning is in accordance with the prerailing understanding. Scepticism has existed for a long period. In the fourth century before the Christian era, Pyrrhon founded that celebrated, school of Greek sceptics, which bears his name. He was not an out • and - out disbeliever in divine things; but he was altogether opposed to the mythological ideas held by the generation in which he lived. Since his time scepticism has greatly increased, and although it has often suffered relapses, it has found its way to the public mind, and has told them that they have minds to think with as well as those who are appointed to teach them the way to secure eternal life. A short time ago men dared not to offer the slightest objections to .the religion prevailing^ in Great Britain, and a few centuries back a man who did so would have beenoin danger of losing his head. In fact, at that time the ecclesiastics had everything their own way, and, fearful of losing their prestige, they had to "prohibit the expression of hostile views with' threats and imprisonment. This, however, could not 5 last, and freedom of thought and diction being demanded was obtained, and that freedom has resulted in a thorough dissection of orthodoxy, which has ended in some of the equivocal characteristics aid false-shams of the various .religions being exposed. Books are now published on scepticism, and every person is allowed the perfectly free use of that reason given by the Creator, but formerly cramped in the exercise of its functions by men who were ostensibly to teach the people to walk in the right way, but who liefer did so themselves, and were not capable of filling the positions they held. This, the choicest gift of the Almighty to man was erroneously called human reasoti, as if man could possibly give anything to himself. This supremacy is being striven for now by the church, but is fast becoming less. The church (including all nationalities giving credence to the tenets of the Christian faith) is making efforts to crush scepticism, but is repulsed in every instance. As knowledge increases among mankind, so will a desire to inquire into theology true and false, and so long will scepticism continue to make headway. Hundreds of men who belong to the various places of worship are sceptics, and have in many Instances doubted the religion preached by their pastors—whose sermons are often no compliment to their education, and frequently contemptible for the bigotry and selfishness expressed in them. They profess the belief they preach, but if they believe it is a question. Scepticism is making rapid progress, In America orthodoxy is at a discount. In Great Britain men do not now swallow the mythical assertions of their pastors, but take their utterances cum grano s.alis. In France many of the details of the Christian faith are generally disbelieved. In New Zealand scepticism is growing steadily, and will some time become of such strength that our ecclesiastical worthies will find it difficult to cope with. In effect, wherever science and philosophy have penetrated, orthodoxy has suffered. The cause of this spread will form the j -subject of an article in a future issue. Piato Junior.