SCRIPTURE CONTROVERSY.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3730, 8 December 1880, Page 2

SCRIPTURE CONTROVERSY.

(To the Editor of the EyiNlKa Sta*.) '' ; Sib,—lgnorance and oiutom aw two powerful obstructions to the acquisition of . that knowledge which it is so important all men should possess, and the great advantages of which so few enjoy. The former originates the erroneous ■ and ,'; superstitious ideas of divinity, soul,:spiriti i heaven, hell, with other components ••jf»t theology, and spreads them abroad, filling the earth with the most foolish and contradictory opinions. The latter indis< poses men to the trouble,of thinking for themselves, inclining them rather to rest -, satisfied with the prejudices of childhood, and learing to the sinister purposed tho most essential cireumstaiiees. Thetfi/jnf their turn,, maintain "their baneficflTK interests with-deceit, and uphold with; \ > bigotry received opinions. False ideas of l divinity being established, obedience, to, s i and belief in them, is arbitrarily demanded, > and the right of the people to reason * and examine for themselves is peremptorily. T denied. Philosophy and true learning \ are persecuted .and,, condemnedto fru*»,"; ,trate the exposure of the religious fraud*' '-]■ into which the. world hu been plunged.! *' So powerful, have beopme, th#. advocates ■ and supporters of the most extreme . religious impositions that contention with - them involved pains, penalties, torture and dea^h. Learning and science beiig ' '- inimical to deception wei* discouraged. Thus truth is ever kept in abeyance' ■' 1 by the grovelling and sinister purposed. When judiciously exercised free and unrestricted reason will discover truth, v " and therpeople will, ero long, arise from the abyss of ignorance, and free them;-* selres from their designing and unworthy leaden: to prevent this, and to frustrate the good effects which' truth, would „■, infallibly produce, they maintain that, . abstractly, it is incapable of creating nr- •• tuous sentiments. They dread, however/its being spoken and abrogating eommbn, sense, fall into numerous errors and contradictions. Season is the only prinoiple which men ought to follow, and the paid ■ clergy of every country should truthfully

instruct the people, rectify false reasoning, and dissipate prejudice; their eyes being opened the people would be convinced that the Deity is not generally what is supposed. No lofty speculations or deep penetration into the secrets or mysteries of Nature are needed for this purpose. Common Sense will show that Deity is neither choleric nor jealous, that most of his attributes are false, and that neither ancient prophets or modern theologians give any real information as to his nature or essence. The assumed instructors of mankind on these subjects have been teachers neither better or more able than themselves. Apostles, prophets and priests will in our further enquiry be found as fallible and as false as their brethren.—l am, &c., Sceptic.

Vmn, Svv. Viii*,.' Stnr. ■^«-f,:i. IS:'t£ i'i£rS. 6-Mouday .. j 9.48 10.10 4.39 17. 5 7-Tuesday ... 10.36 11." 0 4.39 |7. 6 8-Wednosday... 11.29 11.55 4.39 17.7 ? -Tluiraday ... ' O.IS 0.22 4.39 |7. 8 b-Friday ... } 0.53 1.24 4.39 !7. 8 l-Stttunluy ... j 2. 1\ 2.38 4.40 7. 9 i2-Snnday ... j 3.12 8.45 4.40 |7. 9 Moon's First Quarter—9tb, 6.17 a.m.