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then a line of thought which merits the wholesale condemnations and
anathemas hurled at it by those who profess to speak in the name of
religion？ At the same time； though we bring support to the New Testament；
it would； indeed； be a misconception if these； or any such remarks； were
quoted as sustaining its literal accuracyan idea from which so much
harm has come in the past。 It would； indeed； be a good； though an
unattainable thing； that a really honest and open… minded attempt should
be made to weed out from that record the obvious forgeries and
interpolations which disfigure it； and lessen the value of those parts which
are really above suspicion。
Is it necessary； for example； to be told； as an inspired fact from Christ's
own lips； that Zacharias； the son of Barachias；＇7＇ was struck dead within
the precincts of the Temple in the time of Christ； when； by a curious
chance； Josephus has independently narrated the incident as having
occurred during the siege of Jerusalem； thirty…seven years later？ This
makes it very clear that this particular Gospel； in its present form； was
written after that event； and that the writer fitted into it at least one other
incident which had struck his imagination。 Unfortunately； a revision by
general agreement would be the greatest of all miracles； for two of the
very first texts to go would be those which refer to the 〃Church；〃 an
institution and an idea utterly unfamiliar in the days of Christ。 Since the
object of the insertion of these texts is perfectly clear； there can be no
doubt that they are forgeries； but as the whole system of the Papacy rests
upon one of them； they are likely to survive for a long time to come。 The
text alluded to is made further impossible because it is based upon the
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supposition that Christ and His fishermen conversed together in Latin or
Greek； even to the extent of making puns in that language。 Surely the want
of moral courage and intellectual honesty among Christians will seem as
strange to our descendants as it appears marvellous to us that the great
thinkers of old could have believed； or at least have pretended to believe；
in the fighting sexual deities of Mount Olympus。
＇7＇ The References are to Matthew； xxiii 35； and to Josephus； Wars of
the Jews； Book IV； Chapter 5。
Revision is； indeed； needed； and as I have already pleaded； a change
of emphasis is also needed； in order to get the grand Christian conception
back into the current of reason and progress。 The orthodox who； whether
from humble faith or some other cause； do not look deeply into such
matters； can hardly conceive the stumbling…blocks which are littered about
before the feet of their more critical brethren。 What is easy； for faith is
impossible for reflection。 Such expressions as 〃Saved by the blood of the
Lamb〃 or 〃Baptised by His precious blood〃 fill their souls with a gentle
and sweet emotion； while upon a more thoughtful mind they have a very
different effect。 Apart from the apparent injustice of vicarious atonement；
the student is well aware that the whole of this sanguinary metaphor is
drawn really from the Pagan rites of Mithra； where the neophyte was
actually placed under a bull at the ceremony of the TAUROBOLIUM； and
was drenched； through a grating； with the blood of the slaughtered animal。
Such reminiscences of the more brutal side of Paganism are not helpful to
the thoughtful and sensitive modern mind。 But what is always fresh and
always useful and always beautiful； is the memory of the sweet Spirit who
wandered on the hillsides of Galilee； who gathered the children around
him； who met his friends in innocent good…fellowship； who shrank from
forms and ceremonies； craving always for the inner meaning； who forgave
the sinner； who championed the poor； and who in every decision threw his
weight upon the side of charity and breadth of view。 When to this
character you add those wondrous psychic powers already analysed； you
do； indeed； find a supreme character in the world's history who obviously
stands nearer to the Highest than any other。 When one compares the
general effect of His teaching with that of the more rigid churches； one
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marvels how in their dogmatism； their insistence upon forms； their
exclusiveness； their pomp and their intolerance； they could have got so far
away from the example of their Master； so that as one looks upon Him and
them； one feels that there is absolute deep antagonism and that one cannot
speak of the Church and Christ； but only of the Church or Christ。 And yet
every Church produces beautiful souls； though it may be debated whether
〃produces〃 or 〃contains〃 is the truthful word。 We have but to fall back
upon our own personal experience if we have lived long and mixed much
with our fellow… men。 I have myself lived during the seven most
impressionable years of my life among Jesuits； the most maligned of all
ecclesiastical orders； and I have found them honourable and good men； in
all ways estimable outside the narrowness which limits the world to
Mother Church。 They were athletes； scholars； and gentlemen； nor can I
ever remember any examples of that casuistry with which they are
reproached。 Some of my best friends have been among the parochial
clergy of the Church of England； men of sweet and saintly character；
whose pecuniary straits were often a scandal and a reproach to the half…
hearted folk who accepted their spiritual guidance。 I have known； also；
splendid men among the Nonconformist clergy； who have often been the
champions of liberty； though their views upon that subject have sometimes
seemed to contract when one ventured upon their own domain of thought。
Each creed has brought out men who were an honour to the human race；
and Manning or Shrewsbury； Gordon or Dolling； Booth or Stopford
Brooke； are all equally admirable； however diverse the roots from which
they grow。 Among the great mass of the people； too； there are very many
thousands of beautiful souls who have been brought up on the old…
fashioned lines； and who never heard of spiritual communion or any other
of those matters which have been discussed in these essays； and yet have
reached a condition of pure spirituality such as all of us may envy。 Who
does not know the maiden aunt； the widowed mother； the mellowed
elderly man； who live upon the hilltops of unselfishness； shedding kindly
thoughts and deeds around them； but with their simple faith deeply； rooted
in anything or everything which has come to them in a hereditary fashion
with the sanction of some particular authority？ I had an aunt who was such
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an one； and can see her now； worn with austerity and charity； a small；
humble figure； creeping to church at all hours from a house which was to
her but a waiting…room between services； while she looked at me with sad；
wondering； grey eyes。 Such people have often reached by instinct； and in
spite of dogma； heights； to which no system of philosophy can ever raise
us。 But making full allowance for the high products of every creed； which
may be only； a proof of the innate goodness of civilised humanity； it is still
beyond all doubt that Christianity has broken down； and that this
breakdown has been brought home to everyone by the terrible catastrophe
which has befallen the world。 Can the most optimistic apologist contend
that this is a satisfactory； outcome from a religion which has had the
unopposed run of Europe for so many centuries？ Which has come out of it
worst； the Lutheran Prussian； the Catholic Bavarian； or the peoples who
have been nurt