Christianity in relation to Freethought, Scepticism, and Faith: Three discourses by the Bishop of Peterborough with special replies by Mr. C. BradlaughBradlaugh, Charles
Religion
Christianity in relation to Freethought, Scepticism, and Faith: Three discourses by the Bishop of Peterborough with special replies by Mr. C. Bradlaugh
And now I have clearly explained the difference between Christianity
and Scepticism. Let us briefly sum up again and show the points of
collision between Scepticism and Christianity. We saw last night
that the question between Christianity and Freethought was a dispute
as to the nature of liberty, so the question between Christianity and
Scepticism is a dispute as to the nature of certainty. Christianity
offers and gives certainty in the end; Scepticism demands certainty.
But the certainty of Christianity is partly the certainty of reason
and partly of faith and of experience. The certainty demanded by
Scepticism is the certainty of science only. The most extreme of
unbelievers will admit that there is something to be said for
Christianity; and that it is not unworthy of a hearing as regards its
evidences. The men who have believed in Christianity for the last
1800 years, have not been the greatest fools in the world. Liebnitz
and Butler were not drivellers, and not those only, but hundreds and
thousands of the greatest intellects that humanity has produced.
They were not such utter fools that any man is entitled to dismiss
Christianity with a wave of his hand. On the other hand, every
reasonable Christian will admit that there is something fair and
reasonable in some of the objections to Christianity. But the
Christian says to the sceptic, It is unreasonable in you to ask that
every difficulty should be got rid of and every question answered
before you believe in Christianity. The sceptic replies, It is
unreasonable in you to ask me to believe in Christianity till you
have removed every doubt. I will ask you which is the reasonable
demand—the demand of the Christian for faith upon probable evidence,
or the demand of the sceptic for assent only upon scientific
demonstration?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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