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
faith? Among men have we not some need of faith? The world is
growing old and sick at heart. All the remedies that have been tried
for the evils of society, have been tried in vain. Idol after idol
has been set up, has been rocked on its basis, and shivered. The
gods of mankind have been taken away, and the cry of despondency has
been raised, We have no humanity. Is there any evidence that there
shall be a perfection of humanity? Is it from faith in men of
science? Did science ever comfort the afflicted, or allay human
sorrows? Faith in civilisation? Can it remedy the evils that are
conquering society? Civilisation now means the gathering of men in
great masses, to live the luxurious, the voluptuous life of great
towns; it means the weary, toilful, haggard life of others in these
same towns; it means the rich growing richer, and the poor growing
poorer every day. Civilisation throws its dark shadows in its track.
Civilisation and science, have they arrested war, or softened the
heart of humanity, or prevented strife between nations?
Civilisation, science and art have invented mitrailleuses, and
invented destructive methods of wholesale murder. Where will you
find in all these things a substitute for faith? Some speak of the
millennium, and of the natural state of man being remedied in this
world. We believe in the final perfection of man, but not in this
world. We believe in the reign of righteousness, but it is in the
eternal world. It is in that faith that we gain courage to look on
the scenes and sorrows that afflict humanity. It is in the strength
of that faith that we look down on the graves of the departed, and
believe all is not dust of the earth; but we take up the song of
Christian triumph over death, and thank God for the message “Blessed
are they that have not seen and yet have believed.”
THIRD REPLY
OF
MR. C. BRADLAUGH.
CHRISTIANITY AND FAITH.
ON Wednesday evening, April 5th, Mr. Bradlaugh delivered his third
lecture on “Christianity and Faith,” before an audience which crowded
every corner of the Free Library, Norwich. He said: In delivering the
last of this course of lectures, permit me to commence by expressing my
regret, that those who differ from me consider it necessary to show their
disagreement in the manner in which it was expressed last night, on my
leaving this room. If it had been the conduct of some ignorant young
persons only, I should not have deemed it right to waste one moment in
bringing the matter before you, but there were full-grown and decently
dressed persons, who were distributing religious tracts, who encouraged
others in following me, and using foul language. I could not help
feeling how strong was the cause which I advocate, and how wretchedly
weak the cause of my opponents, when such weapons were resorted to in
lieu of fair reply.
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