Our Intellectual Attitude in an Age of Criticism

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913. Excerpt: ... WHAT THE MODERN CHRISTIAN BELIEVES THE desire of the mind for constructive thinking is natural and commendable. It seems not only perfectly logical but wise to go forward now to the briefest sort of a summary of what the modern Christian believes. Having determined that we shall secure our intellectual independence by a tireless, insistent search after truth, and having endeavored to point out the sources of Christian truth, the next step seems to require us to ask what the modern man has found who has gone to these sources. Strictly speaking, it is the task of every man to formulate his beliefs for himself. But we recognize as one of the sources deserving our careful consideration the thought and beliefs of Christians everywhere. It may therefore prove helpful if we attempt to set down some of the generally accepted conclusions in regard to the content of Christian belief. It is essential to observe very clearly the exact subject of this chapter. We must remember the distinction between knowledge and belief. We are dealing neither with the theology nor the fixed dogma, nor the unquestioned certainties of the modern man, hut with his beliefs, his convictions, the things to which he clings with assurance and confidence. While they may not be sustained by the nicety and precision of mathematical demonstration, nevertheless they are the things which he accepts implicitly, in which he puts his trust and upon which he builds his religious faith. They are the things which he believes. Moreover, we must understand that we are dealing with the beliefs of a modern man. There is no occasion to state the views which prevailed a generation or two ago. Such beliefs have their historic interest and have contributed their part to current thought. They are of high value ...