Beliefs and opinions of a Unitarian

S. Fletcher Williams

Sujets

• Christianity
• Incarnation
• Church
• Unitarianism
• Prayer
• Bible

Informations

• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 10
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 10 Mo

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BELIEFS AND OPINIONS
A UNITARIAN.
BY THE REV.
S. FLETCHER WILLIAMS,
"ydnt Editor the Unitarian Herald."of
LONDON:
BRITISH & FOREIGN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION,
NORFOLK STREET, STRAND.37,
18S5.#'^
HUDSON AND CO., PKINTEKS,LONDON : BOWDEN,
RED LION STREET, HOLBORN.PREFACE
the Papers collected in this Volume haveMost of
of the followingalready appeared in one or other
the Unitarian Herald^ the Inquirer, theperiodicals,—
Christian Register (Boston, U.S.A.), the Unitarian
They are republished inReview (Boston, U.S.A.).
that they may aid in some small measurethe hope
cause of that conception of Christianity whichthe
source of strength andhas been to their author a
he deems it an honour to uphold.joy, and which
The form in which the Papers originally appeared,
will account forat considerable intervals of time,
repetition, here and there, of phrases which itthe
has not been deemed necessary to alter.
are due and are gratefully givenSpecial thanks
valuableto the Rev. Henry Ierson, M.A., for
assistance in revising the proofs.
Fletcher Williams.S.
Birmingham,
April, 1885.British and Foreign Unitarian Association,Note.—The in accord-
"ance with its First Rule, gives publicity to works calculated to promote
Unitarian Christianity by the diffusion of Biblical, theological, and
literary knowledge, on topics connected with it," but does not hold
itself responsible for every statement, opinion, or expression of the
writers.— — ——— •
CONTENTS.
I.
SCEPTICISM IN RELATION TO RELIGION.
Method of modern scepticism, i.—Nature of the evidence for
2.—Mathematicalthings spiritual, and moral reasoning,
2-3.—Theism and Atheism incapable of demonstration, 3.
Trustworthiness of moral evidence, 3-4.
IL
BELIEFS OF A UNITARIAN.
Freedom of Thought, 5.—The highest authority, 5.—Character,
not creed, makes the Christian, 5.—Beliefs concerning
6 6-7God, Jesus Christ, —The Bible, 7—Man, 7—Punish-—
ment, 7-8. Christianity and other 8.— religions, —Aims of
Unitarianism, 8.
III.
BELIEFS ABOUT THE BIBLE.
Views, 9.—The Bible a library,Two Erroneous 9.—The
Ethnic Scriptures, 9-10.—Doctrine ofBible infallibility, 10.
11.Reaction from this doctrine, —The Bible and the Koran,
11-12. The Bible not a unit, 13.—Not one in author-
—ship, 13-14 in age, in ideas, 15.—Its true value, 15.
; 14;
as to God, man's destiny,Variety of its representations
16.morality, 15-17.—God in the Old Testament, Jesus and—
17.—Explanation ofthe religion of universal brotherhood,
these diversities, 17-18. Bible Infallibility a modern
19-20,doctrine, 19.—Explanation of II. Tim. iii.,
"of the Old Testament phrases, Thus saithExplanation
" 20. Sirthe Lord," God spake these words," — Samuel
conversation of modern Arabs as illustratingBaker on
the style of the Old Testament, 20-21.—The Canon of the— ——
CONTENTS.vi
individual21-22.—Differing judgments of scholarsBible,
22.Church Councils, —The Canondiffering decisions ofand
Romanists,Council of Trent, 23.—Protestants, andand the
Real Bible, 23.—Luther and thethe Bible, 23. The
Testament books, 24.23-24.—Erasmus and NewBible,
Biblical scholars, 24.—Vicissitudes of theDiversity among
epistles, 25.—Errors inScriptures, 24.—Lost books and
translations, 25.—The sure practical testmanuscripts and
26. Bible and Science, 27.—Thewhat is inspired, —Theof
of the Bible in its natural hold upon us, 27-28.real strength
— : Professor Max Miiller, Pro-Supplementary Note
Monier Williams, and Dr. Martineau, on the Sacredfessor
Books of the East, 28-31.
IV.
KNOWLEDGE AND RELIGION.
of the Puritan theologians, 32. Jesus in the God-The God —
of the effect of Know-head, 33.—Changes in ideas God,
ledge, —Prayer and Natural Laws, 34.—Knowledge and33.
ofa ReHgion of Trust and Love, 35.—Knowledge Nature
and the Love of God, 36-37.—The Coming Religion, yj.
V.
THE CRISIS OF BELIEF.
Decay of orthodox Christianity, 38-39.—Creeds as historic land-
marks and as authorities, — Permanence of Religion39.
amidst changing forms, 39.—Room for progress of Thought
on Religious questions, 40-41.—The whole truth as to God
and man's relation to God not revealed in the Bible, 41-42.
—Influence ofmodern science in ennobling theology, 42.
Its influence on ideas of God, 42-43 on the doctrine of;
Atonement, on ideas of Heaven Hell, ; on
; and43 44
of lifeorigin and of man as told in Genesis, ; on the44
doctrine of Original Sin, Summary of changes wrought45.—
in theology by science, 45-46.—Certainty in Religion, 46.
—Revelation of God in the human soul, 47.
VL
WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?
Contradictory definitions, 48-49.—Free Inquiry and Scepticism,
49-50.—Demand for sacrifice of Reason in Theology, 50-51.