Article May 7, 1904 Issue

From our Exchages

The real environment, the mighty forces that play upon life and mould character, are spiritual; and this is where we have power over our environment.

Because it is spiritual we can open mind and heart to it, or we can shut the door against it. We can submit to what is evil in our environment, or we can shun it. We can also, to some extent, select the forces that act upon us. If we wilfully submit ourselves to the influence of the lower, if we choose to associate with what impoverishes true life, if we let evil intercourse do its corrupting work on us, it will pervade and pollute all life. We may think that we can play with evil influences, enter their company when it suits us and leave it as we entered; ... but we are deceiving ourselves.—The Standard.

It is a mistake to assume that a change in theology is a change in religion. Changes in theology may sympathetically effect changes in religion, but quite marked changes in theology may lead to only slight changes in religion. Theology is a mental concept, and religion is the obedience of the heart and will to God. The demand for a reasonable religion is frequently made, which clearly is a demand for a religion of the reason, a religion level to the reason, and that seems to be equivalent to a logical theology. Religion and a system of religion are quite distinguishable. A system of religion is creedal, while religion is experimental. Theological unrest must be distinguished from religious unrest, and opposition to theology as taught must not be accounted as essentially irreligiousness. The best and most Christian of men reject a considerable part of the theology of a few generations ago.—The Examiner.

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