Editorial June 1, 1907 Issue

REVISION OF CREEDS

Annie M. Knott

For a number of years the most strictly orthodox people, both in this country and in Great Britain, have been wrestling with the question of a restatement of doctrines, such as would make possible greater unity between the different religious bodies and be more in harmony with the spirit of the times than are the dogmas of the past. It is note-worthy that in a representative newspaper in Scotand. Calvinism is referred to as "archaic," and that, too, without a word of praise for what its teachings as a whole have done in promoting a love of the Scriptures and in showing the vital importance of their study. It seems that in the public schools of Scotland the Shorter Catechism has been replaced by another which claims to be simpler and more practical, although a well-known writer has humorously said, "Intellect with us had been brought to so fine an edge by the Shorter Catechism that it could detect endless distinctions, and was ever on the watch against inaccuracy."

It is claimed by those who have insisted upon this revision that the abstruse statements which the Catechism contained were merely memorized, not thought out, and that children especially should have simple and direct statements of the fundamental truths of the Bible—a proposition which no one would controvert; nevertheless this conveys the inference that it is not necessary to think profoundly upon the subject of religion—an opinion which should not be accepted for a moment. Does not the supreme intelligence forever give the invitaiton, "Come now, and let us reason together"? Such reasoning surely calls for an awakening to all man's God-bestowed capacities and powers.

In Christian Science we learn the necessity for holding a scientific concept of God and man, and of their relation to each other. It insists that our premises must be correct in order to insure progress, even as it is required that the youngest child shall be taught the fundamentals of mathematics as accurately as the older pupil studies and applies the more advanced rules. No one questions this in the case of mathematics, but many have denied the need of scientific accuracy with respect to that which we are commanded to seek "first:" although Professor Drummond asks, "Shall a mechanical experiment succeed infallibly, and the one vital experiment of humanity remain a chance? ... If we cannot calculate to a certainty that the forces of religion will do their work, then is religion vain, and if we cannot express the law of these forces in simple words then is Christianity not the world's religion but the world's conundrum."

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