An American Philosophy from Dante
By Editor
A correspondent, apparently editorial, of the Christian Union, says that "Professor Harris is the philosopher of the Concord School par excellence . . . and the opinion is frequently heard that we may yet have an American system of philosophy." But it seems that this "American system of philosophy" is embodied in the idea of probation after death. And Professor Harris in his par excellence "makes the idea of the cessation of probation annihilate both" Heaven and hell. Then says this admirer of the "philosopher par excellence :" "This view of Dr. Harris is fully elaborated in his essay on 'The Philosophic Structure of Dante's Divina Commedia.' I am not sure that this paper will not prove itself to be one of the most inspiring missionary tracts of the time." Well an American philosophy extracted from Dante's "Divina Commedia" may be a very inspiring thing, but it is absolutely certain that such inspiration will never lead men to God nor accomplish anything for Christ. Yet this wild nonsense is becoming very popular in the theological circle of which the Christian Union forms a part.