FREE THOUGHT VERSUS ORTHODOXY IN GERMANY.
IT is often charged that Free Thought, or Rationalism, is a distinguishing mark, or characteristic, of those who break away from the established church,—the church that claims to represent Christian truth in its purity. But a writer in the Evangelische Botschafter, Stuttgart, is of the opinion that the State church of Germany has left the orthodox faith; and he prophesies that the time is near when those who really believe in Christ will be forced to form free congregations. He says:— “Only people who are blinded by outward appearances can deny that Christianity—evangelical Christianity—is not advancing, but declining. Unbelief is increasing rapidly among classes, and to be silent about this fact, or to deny it, can only aggravate the evil. What the Socialists preach without shame and fear is only what has been quietly going on for a long time among classes which are altogether opposed to Socialism. The lack of religion among the Socialists is the natural harvest of unbelieving science; and, while the people of the cities fearlessly exhibit their unbelief, the country folk hide it by an outward show of adherence to the churches. “Are we wrong in blaming the State churches for this deplorable state of things? The State churches number among their members many determined enemies of Christ. They firmly oppose the sects, but admit infidels. Socialists, who often do not even care enough for the church to live in holy wedlock, are nevertheless considered worthy to be called members. Dissenters, however, are considered as without the pale of an established church. While we may not object to the rule that persons who hold dissenting views should be regarded as outsiders, yet, surely, it is only right that scoffers and infidels should be denied privileges which are not given to Christians. “Worse than this misapplied leniency is the subtle skepticism which allows so-called reformers to destroy the Christian faith under the mask of scientific research; this skepticism, which takes Christ out of the church, uses the Bible to destroy the Bible, and smothers religion, while pretending to exalt it. “Christianity must be accepted as it is, or must be rejected altogether. The very supernatural is natural to religion, and a church which attempts to do justice to infidel science and sensuous rationalism is not Christian. “Where much freedom is given to the ministers of the established church, there is an ever-increasing rationalism. This is specially the case in Switzerland and Baden, where many pastors who formerly passed as orthodox now openly declare for rationalism. In orthodox Wurtemberg the pastors are still forced to preach the Christ of the Bible; but if they did not fear the loss of their livings, many would champion rationalism. “The deluded people applaud this open secession. The secular press defends the rationalist; and if a heretic is taken to task, we hear a hue and cry about the liberty of conscience. It seems as if the church is forced to allow its fundamental doctrines to be destroyed by the very men who were appointed to guard it.”—Translated for the Literary Digest.