Chapter I: Front Matter

THE CHURCHES AND MODERN THOUGHT

AN INQUIRY INTO THE GROUNDS OF
UNBELIEF AND AN APPEAL FOR CANDOUR

BY
PHILIP VIVIAN

"Men are never so likely to settle a question
rightly as when they discuss it freely."
--Macaulay.

London:
WATTS & CO.,
17, JOHNSON'S COURT, FLEET STREET. E.C.
1911

TO
MY WIFE AND CHILDREN

CONTENTS

Preface to First Edition

Preface to Second Edition

Preface to Third Edition

Chapter I.

THE GRAVITY OF THE PRESENT SITUATION

§ 1. The Truth of the Matter
§ 2. The Attitude of the Laity
§ 3. Christianity and Science not Reconciled
§ 4. The Genesis and Character of the New Outburst
§ 5. Apologetics "Found Wanting"
§ 6. More Things Which Confuse the Issue

Chapter II.

THE EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF APOLOGETICS WITH REGARD TO MIRACLES

§ 1. Preliminary Remarks
The View of Science
Why Have Miracles Ceased?
Belief in Miracles Essential
§ 2. Miracle Apologetics
§ 3. The Fundamental Miracles
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Incarnation
Concluding Remarks

Chapter III.

THE DESTRUCTIVE CHARACTER OF MODERN BIBLE CRITICISM

§ 1. Clashing Views on Bible Criticism
§ 2. A Summary of the Results of Bible Criticism
§ 3. By Whom the "Higher Criticism" is Accepted
§ 4. Admissions by Orthodox Apologists
§ 5. Some Remaining Difficulties
We Must Accept the Whole or Reject the Whole
Silence of Historians
Thoughts on "Tradition" As God's Method for The Transmission
of Truth To Posterity
The Alleged Sinlessness of Jesus Christ
The Ignorance of Jesus Christ

Chapter IV.

THE GRAVE SUSPICIONS AROUSED BY THE STUDY OF ANCIENT BELIEFS

§ 1. The New Theological Theory of a Progressive Revelation
§ 2. Parallels in Ancient Religions, and Some Remarks
Upon Them
Krishna and Buddha
Parallels Other Than Krishna and Buddha
Are the Krishna and Buddha Legends Borrowed from Christianity?
§ 3. Parallels in the Beliefs of Primitive Man, And Some Remarks
Upon Them
The Religions of Ancient America
Vegetation Gods
Why Men Eat Their God
§ 4. The Solar Myth
Jonah and the Whale
Anticipations of Christianity in Solar Myths
The Christian Theory Ignored by Science
The Sun As a Symbol
§ 5. Concluding Remarks on Christian and Anti-Christian Theories
Argument from Essenism
Argument from Mithraism

Chapter V.

IRRECONCILABLE DIFFICULTIES CONNECTED WITH EVOLUTION

§ 1. Preliminary Remarks
The Doctrine of Evolution
Darwinism
The Average Person's Ideas on the Evolution of Man
The Attitude of the Church
§ 2. "Nature Red in Tooth and Claw"
§ 3. The Bible Account of Creation Irreconcilable with Science
in Each and Every Respect
§ 4. Proofs of our Animal Origin
The Extraordinary Affinity of Bodily Structure
The Revelations of Embryology
The Tale Told by the Useless Rudimentary Organs
§ 5. The Overthrow of the Doctrines of the Fall and Original Sin
The Importance of the Question
An Instructive Criticism
The Bishop of Worcester's Theory
The Archdeacon of Manchester's Theory
The Rationalist's Theory
Conclusions

Chapter VI.

THE FAILURE OF THEISTIC ARGUMENTS

§ 1. Preliminary Remarks
Theism, and Who Are Theists
§ 2. The Existence of a First Cause--An Uncaused Cause
§ 3. The First Cause an Intelligence
Design and Directivity
Directivity
Design
Differences of Opinion Among Theistic Apologists
§ 4. The First Cause a Beneficent Intelligence
A Personal God
Divine Immanence in Nature
A Fact in History
The Past and Present Position of the Ethical Argument
Evil for which Man is not Held Responsible
Evil for which Man is Held Responsible
Conscience
Free-will
§ 5. Religious Experience
Mysticism and Conversion
The Psychology of Prayer
The Religious (?) Experiences of Intoxication
Music and the Emotions
Sexual Love
Revivalism
§ 6. The Inevitable Conclusion
Note on Religion and Philosophy

Chapter VII.

FALLACIES IN POPULAR ARGUMENTS

§ 1. Preliminary Remarks--The Power of Christianity for Good
§ 2. Christianity Woman's Best Friend
§ 3. The Overthrow of Christianity Would Endanger Society and
the Nation
§ 4. The Spread of Christianity a Proof of its Truth
§ 5. The Noble Army of Martyrs
§ 6. The Universality of the Religious Instinct
The Hypothesis Stated
The Rationalist's Contention
The Apologist's Views concerning Superstition and the Religious
Instinct
Beliefs of Savage Man
Magic and Religion
Religion in Modern China
Apostates in Christendom
Religion in Modern Japan
Classical History
Note on Human Sentiment as to a Future Life

Chapter VIII.