A distinguished Positivist writer, Mr. J.
Cotter Morison, commenting in the last generation on the decay of
Christian belief, expressed some such concern in the following terms:
"It would be rash to expect that a transition, unprecedented for
its width and difficulty, from theology to positivism, from the
service of God to the service of Man, could be accomplished without
jeopardy. Signs are not wanting that the prevalent anarchy in
thought is leading to anarchy in morals. Numbers who have put off
belief in God have not put on belief in Humanity. A common and
lofty standard of duty is being trampled down in the fierce battle
of incompatible principles."[1]
It is true that in the work from which I quote[1] the learned, if
somewhat nervous, Positivist does not, by his masterly survey of the
moral history of Europe, afford us the least reason to think that we
have really deteriorated from the standard of conduct set us by earlier
generations, but his words do tend to press on our notice the claim of
many writers, clerical and non-clerical, that we are returning from
Christianity to Paganism, from a settled moral discipline to an
unhealthy moral scepticism.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25