An Appeal to the People in Behalf of Their Rights as Authorized Interpreters of the Bible

It has been shown that the Augustinian dogma of a depraved nature is the foundation of all the large sectarian organizations in this country, and of the contentions, evil passio...

The preceding chapter shows the agreement of distinguished Augustinian theologians with the leading points of the common‐sense system. We next are to notice the particulars in w...

Having employed the principles of common sense to gain a knowledge of the natural attributes of God, we are next to employ the same principles to gain his _moral_ character; or...

It is the object of what follows to present the evidence that _the people_ are rejecting the Augustinian system, while they are retaining the system of common sense, as that alo...

The Augustinian system, assuming that true personal religion consists in the exercises of “a new nature,” tends to introverted mental efforts, in order to discover whether the s...

Having discovered the end for which mind is made, and thus gained the idea of what is meant by perfectness, in its _nature_ or _construction_, we next inquire as to what is the...

It has been shown, that the teachings of reason as to the immortality of the soul, and our risks and dangers after death, are indispensable to a true standard of morality, and t...

The power _to choose_ exists in other animals as well as in man, so that it is not this faculty which distinguishes our race from the brutes. It is another part of our nature wh...

We have considered the risks and dangers of the future state, as taught by reason and experience, and also as the foundation of a true standard of morality. We have seen that th...

Habit is a facility in performing physical or mental operations, gained by the repetition of such acts. As examples of this in _physical_ operations may be mentioned the power o...

The word “church,” as used in this article, refers chiefly to those close corporations which claim to be regenerated persons, whose depraved nature, transmitted from Adam, has b...

Having presented evidence that both Catholics and Protestants of Europe and America unite in holding the Augustinian theory of the origin of evil, and also that theologians them...

The preceding chapters present the system of natural religion, as it may be gained by experience and those principles of reason or common sense with which all men are endowed.

It has been shown that the Augustinian system, teaching as it does man’s depraved nature and destitution of any principles of right guidance in his own mind, makes him wholly de...

In order to a more clear view of this part of the subject, it is important to inquire as to the manner in which the ideas of _right_ and _wrong_ seem to originate.

The following extract from the _Views and Experiences of Religion_, _by Henry Ward Beecher_, is an example of the vagueness and uncertainty referred to. It is part of an article...

In a former chapter we have noticed the analysis of the principle of _love_. It is needful to refer to this again, as intimately connected with the question of the right moral a...

Having presented the Augustinian theory, as it is set forth in both Catholic and Protestant creeds, the next object will be to verify the statements of the preceding chapters as...

Thus it is an _invariable_ arrangement that pain shall be connected with touching fire, and pleasure with seeing the light. So in regard to the intellect; pleasure is _invariabl...

It is the aim of this chapter to show that the chief controversies and chief sects of Christendom have resulted from the Angustinian system, and from attempts to eliminate it fr...

We have presented the “nature” of mind as the chief evidence of the grand design of its Creator in forming all things, and thus also presented the proof of his perfect wisdom, b...

In the former portion of this work the Augustinian theory, with the system based on it, has been presented as it is taught by creeds and theologians. In contrast with it, has be...

The difficulties involved in the Augustinian theory of “the origin of evil,” result from these facts. Our only idea of a benevolent being is that wherever he has the power to pr...

Having explained what is intended by the principles of common sense, the next attempt will be to apply certain of these principles to gain a system of _natural religion_; meanin...

In the preceding chapters it is shown that theological creeds and teachings maintain the common‐sense system, and at the same time the contradictory Augustinian system. In other...

The second class may be called the new school Calvinists, embracing Congregational and New School Presbyterian churches. These are ably represented in New England by the Andover...

It has been shown (chapter 24) that _emotive_ love, in view of noble and interesting traits of character, affords a most powerful motive in securing _voluntary love_ or _good wi...

The preceding chapters have presented the Augustinian theory of “the origin of evil,” and certain questions connected with it which have been debated by theologians; also the di...

It has been shown that the common‐sense theory teaches that all mankind must, in order to eternal happiness, be trained by human agencies to choose what is _best_, guided by the...

In the preceding pages it has been shown that the common‐sense system presents an intelligible, practical and consistent standard of right and wrong, by which we can judge clear...

Before we can gain a reliable revelation from our Creator, we are obliged to establish the truth that there is such a Creator. Our only mode of doing this is by the method alrea...

A system of natural religion includes not only the existence and natural attributes of the Creator, but his moral character and the duties owed to Him, to our fellow‐beings and...

We have seen, in the preceding chapters, that our only mode of gaining a knowledge of the natural attributes of God, is by the study of the nature of mind. We have seen also tha...

By the term “Young America,” as it is used at this day, seems to be intended that class of youthful minds who are striving to free themselves from all past ecclesiastical and co...

Fifty years ago, to read, write and cipher, and a few accomplishments, were all that were attempted in the school education of women. A little history and one or two other branc...

Although each theologian claims that the mode of meeting difficulties adopted by his school is satisfactory, yet as each maintains that all other modes are unavailing, it comes...

From the preceding it appears that the more our race advances in civilization, the more numerous and complicated are the laws of God which must first be discovered and then obeyed.

That portion of the clerical world who, as pastors, are most nearly in connection with the people, are necessarily affected with the influences that touch theologians, and also...

But in order to this, there are certain virtues which are both difficult and indispensable. In studying the history of mind, it will be seen that the higher the grade of intelle...

The Calvinistic form, making it certain that, owing to the depravity of nature consequent on Adam’s sin, every moral act is sin and only sin, while there is no revealed mode of...

In the preceding chapter we have applied the principles of common sense to gain evidence of the existence of a Creator, or Great First Cause, whose natural attributes we can dis...

Having gained the existence of a Great First Cause by the use of one principle of common sense, and the fact that this cause is an intelligent mind by another, it has been shown...

To any one who examines the religious press of the different sects of the present time, it is clear that there never was a period in which the _ecclesiasticism_ founded on the A...

In attempting to answer this question by the light of nature, independently of revelation, we have gained these positions. There is an Intelligent Mind who created all things, w...

The preceding chapters have presented the distinctive features of two systems which, in their main points, are shown to be contradictory, while both are exhibited as incorporate...

The regularly ordained priests, or the regenerated priests and laity of the _true_ church, are claimed to be the only persons qualified to understand and interpret the meaning o...

The system of common sense rests on the assumption that there are principles of right and wrong founded on the eternal nature of things, existing independently of the will of th...

It has been shown, that the more the capacities of men are cultivated, and the sources of enjoyment multiplied, the more complicated become the varying questions as to right and...

In the preceding chapters have been presented the most important mental faculties which are common to the race. There are none of the powers and attributes of the mind as yet se...

The preceding extracts exhibit a portion of the evidence to prove that the Augustinian system is contrary to the moral sense of mankind, and that theologians have failed, by the...

There is an obvious crisis approaching, in the religious world, on questions of the highest moment. In past time such periods of change have been preceded by a slow and silent p...

It is a significant fact in regard to the religious training of the young in this country, that the most influential leaders of popular education, especially in its earlier stag...

It has been shown how much the religious press is restrained in liberty of opinion and expression, so that it is probable that there is not a professedly religious paper in the...

To understand how it was brought about, it is needful to bear in mind the distinction between facts and the philosophical theories that explain the _how_ and the _why_ of these...

TO The Editors of the Secular Press, THE TRUE TRIBUNES OF THE PEOPLE, CALLED OF GOD IN BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH TO DEFEND LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, AND THE RIG...