Fore-note to the Second Edition

the author of this work had propounded, and for whose espousal he could not conscientiously retain a lucrative charge. Yet in this newer time, Mr. Campbell is able to remain within the fortifications, howbeit his explosives will prove a hundred fold more destructive than any bombardment from without.

In the present work, however, if the author may be permitted to intimate a comparison, the discussion has been entered into more fundamentally, and a comprehensive investigation presented of the main traditional teachings of religion, not only from the Christian point of view, but from the ethnic and legendary as well. In fact, the effort has been made to show that there is to be discovered a naturalistic origin for all theological dogmas, whose foundations must be. sought in the primal conceptions of the race when contemplating the wonderful phenomena of the uni

verse.

The author has thought wise to retain, in this second edition, the full discussion concerning the Creed of Calvinism, which is covered in Part II of the original edition, although the Church has to a large extent repudiated, or at least modified, what for so many ages was its stoutest fortress of offense and defense, because its historical background is still very helpful in the discussion of present-day religious problems and the philosophical interpretations of life.

The author cannot but feel grateful for and duly appreciative of the reception given to the work, and the pleasing necessity of sending it again to the printers to satisfy the demand.

NEW YORK CITY,
AUGUST, 1907.

H. F.

W

PREFACE

recovery.

The furious storm of criticism and conflict, which raged for a century or more, has abated, and left amid the debris and ruin of ancient error the relics of prophetic truth on which the superstructure of Higher Criticism and Scientific Reconstruction can be reared.

It has been the effort of the author of this book to outline a system of interpretation, which, while it denudes the ancient Christian structure of its gargoyles of superstition and metaphysical phantasy, retains sufficient of its framework to evidence its original purity of purpose, and its kinship with all other similar efforts of mankind.

While the author believes the perusal of these pages will destroy what blind faith the reader may have entertained in the fragile fables and "old women's tales" of antiquity, he does not despair of having substituted a New Interpretation for vagaries and ignorant assumptions which will sustain and invigorate every one who sincerely aspires after

Truth, unhampered by the bias of tradition and the limitation of assertive theory.

If the author could have achieved nothing more than the tearing down of old moss-grown walls, sacred to the memory of a thousand years; if he had foreseen that his mission was but to desecrate the shrines and firesides of ancient temples and consecrated homes, witnessing naught but the consternation of the faithful and the groans of the defeated, he would have desisted.

But because he believes he has substituted a talisman of truth for every fane demolished; a scripture of science for every phantasy of faith; logical deduction and convincing demonstration for emotional frenzy and the rhapsodies of rhetoric; hope for despair; justice for iniquity, and common-sense for rash credulity; he has been encouraged to offer the results of his personal study to the world.

Slowly through many years these conclusions have come to him couched in the soul's sincere convictions. For many years a preacher in orthodox churches, holding responsible places in different evangelical denominations, at last forced for the sake of conscience and consistency to unload all the impedimenta of ancient ignorance and modern superstition, and to construct an independent system of religious instruction for those who care to follow him, he has in these pages illustrated the methods of research which he pursued to reach his final conclusions.

An honest investigation of Christian Dogma proves that like all other religious systems, it has originated, triumphed, and decayed, according to the laws of human progress.

Preface

Christianity contained nothing original, sui generis, or distinguishable, save in local coloring, from all the religions which preceded it.

The heart of man is everywhere the same, and its search after final truth must pursue the same tortuous paths in all climes and periods of time. All religion is kindred as is all thought. Man is one as is Nature-as is God.

God, Man, and Nature, are all one, and what we call religion is but the conscious effort of humanity to discern this Unity and symbolize it in certain forms of worship.

That antiquity, buried in the night of ignorance, should have failed, we cannot marvel; but that there is a religion, enlightened, truthful, unhypocritical, and strictly scientific, we sincerely believe, and have sought somewhat to foreshadow in the following pages.

If the author succeeds in arousing from lethargy those who indifferently embrace the popular faith, unmindful of the tremendous strides which modern. discovery and criticism have made; also, if he succeeds in reminding those, who in disgust refuse further to be concerned in defeated dogmas and "foolish notions," that all error contains some truth, so that if they have cast aside the shell it is their duty to search for the rejected kernel,-then his task will have been happily finished.

If the Ideal Theology portrayed herein shall prove to be a purified Anthropology, substituting Exalted Man for Demonized Deity, the author will not have occasion to exclaim Peccavi.

NEW YORK CITY.

May 15, 1901.

H. F.