ETERNALISM.
The conceptions necessary for logical thought belong to the Gospel as
well as to science, for a satisfactory life philosophy must be based
on all knowledge known to man.
**All Knowledge, the Basis.** The Gospel, as the largest knowledge,
must include the knowledge of all sciences. The conceptions of time
and space are quite as necessary in theology as in natural science or
in any other branch of human thought. The Gospel does not claim,
however, possession of ultimate knowledge concerning space or time or
other fundamental conceptions. Indeed, man is, ordinarily, allowed to
work out for himself the truths of the universe and to organize them
into systems of thought which he may follow profitably. Knowledge is
given directly by a superior intelligence only when it becomes
indispensable. Moreover, there are innumerable phenomena in the
universe which can not be explained by the human understanding as at
present developed. The distinguishing feature of the Gospel is that it
possesses the key to the final philosophy of life. In outline it
offers the entire plan of life in the universe; and man may engage for
all time to come in the elaboration and development of each department
of this great universal plan of human life, without requiring an
expansion of the outline. The plan is complete.
**Eternal Matter.** The saddest feature of manmade religions is their
lack of security. One man constructs one theology; another a different
one, and men flock hither and thither, accepting the one that appears,
for the moment, to be the best, without the deep feeling that the one
finally accepted is absolutely the one and only correct system of
thought. Yet, this is logically absurd, for a house is either red or
not red; a stick is straight or not straight; a man has truth or only
the semblance of truth. Two different truths can not be parallel with
respect to the same thing. The final philosophy of life must be based
on irrevocable truth. That which is true must always remain true,
though the applications may change greatly from generation to
generation. It is the absence of such fundamental certainties, no
doubt, that leads men into a new search for a satisfying religion, or
that drives them away from their old theology.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is obviously a system founded on unvarying
certainties. Its doctrines rest on demonstrated truths that lie at the
foundation of all sound, acceptable thinking. For instance, as a
cornerstone of theology, the Gospel recognizes, in connection with the
existence of space and time, the existence of matter. Without matter,
the mind of man would have no material on which to act, and the
existence of matter becomes, therefore, a fundamental conception of
the Gospel. It is the business of man to become acquainted with matter
in all of its forms, so far as may be possible, in order to provide a
foundation on which the reasoning mind of man may increasingly build
its power.
The Gospel holds strictly to the conception of a material universe.
Much inconsistency of thought has come from the notion that things
occur in a material and an immaterial state. This unthinkable
condition has been made the basis of doctrines concerning God and man,
which have led to utter confusion of thought. The Gospel accepts the
natural view, supported by all human experience, that matter occurs in
many forms, some visible to the eye, others invisible, and yet others
that may not be sensed by any of the senses of man. In short, there is
no such thing as immaterial matter, but some forms of matter are more
refined than others. Light, heat, and other similar forces are held by
science to be manifestations of a subtle state of matter, beyond the
immediate senses of man, which has been called ether. In fact, matter
as ordinarily known, and ether, a finer form of matter, are every day
conceptions of science. The material universe may appear in a variety
of forms; but man recognizes, directly, only that form which is the
ordinary matter of our daily lives.
**Universal Matter Is Indestructible.** Matter is eternal, that is,
everlasting. Whether the various forms of matter may be converted one
into the other, is not definitely known. Any such conversion would,
however, leave the total quantity of matter unchanged. God, the
supreme Power, can not conceivably originate matter; he can only
organize matter. Neither can he destroy matter. God is the Master,
who, because of his great knowledge, knows how to use the elements,
already existing, for the building of whatever he may have in mind.
The doctrine that God made the earth or man from nothing becomes,
therefore, an absurdity. The doctrine of the indestructibility of
matter makes possible much theological reasoning that would be
impossible without this doctrine.
The nature of matter is not, in and of itself, a subject of deep
concern in practical religion. By the slow, laborious methods of man's
search for truth, the nature of matter will gradually be revealed.
Whether it shall be found to be something distinct, or a form of the
universal energy, will not be of consequence in the Gospel structure.
That matter, whatever it is, is eternal, is, however, a principle of
highest theological value, for it furnishes a foundation for correct
reasoning.
**Eternal Energy.** Matter, wherever found and in whatever form,
always possesses energy. It is frequently said that matter in motion,
only, can impress the human mind. Matter without motion, were it
conceivable, could not be recognized by the human mind as at present
constituted. Matter is always associated with energy; energy with
matter. It is not conceivably possible to separate them. Whether one
is a manifestation of the other, so that there is only matter or only
energy, or if they are distinct things, we do not know. All sound
thought recognizes, however, the existence of energy throughout the
universe. Energy appears in many forms, such as heat, light,
electricity, magnetism, gravitation, and, according to the Gospel, the
many spiritual forces. These various forms of energy seem to be
convertible, one into the other, thus indicating the existence of one
central force, of which all other forces are manifestations. The
question of energy will probably be answered gradually, as the
knowledge of man increases.
Of one thing the Gospel, as well as science, is perfectly certain,
namely, that the energy in the universe is indestructible. Changed it
may be, from heat to light, from light to electricity, from
electricity to magnetism, or from any form to any other form of
energy, but destroyed it can not be. Like matter, energy had no
beginning and can have no end. God, possessing the supreme
intelligence of the universe, can use energy in accomplishing his
ends, but create it, or destroy it, he cannot. Undiminished,
everacting, universal energy will continue through all times.
**Universal Intelligence.** In one particular, however, the Gospel
goes beyond the teachings of modern science. The Gospel teaches that,
associated with the universal energy that vivifies universal matter,
and possibly identified with it, is universal intelligence, a force
which is felt wherever matter and energy are found, which is
everywhere. The forces of the universe do not act blindly, but are
expressions of a universal intelligence. That a degree of intelligence
is possessed by every particle of energized matter cannot be said; nor
is it important. The great consideration is that, since intelligence
is everywhere present, all the operations of nature, from the simplest
to the most complex, are the products of intelligence. We may even
conceive that energy is only intelligence, and that matter and
intelligence, rather than matter and energy, are the two fundamentals
of the universe!
**Eternal Intelligence.** Throughout the universe are found, in
addition to indestructible matter, everlasting energy and universal
intelligence pervading space.
"Man was also in the beginning with God." The doctrine that man is an
eternal being leads to untold possibilities. Eternal man lived a
personal life before the earth-life began, and he continues a personal
existence hereafter.
**The Eternal Relationship.** The phenomena of the universe result
from the interaction of matter, energy and intelligence. These
fundamental, universal elements are forever acting upon each other to
produce the infinite variety of the universe. Nevertheless, space is
not filled with disorder; chaos does not prevail. On the contrary, the
universe, so far as known, is essentially orderly. This comes from the
great law of cause and effect. If energy acts on matter in a given
way, a definite effect is obtained. Under like conditions, the same
cause will forever give the same effect. Where, therefore, like
conditions are permanently operating, like results will always be
found. This law lies at the foundation of the orderliness of nature.
"There is a law irrevocably decreed in heaven upon which all blessings
are predicated, and it is only by obedience to this law that any
blessing may be obtained."
**An Eternal Plan.** The Gospel itself, the so-called plan of
salvation, or Great Plan, in obedience to which men guide their
earth-lives, is eternal. It is not a temporary or transient thing,
made primarily for the handful of men and women on earth, but it is an
eternal plan based upon the everlasting relationship of the elements
of the universe--a plan which, in some form, is adapted everywhere and
forever, for the advancement of personal beings. This must be so, for
it leads to a definite end, and in accordance with the law of cause
and effect, it must have a universal meaning.
**Eternalism.** The Gospel is founded on tangible and eternal things
and relationships. These eternal realities, no doubt, in their
essence, lie beyond the full understanding of man, just as time and
space transcend human understanding. This conception, carried far
enough, leads to a gospel or life philosophy which is unshakable,
because it rests upon eternal certainty. Without certainty, man is, in
the great affairs of life, merely the driftwood of existence, moved
hither and thither by the wind of doubt.
The Gospel may be said to be The Philosophy of Eternalism. The Gospel
is immersed in the ocean of eternity.