The disbelievers in Christianity in all past time, when objecting to
it as being fraught with too many moral defects to constitute a basis or
guide for the religious opinions and moral actions of men in an age more
free from superstition, and much farther advanced in a knowledge of the
true science of morals and the general principles of philosophy, have
been met with the reply, "Show us a better system before you pull down
Christianity and throw aside the Bible. Let us know what you are going
to substitute in their place." Very well, good friend, we will meet your
objection, and hope we can remove the difficulty. We think that either
of the following answers should prove satisfactory, and, all taken
together, more than satisfactory:--
1. We do not propose or desire to destroy or supersede any valuable
truth, precept, principle, or doctrine taught in the Bible, or to set
aside any thing that can in any way prove to be practically useful. We
only propose to sift out the errors from the truth, rejecting the former
and retaining the latter, and to employ as many of the old timbers
in constructing the new superstructure as are not rotten or otherwise
defective.
2. Truth can not be "pulled down" or destroyed, as it possesses an
omnipotency of principle that is indestructible. Like gold in the
refiner's crucible, it shines the brighter for every effort to destroy
it.
3. It must be presumed, therefore, that whatever portion of your
religion is susceptible of destruction is false, and should be
destroyed.
4. It is the nature of truth to spring up voluntarily the moment error
is removed, as naturally as air or water rushes in to fill a vacuum. The
instant the clouds are rifted, the sun darts down its vivifying rays.
upon the earth. You want no substitute for weeds when exterminated from
your garden. When eradicated, those plants which are more useful and
beautiful, and which they have been choking and repressing the growth
of, will then assume a more healthy appearance. You ask no substitute
for sickness or disease, but desire it removed that you may again enjoy
the blessings of health. Moral health will likewise ensue by the removal
of noxious weeds from the mind.
And, finally, you can find a complete answer to this objection in your
own Bible: "Cease to do evil, and (then) learn to do well;" that is, the
moment you discover an error in your faith or practice, abandon it, and
you will soon "learn" what its proper substitute is. Truth is always at
hand as a substitute for error. We may assume, then, that, if any of the
erroneous doctrines now propagated were abandoned, they would find their
own substitute immediately, as sickness finds its substitute in health.
But we will not leave the pious Christian in this negative condition,
but will furnish him with a "substitute" which holds out much better
hopes and promises than he has anchored in his idolized system, whether
those hopes appertain to a virtuous and happy life here, or to an
ever-blessed eternity beyond the confines of time. That substitute
will be found fully explained in Chapter XIV., under the head of "The
Infidel's Bible." Or, if he desires a system in fuller detail, and
one possessing great beauty, let him examine the principles of "The
Harmonial Philosophy."