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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 38

It is Atheistical or Godless

page 5

It is Atheistical or Godless.

The word atheistical means godless or without a God; and in this system there is to be no word about God. Therefore if the children brought up under the secular system, acquire any knowledge of God, it certainly will not flow from the system, but must trickle in from some other source, and in spite of all the secular precautions to exclude it. As secularism in its present stage does not go so far as to deny God openly, but merely ignores Him, it is not yet atheistical in the fullest sense of the word, but it is distinctly atheistical, to the degree of declaring there shall be no God, till the schoolmaster's work is done. *

Would it be believed that the upholders of such a system would charge us with atheism? Yet so it is.

That it will be morally impossible to teach religion out of school, and absolutely impossible to teach it in school, I showed on a former occasion; so that if this system which I have already convicted of injustice and religious persecution, and which I now prove guilty of atheism, continues; some will grow up without any belief in God, and nearly all without any practical knowledge of Him. The little pagan boys of Rome knew their arithmetic well but where ignorant of Christianity. In what respect will the little secularist boys of Melbourne, or Dunedin, or Christchurch, be superior to them, when they leave the secularist schools, with precisely the same knowledge and the same ignorance?

And this is what some Secularists want—no "dogma"—that is, no doctrine; that is, no religion. Others would be horrified at such an idea, and fondly imagine religion will be taught or learned some way. If their piety be but on a par with their simplicity, they must be really admirable persons. Do the secularists ever reflect on the exactness with which they have unconsciously named themselves? Secularist means Worldling and Christ "is not of this world;" and the whole world is seated in wickedness," and for this wicked "world he does not pray;" and as it "hated Him" and crucified Him two thousand years ago, it hates Him still and will not "suffer little children to come to Him!"

Let us review the conclusions at which we have arrived. Secular civilisation means worldly civilisation, civilisation which promises nothing beyond the things of this world; or, as we have seen, "riches and the pleasures they procure." Is there a country in the world more civilised than England, or a city more civilised than London? Is there a spot on earth where there are greater riches and greater pleasures? But alas! these riches are only for "as many as possible," and these many are few. A comparatively small number of men are possessed of wealth so enormous that there are not pleasures enough to exhaust it; but while the civilised Dives sits clothed in purple and fine linen, and surrounded by the "appliances and conveniences of life," uncivilised Lazarus starves upon his doorstep. Can this be Civilisation which relieves some few from all care, condemns the vast majority to a hard struggle, and allows many to lead a living death of cold, hunger, and despair?

Secular education means education in worldly sciences. It may be allied with Virtue, but it also may not. There is no necessary connection. It gives a man more power for good or evil, and it does not bid him employ it only for good. To use the common phrase, we say "a polished villain" and a "rough diamond." Can polished villany be civilised, and uneducated integrity be uncivilised?

The secular system deliberately rejects and excludes the source of morality—Religion. Can a system which favours immorality and atheism be civilised?

No! Something tell us that Civilisation is good, that this thing is not Civilisation: but by pursuing further the simple analysis which has overturned a false system, we shall now proceed to rear the magnificent edifice of

Christian Civilisation.

* 'Argus,' July 13th, 1872.

Horace, "Ars Poet."

It must not be supposed that I bring this accusation against them, merely because "worlding" happens to be the translation of "secularist" but as with the word "civilisation," having proved the meaning of the name, I call attention to the exactness with which it expresses the thing.