Theism vs. Atheism

THEISM VS. ATHEISM. BY RULON M. OWEN. [One of the features of the preliminary programs, in this season's work of the Y. M. M. I. A., is the reading of short, crisp, original essays, an exercise which should not occupy more than five minutes and which some associations have found very profitable and interesting. The following has been submitted to the Era as a sample from the Twenty- first Ward, Salt Lake City. It would be a better sample, if it were shorter.— Editors.] The poet wrote that of all God's creations, man alone has said, there is no God. And yet, man is nearest him, being made in his image and by him given dominion over all the creations of the earth. Men, alone, of all his -creation, can reach the glory of the Father's perfection. He alone can receive and understand a testi- mony of his existence, and yet there are men who deny him. Is disbelief in God born in man? Experience answers, no; positively, no ! Every child born into the world seems primarily to believe in a Supreme Being. That there is an intuitive belief in Deity in all mankind is hardly disputed. Until false teaching, misguided reasoning, or wickedness, beclouds the mind, the soul declares there is a God. It is not uncommon for disbelievers in God to admit that they have once believed in him. To have God pictured as some creeds do, as a monster, cruel, unmerciful and harsh, visiting immediate punishment upon the sinner, may restrain through fear, the child or youth from sin and evil; but, growing older and more courageous, he ventures upon the dangerous ground where these fears are to some extent proved groundless. He finds that he can sin, but feel no immediate punishment. He concludes that if God exists at all, he is unin-

THEISM VS. ATHEISM. 423 terested in what men are doing. Thus false teaching and mis- guided reasoning have sown the first seeds of infidelity, and the youth, thinking he has been deceived, feels free from restraint, so far as a divine power is concerned, and naturally develops a tend- ency toward the gratification of earthly desires and pleasures. There are a few honorable exceptions, but the greater number of the world's skeptics, infidels and atheists, are composed of disrespecters of law and order, the least desirable of our citizens, and men who gratify human lusts and passions. Their course is marked by a gradual degradation from the time they foolishly say, "There is no God." Indifference in them is followed by rebellion, and that by sin. profanity, intoxication, corrupt society; and at length the. depths of dissipation. Anarchy, in whose breast nestles foul deeds, is the final shrine at which they pay their misdirected homage. The once pure soul now worships at the gates of hell; for the soul, abuse and misguide it as you may, still insists upon being a wor- shiper, though atheism throw it at the feet of Satan. Reference has been made to the intuitive belief possessed by all children, and which comes from that Spirit which "enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world;" yet, it would not be true to say that if left without further teaching, the child would arrive at an intelligent conception of the Deity or his purposes. As atheism results from false teaching, so intelligent theism must come from true teaching and research. When man is guided in the truth, he grows to see in life something worth living for. His moral nature develops, becoming strong, as his conception and belief in God is enlarged. Let him understand that God exists, and let his faith develop in that direction, and you need have no fear that he will not observe the law, for he will live above the law. Instead of degradation, his course is a constant advance toward perfection and honor. His path is the path of virtue and morality. He commits no evil, not because he fears a damaging punishment, but because he is striving to carry out in his life the virtues and qualities which he pictures in Deity. He is in every sense a desirable citizen, and theism makes the altar of his wor- ship the throne of God. There are always exceptions, and we must admit that there

424 IMPROVEMENT ERA. are many whose lives on earth are honorable, and upright, and yet who are not believers in the Supreme Being. What then is the meaning and purpose of life to them? It is a stage, a drama, of which they are the authors and the actors, and when the curtain falls, the end ensues. No future hope, no light beyond, happifies their lives. All through the drama, they labor in gloom and despair, with the thought of darkness and annihilation awaiting them, with no power to avert the impending doom. Contrast this with the Christian's hope. Life to him is real. From the presence of his Father in Heaven, he has come to do his will; and after performing his part in the drama of earthly life, he expects to return to God where life is more glorious and blissful. While he clings to earth with passionate love, he reconciles him- self to death, believing it is by no means the end of light, or the consummation of hope, but the passing into life eternal. As a disciple of atheism, we have Ingersoll, whose life was clean, whose moral character was noble. Possessed of a brilliant mind, he arose to distinction and honor, yet, at death his infidelity failed him. In reviewing his life, there was no satisfaction, for he had lived in vain; and, as the years advance, his name will be almost forgotten. On the other side stood our late lamented President. A noble Christian, an honorable statesman, a beloved president and a true gentleman. The inspiration of his being was his belief in God. The motive of his life was the gospel of Jesus as he understood it, and it sustained him to the last. Stricken down by an atheist- anarchist hand, bravely he resigned himself, with the hope of a future life; and, by his dying words, ''Good-by all, goodby; it is God's way," he will live in the hearts of future generations as long as time shall last. Atheism at the last made the plaint of Robert G. Ingersoll, "Goodby friends, goodby forever. I will never see you again." Theism, at the supreme moment, made William McKinley lisp, "Nearer, my God, to thee."