Martian Visitor XII

A MARTIAN EXAMINES CHRISTIANITY by Arthur Levett, Page 93
Chapter XII The Martian Examines Into Faith “ Faith,” echoed the Martian. “ May I inquire as to its meaning as you employ the word? ” “ Those who have faith,” said the Priest, “ believe in God; they believe in the Bible as God’s Word; they believe that Jesus was the Son of God through the Holy Spirit, and that He is God Himself; they believe that He rose from the dead, and is now the living God who rules the universe; and they believe also in the infallibility of His Holy Church.” “ His last statement is untrue,” said the Fundamentalist. “ By ‘faith,’ ” inquired the Martian, “ you mean believing what your reason would tell you is not so? ” “ For those who have faith,” said the Fundamentalist, “there is no need for reason.” He rose to his feet. “You may point out as many supposed contradictions in God’s Holy Word as you like, but I say to you, there are no contradictions. If God says in His Word that the earth is flat, then I declare unto you that when He said it the earth was flat. If the Bible says there was light on the earth and in the heavens before God made the sun, then there was light on the earth and in the heavens before the sun was made. If God’s Word says the sun moved around the earth, then I tell you, my brethren, that day the sun did move around the earth. To doubt the Word of God is to surrender to the Prince of Darkness. Satan is always at hand trying to lead men into infidelity by tempting them to doubt the truth of God’s Word.” Page 94 He paused for breath, and the Modernist spoke: “ I could not revere a God who would demand that I believe what I can’t believe because it is contrary to the reason with which He endowed me.” “ Reason! Reason! ” retorted the Fundamentalist, “ I tell you it is not to be relied upon. Reason is influenced by prejudice and passion. That is why God gave us His Holy Word to guide us. He tells us to search the scriptures - not with the design of examining whether they are right or wrong, but as our infallible guide. You might as well doubt your own existence because you cannot understand the wonders of the nature of your soul and body. By faith we live and by faith shall we die, and by faith we shall have everlasting life in Jesus, our Lord.” “ Oh,” said the Martian, “ I begin to understand the meaning of your word ‘faith.’ Is the religion of the rest of your gentlemen founded on this same faith? ” “ It is indeed,” answered the Priest and the Rabbi. “ It is not,” said the Modernist, emphatically. “ We use our minds; we have examined the Bible and subjected it to the same criticism to which we would subject any other piece of literature. We know the Books of Moses were not written until centuries after his death, if indeed he ever lived; we know that most of the tales in the Bible are myths and legends borrowed from the pagans and handed down by tradition from ages before the Bible was written. We know that the so-called laws of Moses were written by a group of priests at the time of King Josiah after the Babylonian captivity; We know that the four gospels were not written by the men whose names they carry; we know that not only the story of the divine birth, but of the crucifixion and the resurrection of the saviour god, as well as his ethical teachings, were centuries old at the time he is supposed to have been born. Page 95 We know the Bible is merely the literature of an ancient race; that the god of the Old Testament was a tribal god whom the Hebrews borrowed from the Kenites; that his character bears the impress of the character of the tribes who created him and who wrote of him, and that according to the character of the men who wrote of him he was revolting, cold, and cruel, or tender, just, and merciful. But we believe in the better moral precepts of the Bible, teach them, and try to follow them.” “ If that be Christianity, what, I would ask, is infidelity? ” interjected the Fundamentalist. The Martian continued to interrogate the Modernist: “ Then you reject the idea of a god and merely practise and teach a code of ethics? ” “ No, No, no; do not misunderstand me. We are Christians.” “ But you say you do not accept the Bible as the word of your god, and do not believe the tales upon which the Christian doctrine is founded.” “ We do accept its high moral teachings, but we do not accept the idea of God as there portrayed.” “ And you do not observe the rites and sacraments of the Christian Church? ” “ Not all of them, of course. We do, however, observe the two great customs of Christians, the anniversary of the birth of jesus, and Easter, the anniversary of his resurrection.” “ You puzzle me, for you say you celebrate these two events, yet do not believe in the occurrences they symbolize.” Page 96 “ We believe in the immorality of the soul; we believe in a future life, but we do not believe in what is contrary to reason.” “ Then I take it that your belief in the immortality of the soul is based on reason. I would be interested to hear the evidence that has satisfied your reason.” “ My belief is based on reason because it is the only way we can account for the scheme of life. There must be a future life, for we feel there must be something more.” “ Yes, I can understand your emotions as to that; but will you tell me the basis of your belief which you say is founded on reason? You have undoubtedly had evidence of some form of existence after death; have perhaps communicated or talked with those that have died? ” “ No, I cannot say that, but we are sure there is a future life.” “ But your evidence, based upon which your reason tells you there is a future life? ” “ Why, from time immemorial as far back as history goes, all men have believed in immortality. Besides, how could the apparent injustices of this world be adjusted if there were not a future life? ” “ Does the fact that many have believed a thing prove it to be true? ” asked the Martian. “ And what leads you to believe that injustices must be compensated? Your civilized nations do not hesitate to deprive savage tribes of their lands and property and even of their lives; are these oppressed people to have justice against you in the future life? You slaughter and feed upon innocent animals. Would you have them in some future life slaughter and feed upon you in order that your injustice to them may be compensated? Have you any other evidence as to the existence of a future life? ” Page 97 “ It is true,” answered the Modernist, “ that science in its analysis of matter has not discovered a soul, but there are many things that science cannot explain. Consider the beauty of a sunset, a living picture of joy in the world of our consciousness. It is the ultimate product of creative co-ordination. If man has no soul, how does the beauty of the sunset appear in the world of his consciousness? ” “ In ancient times,” replied the Martian, “ your ancestors accounted for what they did not understand by conceiving of demons, devils, witches, and the like. You cannot understand the existence of a sense of beauty or of ideals in man; therefore you conceive of a soul to account for it. Is your logic any sounder than that of your ancestors? ” “ The facts of life are sufficient to warrant our belief in the existence of a soul.” “ Let me understand. You say you believe that man has descended from the lower animals through gradual evolution.” “ That is correct,” said the Modernist. “ He believes man descended from the monkeys,” broke in the Fundamentalist. “ That is the ignorant assumption of men who know nothing about evolution,” replied the Modernist. “ We believe man was descended from an ape-like ancestor who was also the ancestor of the man-like apes; but no evolutionist believes man was descended from any species of monkeys or from any other species of animal now existent. We believe that that common ancestor descended, along with other species, from another common ancestor, and so on down the countless ages until we come to the primordial singled-cell organism from which all animal as well as plant life developed.” Page 98 “ And you believe that when man was evolved a soul was implanted in him by your god? ” asked the Martian. “ We believe that there developed in some way a soul in man,” answered the Modernist. “ But you believe the development from the lower animals to man was so gradual that at some point in his progress you would not have been able to determine with assurance whether he was a man or a lower animal? ” “ Yes, that is true.” “ Then will you tell me where the soul first appeared? Do you believe your lowest type of savage man possesses a soul? ” “ We do.” “ And that his soul will continue to live after his physical death? ” “ Y-e-s,” reluctantly admitted the modernist, who began to perceive the drift of the Martian’s questions. “ And if this development from the lower animals was so gradual as to present no clearly defined line of demarcation between the lowest man and the highest ape-like ancestor, must you not then logically believe that this ape-like ancestor possessed an immortal soul which somewhere still exists? ” “ It is possible,” answered the Modernist. “ And that, in accordance with the theory of evolution, all the lower animals, even the insects, and in fact all forms of life, including plants, must have immortal souls? ” The Fundamentalist made no effort to conceal his glee as he watched the Martian gradually impale the Modernist on the spear of his relentless logic. He chuckled audibly. “ That’s the religion of ‘Reason’ ! he exclaimed. “ That’s Evolution. That’s Modernism! ” But the Martian had not exhausted the subject. He asked the Modernist: Page 99 “ Do you still insist that man has an immortal soul? ” “ Yes, I do,” replied the Modernist defiantly. “ And that somewhere the souls of all the men that have died since man first evolved from the anthropoid ape ancestor exist and will exist for ever? ” “ I do.” “ And do you believe that these souls exist in the condition in which they left these ape-like men; or have those souls developed since they left their earthly bodies? ” “ it is possible they may have developed.” “ Then you would naturally believe that the souls of you and of your contemporaries will develop after death? ” “ That would be a reasonable belief.” “ And it would follow that the souls of these ape-like ancestors who died hundreds of thousands of years ago would now be far more advanced than those of you and of your contemporaries, whose development is limited by earthly conditions, would it not? ” “ Well, perhaps I am mistaken, and they have not developed.” “ In that case you will depart from this life to join a company of souls the tremendously vast majority of which would be of a character far inferior to the soul of the lowest savage that now inhabits the earth? ” “ I cannot answer that question,” replied the hard-pressed Modernist irritably, “ but nevertheless I believe in the existence of a soul and in its immortality.” “ But must you not concede that such belief is based entirely upon that faith with which our Fundamentalist friend is so abundantly supplied? ” “ It is based upon faith, yes; but mine is a reasonable faith, not faith in absurdities.” “ Hear him!” exclaimed the Fundamentalist. “ Our faith is ‘absurd,’ but his is ‘reasonable.’ ” Page 100 “ Well,” said the Martian, “ I think we should be satisfied with our friend’s explanation, inasmuch as he is willing to concede that his belief in an immortal soul is founded upon faith and not evidence. He again addressed the Modernist: “ Now may I ask as to your belief in the existence of a benevolent god? You agree with our friends, I understand, that this Guiding Intelligence, the Power beyond Authority, whom you all call God, is all-wise, loving, and benevolent. Do you base that belief on evidence aside from your Bible? ” “ God has given us our lives,” answered the Modernist; “ has provided a beautiful world; has given us love, ideals; has showered innumerable blessings upon us; God is Love and Benevolence.” “ But by your own definition of god as the guiding spirit of the universe, the first great cause, he must also be accountable for storms, droughts, earthquakes, pestilences, sickness, and all other causes of distress and suffering. These evils so far outweigh your ‘blessings’ that most of your philosophers agree that it would be better for one never to have been born. Your Bible itself states, ‘ life is of few days and full of trouble.’ ” “ It is our own fault if we do not find life worth living,” remarked the Modernist. “ You understand,” said the Martian, “we are not now discussing the god of the Bible; we are speaking from the standpoint of reason, which implies drawing conclusions along logical lines from established facts as a premise. You have admitted that your belief in the soul and in its immortality must be based upon faith.” “ That is fair,” said the Modernist. “ You then point to Nature and her works as evidence of a benevolent guiding intelligence which you call ‘God.’ Page 101 To me your evidence is not sufficient to establish that a god exists, although I do not deny that such an intelligence may exist. We do not know and frankly so admit.” You lack faith,” said the Fundamentalist. “ We do,” answered the Martian dryly. “ I have asked you, therefore,” said the Martian, again addressing the Modernist, “ to state your reasons for believing that this guiding intelligence is benevolent. If we point to Nature, I cannot see how you can do otherwise than agree with me that life is a constant battle, not only between all creatures, but between every living organism and the forces of Nature itself - a battle in which no quarter nor mercy is shown. Does it not follow logically that if your god be manifested in the guidance of Nature and Nature is cruel, your god himself is cruel? ” “ Nevertheless,” said the Modernist, “ I will assert and maintain that we are ruled and guided by a good, loving, kind, and merciful Power.” “ Thank you,” said the Martian. “ I am sure now I comprehend the points of view of all of you. Our friends the Priest, the Fundamentalist, and the Rabbi accept the Bible as true and as inspired by your god. They believe every word of their respective versions of it although they differ as to the interpretation of some parts. They frankly base their belief on that strange attribute called Faith which permits them to believe in spite of contradictions, absurdities, and impossibilities, and are thus enabled to believe that their god of the Bible is a good, kind, and benevolent being. They evidently follow the Church Father Tertullian, who lived about A.D. 200. He said: ‘ I maintain that the Son of God was born; why am I not ashamed of maintaining such a thing? Why! but because it is itself a shameful thing. I maintain that the Son of God died; well, that is wholly credible because it is monstrously absurd. I maintain that after having been buried he rose again; and that I take to be absolutely true, because it was manifestly impossible.’ ¹ ¹ On the Flesh of Christ, ch. v. Page 102 Our friend the Modernist has no faith whatever in your Bible as the word of his god, rejects the god of the Bible, and relies on his reason. On the basis of his reason he believes in a supreme intelligence, which he also deems is good and benevolent in spite of all evidence to the contrary. “ Now it is clear to me,” continued the Martian, “ that you have two meanings for your word expressing benevolence. Apparently you would consider a man who would torture or murder innocent children as an utterly wicked, loathsome individual; yet when the same deeds are perpetrated by your god, you persist in calling him kind, good, and benevolent.” “ We have no right to judge Him by our standards,” said the Priest. “ But how can you have two standards of good and evil? You have a language by means of which you communicate your thoughts and ideas to one another. When you speak to me of a good man I understand you mean one who is kindly, unselfish, benevolent, beneficent, charitable, tolerant, merciful; but when your god performs acts which in a man would be considered cruel, malevolent, uncharitable, unmerciful, and abhorrent you nevertheless look upon them as actions of a good god and render him praise and thankfulness.” “ We consider Him good and benevolent,” said the Modernist,” because He is the motive power which tends to produce a fine personality in a human being. We believe God is Goodness and Benevolence because - ” “ Because you have faith,” finished the Martian. You judge a man by his works, but your god by faith. I did not before fully understand the meaning of faith. Now I assume that you, as leaderes in religion, teach according to your respective beliefs? ” Page 103 “ We do,” said the Rabbi, “ each according to his light, and that is why we have so many sects and religious groups; but so long as one honestly expresses what he believes we respect him regardless of differences of opinion.” “ We also respect one who is honest,” said the Martian, “ however much we may think he is in error. But there is still one thing that mystifies me. You believe,” he said, addressing the Modernist, “ in the existence of a god, in the existence of a life after death, and in the benevolence of this god. All that I can understand. Your faith supports your belief in these matters in spite of what your reason tells you. But you also state that you do not believe your god would or could change his immutable laws in order to grant a prayer; nevertheless, you say you pray and invite your people to pray, when you know that such a prayer is presumptuous, vain, foolish, useless, and, in fact, an insult to an all-wise intelligence.” “ It is true we pray to Him,” answered the Modernist. We open our hearts and commune with Him that our souls may be in harmony with the Infinite. Only those who have suffered can feel how very real God is to the believing soul. Faith experiences joys which Doubt can never know.” “ But do you consider it the part of a reasoning man to endeavour to be ‘at one’ with a god who permitted and still permits cruelties such as constantly occur and frequently make life a hideous nightmare to innocent men and women? ” “ But I preach and teach morality,” replied the Modernist, “ the morality of Jesus, the perfect man.” “ Even so,” responded the Martian, “ but you know and admit that many had preached the same moral precepts before Christianity came into the world and before your Bible was written. Page 104 I can see the need of teachers of morality, but why do you teach it as a professed emissary and in the name of the Bible god whose existence you deny, and in the name of a Christian sect whose creed you dare not openly recite as your true belief? After all, you call yourself a Christian and hold yourself out as a Minister of the Christian gospels, when you admit that you reject every basic tenet of the Christian religion - original sin, atonement, and redemption. You do not accept the story of Adam and Eve, therefore you cannot believe in the doctrine of original sin. Withour original sin there can be no atonement nor redemption. Without a belief in these fundamentals how can you call yourself a Christian? “ The Rabbi has used the expression ‘honest.’ On our planet that is understood as meaning truthfully expressing and acting according to one’s beliefs. Have you then another meaning for your word ‘honest’ based upon faith, which is unknown to me, just as you have another understanding of your words ‘good’ and ‘evil’ ? ” “ Why - why ” stammered the Modernist. The Fundamentalist broke in: “ You see where our friend the Modernist is led through submitting the Blessed Bible to criticism and analysis. Why does he not accept it as the Word of God as I have accepted it and believe it? True faith is what he needs, and if he would have faith he would not be in the position he finds himself.” “ Exactly,” said the Priest, “ and if he would leave the interpretation of this Blessed Book to those great minds of old who generation after generation have studied it and interpreted it he would be much better off. That is our position; we have faith not only in the Bible as the Word of God but in the infallibility of the interpretations made by our holy fathers of the Church. Page 105 “ But I maintain,: continued the Priest, “ that religion is necessary to the world. Suppose we assume that I, as a representative of the only true Church, should lose the faith that I possess and, by applying my knowledge of Nature’s laws and by reasoning, should arrive at a conclusion that our religion is unwarrantable, absurd, and untrue. Nevertheless, I would still contend that the Church is necessary, and that the vast majority of the people need, and would be benefited by having, a belief in a Heavenly Father, a future life, and reward or punishment after death.” “ That is to say, if I understand you,” said the Martian, “you would sacrifice truth if by so doing you could give to your brethren what you think they need? ” “ I would,” answered the Priest, “ and in that I have the authority of St. Paul, who said: ‘For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? ’ ² We have also the example of our blessed Saviour, who taught in parables so that some might not understand His real meaning, and of God Himself, who said: ‘If the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet.’ ” ³ “ But you have told me your god is truth itself.” “ God is truth,” said the Modernist. “ Ah, yes,” said the Martian. “ For the moment I had forgotten your faith. Your pardon.” The Fundamentalist looked pleased. “ Do you all agree with our friend the Priest that religion has been and is good for the world? ” “ Yes, we all are agreed on that,” said the Modernist. “ We may differ in our creed, but we all believe in the Church as an institution, and in the value of religion to the world.” ² Rom. iii. 7. ³ Ezekiel xiv. 9. Chapter XIII The Martian Examines Into The Value Of Religion Chapter XI The Martian Inquires As To Miracles Home: Chapter I The Martian Visits The Earth

A MARTIAN EXAMINES CHRISTIANITY by Arthur Levett, Page 93

Chapter XII
The Martian Examines Into Faith
“ Faith,” echoed the Martian. “ May I inquire as to its meaning as you employ the word? ”
“ Those who have faith,” said the Priest, “ believe in God; they believe in the Bible as God’s Word; they believe that Jesus was the Son of God through the Holy Spirit, and that He is God Himself; they believe that He rose from the dead, and is now the living God who rules the universe; and they believe also in the infallibility of His Holy Church.”
“ His last statement is untrue,” said the Fundamentalist.
“ By ‘faith,’ ” inquired the Martian, “ you mean believing what your reason would tell you is not so? ”
“ For those who have faith,” said the Fundamentalist, “there is no need for reason.” He rose to his feet. “You may point out as many supposed contradictions in God’s Holy Word as you like, but I say to you, there are no contradictions. If God says in His Word that the earth is flat, then I declare unto you that when He said it the earth was flat. If the Bible says there was light on the earth and in the heavens before God made the sun, then there was light on the earth and in the heavens before the sun was made. If God’s Word says the sun moved around the earth, then I tell you, my brethren, that day the sun did move around the earth. To doubt the Word of God is to surrender to the Prince of Darkness. Satan is always at hand trying to lead men into infidelity by tempting them to doubt the truth of God’s Word.”

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He paused for breath, and the Modernist spoke:
“ I could not revere a God who would demand that I believe what I can’t believe because it is contrary to the reason with which He endowed me.”
“ Reason! Reason! ” retorted the Fundamentalist, “ I tell you it is not to be relied upon. Reason is influenced by prejudice and passion. That is why God gave us His Holy Word to guide us. He tells us to search the scriptures - not with the design of examining whether they are right or wrong, but as our infallible guide. You might as well doubt your own existence because you cannot understand the wonders of the nature of your soul and body. By faith we live and by faith shall we die, and by faith we shall have everlasting life in Jesus, our Lord.”
“ Oh,” said the Martian, “ I begin to understand the meaning of your word ‘faith.’ Is the religion of the rest of your gentlemen founded on this same faith? ”
“ It is indeed,” answered the Priest and the Rabbi.
“ It is not,” said the Modernist, emphatically. “ We use our minds; we have examined the Bible and subjected it to the same criticism to which we would subject any other piece of literature. We know the Books of Moses were not written until centuries after his death, if indeed he ever lived; we know that most of the tales in the Bible are myths and legends borrowed from the pagans and handed down by tradition from ages before the Bible was written. We know that the so-called laws of Moses were written by a group of priests at the time of King Josiah after the Babylonian captivity; We know that the four gospels were not written by the men whose names they carry; we know that not only the story of the divine birth, but of the crucifixion and the resurrection of the saviour god, as well as his ethical teachings, were centuries old at the time he is supposed to have been born.

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We know the Bible is merely the literature of an ancient race; that the god of the Old Testament was a tribal god whom the Hebrews borrowed from the Kenites; that his character bears the impress of the character of the tribes who created him and who wrote of him, and that according to the character of the men who wrote of him he was revolting, cold, and cruel, or tender, just, and merciful. But we believe in the better moral precepts of the Bible, teach them, and try to follow them.”
“ If that be Christianity, what, I would ask, is infidelity? ” interjected the Fundamentalist.
The Martian continued to interrogate the Modernist:
“ Then you reject the idea of a god and merely practise and teach a code of ethics? ”
“ No, No, no; do not misunderstand me. We are Christians.”
“ But you say you do not accept the Bible as the word of your god, and do not believe the tales upon which the Christian doctrine is founded.”
“ We do accept its high moral teachings, but we do not accept the idea of God as there portrayed.”
“ And you do not observe the rites and sacraments of the Christian Church? ”
“ Not all of them, of course. We do, however, observe the two great customs of Christians, the anniversary of the birth of jesus, and Easter, the anniversary of his resurrection.”
“ You puzzle me, for you say you celebrate these two events, yet do not believe in the occurrences they symbolize.”

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“ We believe in the immorality of the soul; we believe in a future life, but we do not believe in what is contrary to reason.”
“ Then I take it that your belief in the immortality of the soul is based on reason. I would be interested to hear the evidence that has satisfied your reason.”
“ My belief is based on reason because it is the only way we can account for the scheme of life. There must be a future life, for we feel there must be something more.”
“ Yes, I can understand your emotions as to that; but will you tell me the basis of your belief which you say is founded on reason? You have undoubtedly had evidence of some form of existence after death; have perhaps communicated or talked with those that have died? ”
“ No, I cannot say that, but we are sure there is a future life.”
“ But your evidence, based upon which your reason tells you there is a future life? ”
“ Why, from time immemorial as far back as history goes, all men have believed in immortality. Besides, how could the apparent injustices of this world be adjusted if there were not a future life? ”
“ Does the fact that many have believed a thing prove it to be true? ” asked the Martian. “ And what leads you to believe that injustices must be compensated? Your civilized nations do not hesitate to deprive savage tribes of their lands and property and even of their lives; are these oppressed people to have justice against you in the future life? You slaughter and feed upon innocent animals. Would you have them in some future life slaughter and feed upon you in order that your injustice to them may be compensated? Have you any other evidence as to the existence of a future life? ”

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“ It is true,” answered the Modernist, “ that science in its analysis of matter has not discovered a soul, but there are many things that science cannot explain. Consider the beauty of a sunset, a living picture of joy in the world of our consciousness. It is the ultimate product of creative co-ordination. If man has no soul, how does the beauty of the sunset appear in the world of his consciousness? ”
“ In ancient times,” replied the Martian, “ your ancestors accounted for what they did not understand by conceiving of demons, devils, witches, and the like. You cannot understand the existence of a sense of beauty or of ideals in man; therefore you conceive of a soul to account for it. Is your logic any sounder than that of your ancestors? ”
“ The facts of life are sufficient to warrant our belief in the existence of a soul.”
“ Let me understand. You say you believe that man has descended from the lower animals through gradual evolution.”
“ That is correct,” said the Modernist.
“ He believes man descended from the monkeys,” broke in the Fundamentalist.
“ That is the ignorant assumption of men who know nothing about evolution,” replied the Modernist. “ We believe man was descended from an ape-like ancestor who was also the ancestor of the man-like apes; but no evolutionist believes man was descended from any species of monkeys or from any other species of animal now existent. We believe that that common ancestor descended, along with other species, from another common ancestor, and so on down the countless ages until we come to the primordial singled-cell organism from which all animal as well as plant life developed.”

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“ And you believe that when man was evolved a soul was implanted in him by your god? ” asked the Martian.
“ We believe that there developed in some way a soul in man,” answered the Modernist.
“ But you believe the development from the lower animals to man was so gradual that at some point in his progress you would not have been able to determine with assurance whether he was a man or a lower animal? ”
“ Yes, that is true.”
“ Then will you tell me where the soul first appeared? Do you believe your lowest type of savage man possesses a soul? ”
“ We do.”
“ And that his soul will continue to live after his physical death? ”
“ Y-e-s,” reluctantly admitted the modernist, who began to perceive the drift of the Martian’s questions.
“ And if this development from the lower animals was so gradual as to present no clearly defined line of demarcation between the lowest man and the highest ape-like ancestor, must you not then logically believe that this ape-like ancestor possessed an immortal soul which somewhere still exists? ”
“ It is possible,” answered the Modernist.
“ And that, in accordance with the theory of evolution, all the lower animals, even the insects, and in fact all forms of life, including plants, must have immortal souls? ”
The Fundamentalist made no effort to conceal his glee as he watched the Martian gradually impale the Modernist on the spear of his relentless logic. He chuckled audibly.
“ That’s the religion of ‘Reason’ ! he exclaimed. “ That’s Evolution. That’s Modernism! ”
But the Martian had not exhausted the subject. He asked the Modernist:

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“ Do you still insist that man has an immortal soul? ”
“ Yes, I do,” replied the Modernist defiantly.
“ And that somewhere the souls of all the men that have died since man first evolved from the anthropoid ape ancestor exist and will exist for ever? ”
“ I do.”
“ And do you believe that these souls exist in the condition in which they left these ape-like men; or have those souls developed since they left their earthly bodies? ”
“ it is possible they may have developed.”
“ Then you would naturally believe that the souls of you and of your contemporaries will develop after death? ”
“ That would be a reasonable belief.”
“ And it would follow that the souls of these ape-like ancestors who died hundreds of thousands of years ago would now be far more advanced than those of you and of your contemporaries, whose development is limited by earthly conditions, would it not? ”
“ Well, perhaps I am mistaken, and they have not developed.”
“ In that case you will depart from this life to join a company of souls the tremendously vast majority of which would be of a character far inferior to the soul of the lowest savage that now inhabits the earth? ”
“ I cannot answer that question,” replied the hard-pressed Modernist irritably, “ but nevertheless I believe in the existence of a soul and in its immortality.”
“ But must you not concede that such belief is based entirely upon that faith with which our Fundamentalist friend is so abundantly supplied? ”
“ It is based upon faith, yes; but mine is a reasonable faith, not faith in absurdities.”
“ Hear him!” exclaimed the Fundamentalist. “ Our faith is ‘absurd,’ but his is ‘reasonable.’ ”

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“ Well,” said the Martian, “ I think we should be satisfied with our friend’s explanation, inasmuch as he is willing to concede that his belief in an immortal soul is founded upon faith and not evidence. He again addressed the Modernist:
“ Now may I ask as to your belief in the existence of a benevolent god? You agree with our friends, I understand, that this Guiding Intelligence, the Power beyond Authority, whom you all call God, is all-wise, loving, and benevolent. Do you base that belief on evidence aside from your Bible? ”
“ God has given us our lives,” answered the Modernist; “ has provided a beautiful world; has given us love, ideals; has showered innumerable blessings upon us; God is Love and Benevolence.”
“ But by your own definition of god as the guiding spirit of the universe, the first great cause, he must also be accountable for storms, droughts, earthquakes, pestilences, sickness, and all other causes of distress and suffering. These evils so far outweigh your ‘blessings’ that most of your philosophers agree that it would be better for one never to have been born. Your Bible itself states, ‘ life is of few days and full of trouble.’ ”
“ It is our own fault if we do not find life worth living,” remarked the Modernist.
“ You understand,” said the Martian, “we are not now discussing the god of the Bible; we are speaking from the standpoint of reason, which implies drawing conclusions along logical lines from established facts as a premise. You have admitted that your belief in the soul and in its immortality must be based upon faith.”
“ That is fair,” said the Modernist.
“ You then point to Nature and her works as evidence of a benevolent guiding intelligence which you call ‘God.’

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To me your evidence is not sufficient to establish that a god exists, although I do not deny that such an intelligence may exist. We do not know and frankly so admit.” You lack faith,” said the Fundamentalist.
“ We do,” answered the Martian dryly.
“ I have asked you, therefore,” said the Martian, again addressing the Modernist, “ to state your reasons for believing that this guiding intelligence is benevolent. If we point to Nature, I cannot see how you can do otherwise than agree with me that life is a constant battle, not only between all creatures, but between every living organism and the forces of Nature itself - a battle in which no quarter nor mercy is shown. Does it not follow logically that if your god be manifested in the guidance of Nature and Nature is cruel, your god himself is cruel? ”
“ Nevertheless,” said the Modernist, “ I will assert and maintain that we are ruled and guided by a good, loving, kind, and merciful Power.”
“ Thank you,” said the Martian. “ I am sure now I comprehend the points of view of all of you. Our friends the Priest, the Fundamentalist, and the Rabbi accept the Bible as true and as inspired by your god. They believe every word of their respective versions of it although they differ as to the interpretation of some parts. They frankly base their belief on that strange attribute called Faith which permits them to believe in spite of contradictions, absurdities, and impossibilities, and are thus enabled to believe that their god of the Bible is a good, kind, and benevolent being. They evidently follow the Church Father Tertullian, who lived about A.D. 200. He said: ‘ I maintain that the Son of God was born; why am I not ashamed of maintaining such a thing? Why! but because it is itself a shameful thing. I maintain that the Son of God died; well, that is wholly credible because it is monstrously absurd. I maintain that after having been buried he rose again; and that I take to be absolutely true, because it was manifestly impossible.’ ¹

¹ On the Flesh of Christ, ch. v.

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Our friend the Modernist has no faith whatever in your Bible as the word of his god, rejects the god of the Bible, and relies on his reason. On the basis of his reason he believes in a supreme intelligence, which he also deems is good and benevolent in spite of all evidence to the contrary.
“ Now it is clear to me,” continued the Martian, “ that you have two meanings for your word expressing benevolence. Apparently you would consider a man who would torture or murder innocent children as an utterly wicked, loathsome individual; yet when the same deeds are perpetrated by your god, you persist in calling him kind, good, and benevolent.”
“ We have no right to judge Him by our standards,” said the Priest.
“ But how can you have two standards of good and evil? You have a language by means of which you communicate your thoughts and ideas to one another. When you speak to me of a good man I understand you mean one who is kindly, unselfish, benevolent, beneficent, charitable, tolerant, merciful; but when your god performs acts which in a man would be considered cruel, malevolent, uncharitable, unmerciful, and abhorrent you nevertheless look upon them as actions of a good god and render him praise and thankfulness.”
“ We consider Him good and benevolent,” said the Modernist,” because He is the motive power which tends to produce a fine personality in a human being. We believe God is Goodness and Benevolence because - ”
“ Because you have faith,” finished the Martian. You judge a man by his works, but your god by faith. I did not before fully understand the meaning of faith. Now I assume that you, as leaderes in religion, teach according to your respective beliefs? ”

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“ We do,” said the Rabbi, “ each according to his light, and that is why we have so many sects and religious groups; but so long as one honestly expresses what he believes we respect him regardless of differences of opinion.”
“ We also respect one who is honest,” said the Martian, “ however much we may think he is in error. But there is still one thing that mystifies me. You believe,” he said, addressing the Modernist, “ in the existence of a god, in the existence of a life after death, and in the benevolence of this god. All that I can understand. Your faith supports your belief in these matters in spite of what your reason tells you. But you also state that you do not believe your god would or could change his immutable laws in order to grant a prayer; nevertheless, you say you pray and invite your people to pray, when you know that such a prayer is presumptuous, vain, foolish, useless, and, in fact, an insult to an all-wise intelligence.”
“ It is true we pray to Him,” answered the Modernist. We open our hearts and commune with Him that our souls may be in harmony with the Infinite. Only those who have suffered can feel how very real God is to the believing soul. Faith experiences joys which Doubt can never know.”
“ But do you consider it the part of a reasoning man to endeavour to be ‘at one’ with a god who permitted and still permits cruelties such as constantly occur and frequently make life a hideous nightmare to innocent men and women? ”
“ But I preach and teach morality,” replied the Modernist, “ the morality of Jesus, the perfect man.”
“ Even so,” responded the Martian, “ but you know and admit that many had preached the same moral precepts before Christianity came into the world and before your Bible was written.
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I can see the need of teachers of morality, but why do you teach it as a professed emissary and in the name of the Bible god whose existence you deny, and in the name of a Christian sect whose creed you dare not openly recite as your true belief? After all, you call yourself a Christian and hold yourself out as a Minister of the Christian gospels, when you admit that you reject every basic tenet of the Christian religion - original sin, atonement, and redemption. You do not accept the story of Adam and Eve, therefore you cannot believe in the doctrine of original sin. Withour original sin there can be no atonement nor redemption. Without a belief in these fundamentals how can you call yourself a Christian?
“ The Rabbi has used the expression ‘honest.’ On our planet that is understood as meaning truthfully expressing and acting according to one’s beliefs. Have you then another meaning for your word ‘honest’ based upon faith, which is unknown to me, just as you have another understanding of your words ‘good’ and ‘evil’ ? ”
“ Why - why ” stammered the Modernist.
The Fundamentalist broke in:
“ You see where our friend the Modernist is led through submitting the Blessed Bible to criticism and analysis. Why does he not accept it as the Word of God as I have accepted it and believe it? True faith is what he needs, and if he would have faith he would not be in the position he finds himself.”
“ Exactly,” said the Priest, “ and if he would leave the interpretation of this Blessed Book to those great minds of old who generation after generation have studied it and interpreted it he would be much better off. That is our position; we have faith not only in the Bible as the Word of God but in the infallibility of the interpretations made by our holy fathers of the Church.

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“ But I maintain,: continued the Priest, “ that religion is necessary to the world. Suppose we assume that I, as a representative of the only true Church, should lose the faith that I possess and, by applying my knowledge of Nature’s laws and by reasoning, should arrive at a conclusion that our religion is unwarrantable, absurd, and untrue. Nevertheless, I would still contend that the Church is necessary, and that the vast majority of the people need, and would be benefited by having, a belief in a Heavenly Father, a future life, and reward or punishment after death.”
“ That is to say, if I understand you,” said the Martian, “you would sacrifice truth if by so doing you could give to your brethren what you think they need? ”
“ I would,” answered the Priest, “ and in that I have the authority of St. Paul, who said: ‘For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto His glory, why yet am I also judged as a sinner? ’ ² We have also the example of our blessed Saviour, who taught in parables so that some might not understand His real meaning, and of God Himself, who said: ‘If the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet.’ ” ³
“ But you have told me your god is truth itself.”
“ God is truth,” said the Modernist.
“ Ah, yes,” said the Martian. “ For the moment I had forgotten your faith. Your pardon.” The Fundamentalist looked pleased. “ Do you all agree with our friend the Priest that religion has been and is good for the world? ”
“ Yes, we all are agreed on that,” said the Modernist. “ We may differ in our creed, but we all believe in the Church as an institution, and in the value of religion to the world.”

² Rom. iii. 7.
³ Ezekiel xiv. 9.

Chapter XIII The Martian Examines Into
The Value Of Religion

Chapter XI The Martian Inquires
As To Miracles

Home: Chapter I The Martian Visits The Earth