Modern Scientific Sociology And The Christ -- By: W. W. Everts
Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 082:327 (Jul 1925)
Article: Modern Scientific Sociology And The Christ
Author: W. W. Everts
BSac 81:327 (July 1925) p. 274
Modern Scientific Sociology And The Christ
IN
Gumplowics sees in society nothing but a never ending struggle in which the weak are exploited by the strong. Loria, Novikow, and Sighele likewise follow Marx and dwell on the class struggle with no care for the general welfare. Ward is a disciple of Comte the Positivist. Carey identifies sociology with political economy. Gumplowics says, “In these schools, as at Bethlehem’s inn, there is no room for Christ. They count it a glory that sociology is now called a science and therefore has no need of revelation.” The famous leader Marx explicitly excluded all religion from his system. It is easy to see why Christ is not needed in this science, if, as Gumplowics asserts, it does not pretend to answer the three important questions, wherefore, whence, and whither? There were political economists before Christ, and, if sociology confines its attention to material benefits, it may get on without Christ. The “Biblical World” (1895, p. 5) warns preachers against dabbling in social reforms. It says: “There is real danger that in their endeavor to be social reformers and municipal censors our religious teachers may forget that religion is at the bottom of every lasting reform and that the Christ they preach, so far as men
BSac 81:327 (July 1925) p. 275
thus far know, is the one sure means of arousing religious emotions and of satisfying religious desire.” Harnack (Social Gospel, p. 71) takes the same position, “The improvement of economic conditions is not the duty of religion. The chief task is to preach the Gospel. If not, Christianity will cease. The Gospel is not a social manifestation but a faith to overcome the world. Social workers can never do the work of ministers. The church is secularized if ministers discuss land tenure, taxation, insurance, and price regulation. Christians have nothing in common with those who inculcate a life devoid of religion (p. 13.). The Gospel contains no teaching concerning temporal good that could be summed up in an economic program....
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