Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 81:324 (Oct 1924)
Article: Notes And Reflections On The Alleged Genetic Relationship Between Christianity And Ancient Contemporaneous Religions
Author: J. Oliver Buswell, Jr.

BSac 81:324 (Oct 1924) p. 418

Notes And Reflections On The Alleged Genetic Relationship Between Christianity And Ancient Contemporaneous Religions

James Buswell, Jr.

Section I. Introduction, Presuppositions And Assumptions

The best way to secure results which are free from prejudice, is not to deny that we have mental biases, for we are all biased to some extent. Nor is it even to try to rid ourselves of our prejudices and assume an unprejudiced attitude. There is no such thing- as an unprejudiced attitude toward any subject that amounts to anything. The best way, as I see it, is for one, as clearly as he is able, to set his prejudices forth into the open light, so that not only he, but anyone who reads what he writes, may weigh and judge accordingly.

Theistic Prejudice

I am prejudiced, first of all, toward supernaturalism. I believe that whereas God usually acts through what we call natural causes, yet He does, and in the life of the historical Jesus, He has acted in a supernatural way to reveal Himself to mankind. I frankly acknowledge this to be a prejudice, but I must insist that one who rules out, on principle, the possibility of supernatural action, is likewise acting on prejudice, nothing more nor less. The Theist approaches the problem of the genesis of Christianity with the assumption that there may be a supernatural source for some of the phenomena. What he wants to know in each particular phase of the problem is whether the facts warrant the positing of supernatural agency or not. The anti-supernaturalist, on the other hand, denies the possibility of supernatural agency on principle before ever investigating the evidence. He is therefore bound to explain all phenomena, even the resurrection of Jesus, the turning point of subsequent his-

BSac 81:324 (Oct 1924) p. 419

tory, on a purely natural “mechanistic” basis. One may judge for himself whether it is more scientific to assume the possibility of a certain agency, and to study the facts to see whether it has operated or not, or to close one’s eyes a priori to the possibility that such an agency could operate. I must say that the latter attitude of mind seems utterly irrational and incomprehensible to me.

Christ Prejudice

I am further prejudiced with regard to the facts, as well as the possibilities. I believed before coming to any special study of the present subject (and still believe) that the historic person, Jesus Christ, what he was, what he did, and what he said, are the distinctive source and nucleus of the Christian movement. Whatever includes these factors is Christian, whatever excludes these factors is non-Christian, and ought in all honesty to stand on its own feet and get another name for itself. Prof. Case (Evolution o...