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Joseph Barker. Modern Skepticism: A Journey Through the Land of Doubt and Back Again
Modern Skepticism: A Journey Through the Land of Doubt and Back Again
Table of Contents
PREFACE
MODERN SKEPTICISM
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER II
CAUSES OF UNBELIEF
CHAPTER III
ANOTHER CAUSE OF UNBELIEF—BAD FEELING. THE AUTHOR'S CASE
CHAPTER IV
ORIGIN OF THE UNHAPPY FEELING—CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AUTHOR'S MIND—RATIONALIZING TENDENCY
CHAPTER V
CHANGES IN THE AUTHOR'S VIEWS
CHAPTER VI
JOHN WESLEY AND HIS VIEWS ON CERTAIN POINTS
CHAPTER VII
FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND THEIR RESULTS
CHAPTER VIII
A SECOND TENDENCY. PRACTICAL PREACHING
CHAPTER IX
EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY
CHAPTER X
THE REFORMING TENDENCY
CHAPTER XI
EXPLANATIONS
CHAPTER XII
THE STORY CONTINUED. WHAT FOLLOWED EXPULSION. DESPERATE WORD FIGHTING. ABUSE
CHAPTER XIII
CONTACT WITH UNITARIANS, AND DOWNWARD TENDENCY TO DEISM
CHAPTER XIV
THE BIBLE QUESTION. INSPIRATION, INFALLIBILITY. HISTORY OF MY VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT
CHAPTER XV
GOES INTO POLITICS. ARRESTED. LODGED IN PRISON. ELECTED TOWN COUNCILLOR, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, &C
CHAPTER XVI
THE STORY OF MY DESCENT FROM THE FAITH OF MY CHILDHOOD, TO DOUBT AND UNBELIEF
CHAPTER XVII
CONTINUATION OF MY STORY. FRESH TROUBLES. A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. HOW BROUGHT ABOUT. INCIDENTS. THE CHANGE COMPLETE AT LENGTH. ITS RESULTS
CHAPTER XVIII
PARTIES WHO CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS MY RETURN TO CHRIST
CHAPTER XIX
SOME OF THE STEPS BY WHICH I CAME TO FAITH IN CHRIST
CHAPTER XX
A FEW OF THE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED ON MY WAY THROUGH LIFE
CONCLUDING REMARKS
A FEW TESTIMONIES OF GREAT MEN IN FAVOR OF CHRISTIANITY
Отрывок из книги
Joseph Barker
A Life Story
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As a young minister I had two or three marked tendencies. One may be called a rationalizing tendency. I was anxious, in the first place, clearly to understand all my professed beliefs, and to be able, in the second place, to make them plain to others. I never liked to travel in a fog, wrapped round as with a blinding cloud, unable either to see my way, or to get a view of the things with which I was surrounded. I liked a clear, bright sky, with the sun shining full upon my path, and gladdening my eyes with a view of a thousand interesting objects. And so with regard to spiritual matters. I never liked to travel in theological fogs. They pressed on me at the outset of my religious life, on every side, hiding from my view the wonders and the glories of God's word and works; but I never rested in the darkness. I longed and prayed for light with all my soul, and sought for it with all my powers. Regarding the Bible as God's Book, given to man for his instruction and salvation, I resolved, by God's help, to find out both what it said and what it meant, on every important point of truth and duty.
1. I became sensible, very early in life, that the doctrines I had received from my teachers were, in some cases, inconsistent with each other, and that they could not therefore all be true; and I was anxious to get rid of this inconsistency, and to bring the whole of my beliefs into harmony with each other.
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