312 PRESENT-DAY RATIONALISM 



that Christianity, in the only true sense of the word, is 

 nothing else than the Christ-like character as seen in 

 and taught by Jesus Christ Himself and His apostles ; 

 and the pure religion is that defined by St. James,^ the 

 bitter opposition which Rationalists, Monists and others 

 express towards the Christian religion would greatly 

 subside. 



" Primitive Christianity " is discussed by Haeckel and 

 he adds: "Christ Himself, the noble prophet and en- 

 thusiast, so full of the love of humanity, was far below 

 the level of classical culture ; he knew nothing beyond 

 the Jewish traditions." ^ 



It is a common thing to depreciate Christ among 

 Rationalists ; thus, e.g., Mr. Charles Watts writes of 

 Him : ^ His character was " weak ". His teaching " objec- 

 tionable"; there is nothing "original" in His ethical 

 teaching, His conduct was " narrow-minded ". He was 

 in " no sense perfect". His precepts are "unreliable". 

 His language was "unrefined". He lacks "a true 

 method of reasoning and a uniformity of character ". He 

 exhibited an " injudicious example". He was "severe" 

 when He should have been " gentle ". When He ought 

 to have been "firm" He was " vacillating and cowardly," 

 etc. Then Mr. Watts asks: "Who would really be- 

 lieve in His teaching to practice self-mutilation or to hate 

 one's relations, or to accept a premium for deserting 

 wife ? " 



If Mr. Watts and Haeckel are right, have all 

 Christians, learned and unlearned, been stupidly blind, 

 awaiting for nearly 2000 years downwards, for Mr. Charles 

 Watts' interpretation ? 



Will Rationalists ever be able to learn that Christ 



1 Chap. i. 27. ^0/». «<., p. 319. 



* The Miracles of Christian Belief. 



