Jesus Christ And The Civilization Of Today - The Ethical Teaching Of Jesus Considered In Its Bearings On The Moral Foundations Of Modern Culture (Paperback)

JESUS CHRIST AND THE CIVILIZATION OF TO-DAY WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR TYPICAL MODERN CONCEPTIONS OF GOD-WITH A CONSTRUCTIVE E SSAY. 1901. PERSONALITY AND REALITY - A TREATISE O F METAPHYSICS. II p Z e payation . JESUS CHItIST AND THE CIVILIZATION OF TO-DAY THE ETHICAL TEACHING OF JESUS CONSIDERED IN ITS BEARINGS ON THE MORAL FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN CULTURE JOSEPH ALEXANDER LEIGHTON, PH. D. PROFESSOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY IN HOBART COLLEGE. PREFATORY NOTE As indicated by the title, the scope of this work is limited to a consideration of the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ in their bearings on the spiritual life of civilization. No account is taken of the external events of Christs life or of his deeds, except in so far as has seemed ilecessary to interpret the meaning and application of his teaching. No questions of dogmatic theology are directly considered, nor, on the other hand, does the author mean to imply that there may not be aspects of that life, of deep significance for the individual and the church, that lie beyond the purview of the present work. He is simply concerned here with ideas that seem to him to be of broad and primary significance for the entire moral foundations of western culture. He has felt compelled to take some account of eastern culture, since the two are now meeting in the world-arena. He has done this with diffidence, since his knowledge of the East is purely literary. The primary aim of the work is practical, and it is addressed to all intelligent persons who are honestly and open-mindedly seeking t6 determine the relation of the words of the great Master of Life and Religion to their own lives and to the vii ... Vlll PREFATORY NOTE complex andconfused life of contemporary civilization. Hence, technical discussions in biblical criticism and in philosophy have been, so far as possible, avoided. Philosophical questions have been dealt with as briefly and clearly as possible. If the style of treatment may savour, to the specialist, of dogmatism, the authors reply is that he has threshed out, to the best of his ability, questions at issue in the philosophy of mind in a forthcoming work. To the specialist in New Testament criticism and theology the author would say further that, while he has avoided burdening a work of popular character with references, he has considered in great part the recent literature both German and English. But the writers wish will be satisfied if some intelligent seekers after truth in matters of conduct and life are led to a fuller appreciation of the present significance of the teaching of Him whose words are Spirit and Life. GENEVA, NEW YORK, January 10, g g . CONTENTS PAGE PREFATORYN OTE . . . . vii CHAPTER I PURPOSE A ND STANDPOIN O T F THE PRESENTW ORK I CHAPTER I1 NATURE A ND HUMANN ATURE . . 22 CHAPTER I11 THE HEART OF MAN . 35 CHAPTER IV THE CONDUCT O F THE INDIVIDUALI FE . s6 CHAPTER V THE C ONDUCT O F THE SOCIALL IFE . . 89 CHAPTER V1 THE IMPERFECTION O S F LIFE . . . . 120 CHAPTER V11 THE IDEA OF GOD . I39 I The Idea of God in General . I39 2 Jesus Idea of God . . . 150 3 The Problem of Evil . I57 ix CONTENTS CHAPTER V111 PAGE THEI NFLUENCE O F JESUS TEACHIN A G ND OF OTHER CHAPTER IX JESUSC HRIST A ND OTHER FOUNDE O R F S R ELIGIONS 179 I Personality and the History of Religion . I79 2 Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha in History . 185 CHAPTER X THE F INAL S IGNIFICANC O E F THE PERSONALIT O Y FJESUS CHRIST . 215 APPENDIX. ETHICS AND ESCHATOLOGY . 225 INDEX TO NAMES AND SUBJECTS ...