The Coming Religion (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ...unreasoning protest against existing order, against the grinding power of authority and established usage, which Louise Michel and some of her compatriots exhibited in the last stormy days of the Napoleonic Empire in 1871. Is it not similar in many respects to the protest made by certain extreme ones among the early Christians? With them as with these modern 1 Gronlund. reformers there is noticeable a sworn enmity to the institutions and religion of the times. The Christian enthusiast of old refused to take the oath of allegiance prescribed by Rome, and when told to burn incense before the image of the emperor, he drew back, preferring exile or death to what he considered disloyalty to his Nazarene Master. Even so with these Humanitarians. For their Gospel's sake, for what they believe right and true, they are willing to sacrifice wealth, liberty, even life, counting no labor heavy, no pain great, no penalty severe, if by such labor and pain and punishment their beloved cause can be advanced. These believers in the religion of Humanity are not simply in the lowest walks of life. In England and in America, as well as in Russia, they are to be found among the highest and most cultured of society. The enthusiasm which flamed forth in that exquisite verse of George Eliot, --"Oh, may I join the choir invisible," is akin to that found in the violent writings of Louise Michel. At first the link of connection may not be apparent; but on closer observation it will be seen that the impetus, the motive force, which animated the Englishwoman is indentical with the spirit which urged on to violence her French sister. George Eliot in the world of conventionality is clearly as much of a rebel as is Louise Michel in the political world. Both have outgrown the Chri...