One topic of every class I have taken that has stuck in my head above the rest because of its clear-cut position in terms of an often complex and confusing subject- religion. John Toland’s Christianity not Mysterious is an amazing, direct look into the face of religious people in authority and their manipulation of the Scriptures to fit their specific sect’s desires. As someone who believes that many denominations today- both unknowingly and consciously- still make the same falsehoods and assertions about the Christian faith, this text is universal and should be learned by any who profess to be Christian.
“There is nothing that men make a greater noise about, in our time especially, than what they generally profess least to understand.” This quote starts off the first chapter of Toland’s book, and I think it defines the essence of what he is trying to make his readers think about. People love to talk about what they say that will never be able to be understood, because then their assertions can never be found wrong. He states that the religious authorities try to take reason out of all faith, so that no one person can contemplate and understand Christ without the help of those in charge. Although this is somewhat harder in today’s world to accomplish because of so many widespread and easily accessible resources, some still try to conform those they lead to simply believe without thinking about it with the mind that God blessed them with.
“The worst on’t is, they are not all of a mind. If you be orthodox to those, you are a heretic to these.” This quote struck me as the most relevant to the present state of the church. We are just as disjointed and at odds as they were back in Toland’s day. If you are a Catholic, then the Protestants are wrong in their traditions and beliefs. If you are Baptist, then you are to believe that Catholics are heretical. So depending on where you attend church (or mass or service) that day, you will be expected to hold to a specific set of beliefs that the others will condemn. Toland points out the hypocrisy in this mentality, and I must agree- we are all Christians and need to treat each other as such.
“…They were as injudicious, violent, and factious as other men…they were of the same nature and make with ourselves; and that we know of no privilege above us bestowed upon them by Heaven, except priority of birth.” Toland comments on the fact that those put in positions of authority are just as human as the rest of us, and therefore are just as susceptible to sin and faults as anyone else. Many fail to see this, including those in high positions, and depend too heavily on a flawed man instead of coming up with their own conclusions. He asserts that they have no other advantages except for better economic status, and we are responsible for our faith. This can somewhat be true in the present day. Although many religious leaders do not come from priority births any longer, people still do raise them on a moral pedestal that they should not be put on. The only flawless person to walk the Earth was Christ himself, and followers should always remember this fact Toland brings up.
Toland goes on to describe a few more examples of why we should utilize reason as Christians, and ultimately ends with this conclusion: “There is nothing in the Gospel contrary to reason, nor above it; and that no Christian doctrine can be properly called a mystery”. Whether or not you completely agree with his theory, it is a great topic to think about as followers of Christ. Why did God give us reason, if not to use it? But if we only have reason, where is there room for faith? Personally, I think one should possess both. Always use your mind when pondering God’s word, but in full knowledge that we will never fully grasp His glory with our finite reason. Never complacently accept things at face value, but also leave room for God’s mystery to work in your life.
