(Continuing posts about William Calmes Buck)
William Calmes Buck wrote his "The Philosophy of Religion" in 1856 while he was pastor at the Baptist Church in Columbus, Mississippi. It was published in 1857 by South-Western Publishing House, Graves, Marks & Company, Nashville, Tennessee.
"The Philosophy of Religion" begins with a chapter entitled “Introductory Essay”.
“That department of Philosophy which is designated by the technical term, Theology, seems to have received but little attention, as a subject of pure science, on the part of those who have modernly professed to write and speak upon the subject. Few readers, on opening a modern work on Theology, would understand themselves as opening a scientific work—a work professing to treat upon the most sublime and important department of the science of Philosophy. The word, theology, as modernly used and understood by the many, conveys no idea of science; it is understood, merely, as importing a system of didactics in religion, and too often a merely controversial treatise. Some twelve or eighteen months since, I was in company with two learned doctors and two learned members of the bar; when, in answer to an inquiry made by one of the gentlemen, I was explaining some point in Theology, the senior physician turned to the others and remarked with surprise: “Why, Theology is a profoundly philosophic science! I never thought of it in that light before, and I am resolved to study it." His surprise was not diminished, however, when I told him that, if he would look into his dictionary, he would find that the term theology, technically indicated that department of philosophy which treats of the existence, the attributes and government of God.”
A modern (2018) definition of theology from Merriam-Webster dictionary is “the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world”.
After the introduction, "The Philosophy of Religion" contains seventeen chapters:
The “Supplementary Essay” begins
“As the topics which it is proposed to discuss in this Essay, do not, in a strict sense, pertain to the Philosophy of Religion, I have deemed it most appropriate to treat of them under a separate head; but as they are so intimately, not to say inseparably, connected with Didactic Theology, it seemed to me and to others, that the work on the Philosophy of Religion would be essentially defective, were these important topics not treated of in connection with it; hence the Essay is added, by way of supplement.”
"The Philosophy of Religion" begins with a chapter entitled “Introductory Essay”.
“That department of Philosophy which is designated by the technical term, Theology, seems to have received but little attention, as a subject of pure science, on the part of those who have modernly professed to write and speak upon the subject. Few readers, on opening a modern work on Theology, would understand themselves as opening a scientific work—a work professing to treat upon the most sublime and important department of the science of Philosophy. The word, theology, as modernly used and understood by the many, conveys no idea of science; it is understood, merely, as importing a system of didactics in religion, and too often a merely controversial treatise. Some twelve or eighteen months since, I was in company with two learned doctors and two learned members of the bar; when, in answer to an inquiry made by one of the gentlemen, I was explaining some point in Theology, the senior physician turned to the others and remarked with surprise: “Why, Theology is a profoundly philosophic science! I never thought of it in that light before, and I am resolved to study it." His surprise was not diminished, however, when I told him that, if he would look into his dictionary, he would find that the term theology, technically indicated that department of philosophy which treats of the existence, the attributes and government of God.”
A modern (2018) definition of theology from Merriam-Webster dictionary is “the study of religious faith, practice, and experience; especially: the study of God and of God's relation to the world”.
After the introduction, "The Philosophy of Religion" contains seventeen chapters:
- Justification
- The Mediatorial Reign
- Man’s Relation to the Mediatorial Government
- The Person of Christ – The Son of Man
- The Holy Spirit
- The New Birth
- Belief – Faith
- Confession: A Doctrine
- Hope
- Justify – Pardon – Forgive
- Good Works
- Chosen – Elected – Ordained – Predestinated
- The Resurrection and Final Judgment
- The Kingdom of Heaven – The Kingdom of God; or, the Church and its Economy
- Baptism
- The Lord’s Supper
- Supplementary Essay.
The “Supplementary Essay” begins
“As the topics which it is proposed to discuss in this Essay, do not, in a strict sense, pertain to the Philosophy of Religion, I have deemed it most appropriate to treat of them under a separate head; but as they are so intimately, not to say inseparably, connected with Didactic Theology, it seemed to me and to others, that the work on the Philosophy of Religion would be essentially defective, were these important topics not treated of in connection with it; hence the Essay is added, by way of supplement.”
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