Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 340

;

316

FALSIFICATIONS OF

§63.

cause,

— the

liistovic

[13iv. Ill

form of our theological faculties, the

existence of the Christian Church, and the exalted character of

the

Christian

theologians of

religion.

By

name do not reach

far the

larger

number

of

their destination except in

That faculty, as an historic institute, name, and more particularly still to The revolution which has taken place Christian Theolog3\ on theologic ground must of necessity either modernize these

the theological faculty. is

bound

to the theological

faculties entirely, or perhaps occasion their disappearance,

and the transfer of their chairs to other faculties. But this is Every academic institute is conservative. not done at once. And since one cannot wait for this, and meanwhile is not willing to abandon the influence of the chair, one adapts himself to the inevitable, and continues to call himself a theologian, and to speak of theological study, even though in the main he has broken with theology, in the historically

The second

valid sense of the word.

reason,

why the name

of

theolog}^ has been maintained, lies in the Christian Church.

For her sake the Ministers of the Word must be educated. were not for her, there would be no question after pupils for this faculty. Dilettant theologians are becoming ever more scarce. And thus one had still to adapt If it

himself to practical needs in these departments. scientific point of

view the study

promise richer harvests

;

From

of other religions

a

might

but almost no one would frequent

the lecture-rooms where exegetical readings were given from the holy books of other religions.

And

thus the scientific

standard had to be abandoned, and for the sake of practical needs the old theological tracks are still continued. This is

indeed an unenviable position, in which self-respect is regained in part only by the consideration of the third cause mentioned above, that is, the relative excellency of the Christian religion.

Even when,

after the fashion of botanists,

treat religion as a flora of poorer

and richer types,

it is

we but

natural that fuller study should be devoted to the religious plant of higher development; and, as such, homage is paid

Not generally an}' longer as the Buddhism, and even Islam, are placed by its side

to tlie Christian religion.

highest, for

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