The Christian Foundation, Or, Scientific and Religious Journal, February, 1880

In Short

This periodical offers a series of polemical essays and theological investigations centered on the reconciliation of Christian faith with the rapid scientific advancements of the Victorian era. The contributors explore themes of civil liberty, ancient cosmogonies, and the moral implications of evolutionary theory, consistently arguing that materialist explanations of the universe are both logically inconsistent and socially destructive. It remains a valuable historical artifact, capturing the specific anxieties and intellectual fervor of religious thinkers who sought to preserve traditional values against the rise of what they perceived as arrogant, unfounded skepticism.

The Story

The journal begins by positioning the Bible as the essential architect of civil and religious liberty. It argues that true government relies on a structure where individuals are restrained from infringing upon one another’s rights—a system the authors trace back to the biblical precedent of the Jewish Republic. This opening establishes a worldview where the Bible is not merely a spiritual guide, but the foundational document of human order. From this starting point, the journal transitions into a critical examination of competing belief systems, both ancient and modern.

The contributors turn their scrutiny toward "scientific skeptics" and proponents of atheism, specifically targeting those who embrace the ideas of Ingersoll and Darwin. The argument is that atheism, despite its claims to "Infallible Wisdom," is essentially a form of arrogance that ignores the necessity of a First Cause. The authors argue that if one truly follows materialist logic, one would be forced to admit that given infinite time and space, even a deity could eventually be "evolved" from matter. By turning the weapons of scientific analogy back against the skeptics, the authors attempt to demonstrate that materialism is just as much a matter of faith as the religious doctrines it seeks to replace.

The narrative arc then moves to a comparative study of world religions, specifically the Hindu Shasters and Vedas. The authors present these as cautionary tales, citing their complex, fantastical accounts of creation—such as the emergence of the universe from a "wondrous egg"—to argue that such texts are intellectually inferior to the "severely simple" account of Genesis. By contrasting these with the perceived chaos of Chinese social and legal systems, the journal reinforces the idea that societies rejecting the Bible inevitably descend into despotism or moral decay.

The final movement focuses on a direct confrontation with Darwinism. The authors assert that the theory of evolution, far from removing the need for miracles, actually relies on them, as it must account for the leap from inert matter to living protoplasm. They argue that this "slimy" origin of man is less noble than the biblical account of creation. The journal concludes by affirming that the physical universe operates under laws established by a Creator who retains the power to suspend them. By dissecting the miracle of Joshua’s sun, the authors attempt to bridge the gap between supernatural events and physical reality, asserting that such phenomena are not contradictions of nature, but displays of divine mastery over the very laws that govern existence.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of liberty The journal asserts that civil government and personal rights are inherently linked to the principles found in the Bible. It distinguishes between liberty and anarchy, arguing that true freedom requires a framework of restraint that is only effectively established through divine law.

The critique of materialism The authors attack the "lofty arrogance" of atheists who claim to understand the secrets of creation through physical science alone. They argue that materialism fails to explain the origin of life and that, by its own logic, one cannot dismiss the possibility of a Creator.

The comparison of cosmogonies The focus shifts to ancient texts like the Vedas, which the authors present as absurd and overly complex to contrast with the simplicity of the Mosaic account. They use these examples to argue that humanity, left to its own devices, produces erratic and incoherent explanations of existence.

The assault on Darwinism The text systematically attempts to dismantle evolutionary theory, labeling it "intellectual pemmican" that lacks a logical bond. It posits that man’s intelligence is a chasm that separates him from the brute, and that evolutionary origins are fundamentally degrading to human nature.

The defense of the miraculous The journal concludes by discussing the intersection of physical laws and divine intervention. It argues that miracles are not impossible but are simply the actions of a Sovereign who can manipulate the machinery of the universe at will.

The People

The journal features a cast of intellectual adversaries and heroic defenders of the faith. Moses is presented as the primary authority, held up as the gold standard for providing a "severely simple" and accurate account of the universe that modern scientists fail to improve upon. Darwin and his followers, including Huxley and Tyndall, are cast as the antagonists. The authors characterize them as "sciolists"—those possessing only superficial knowledge—who mistakenly view the universe as a product of "fiery chaotic dust" rather than design.

The Reverend S. L. Tyrrell emerges as a prominent voice, engaging in direct combat with the spirit of the age, represented by Ingersoll. Tyrrell argues that the atheistic movement is fueled by arrogance rather than reason. He is joined by the historical figures of the Hindoo sages and the Chinese emperors, who serve as examples of what happens when humanity drifts away from the biblical God. These figures function as cautionary portraits, illustrating the "rivers of blood" and social misery that the authors claim follow the rejection of the Bible. Ultimately, the reader is positioned as the final judge, tasked with choosing between the "brutish" materialist view and the "divine" perspective offered by the scriptures.

In Its Own Voice

“The religion of the Bible does not rest itself upon the authority of man; much less is it responsible for the cruel results of wicked efforts to establish or overthrow it by law.”

The authors argue that true Christianity is independent of the failings of human institutions.

“Darwin, conscious of the axiomatic truth that no more can be evolved than there is involved, teaches the doctrine that variation or change of species is brought about by causes which already existed in the common progenitor.”

This critique challenges the fundamental mechanism of evolutionary theory by insisting that new traits cannot arise from nothing.

“In metaphysics we scarcely reason on anything but probabilities; we are all swimming in a sea of which we have never seen the shore.”

Voltaire, quoted here by the contributors, reflects on the inherent uncertainty of existence, which the journal uses to suggest that faith is a necessary anchor.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for the necessity of a moral and intellectual anchor in an age of rapid scientific flux. It posits that human progress, when unmoored from the "First Cause" of a Creator, is an illusion that leads inevitably to chaos, despotism, and the loss of human dignity. The questions underneath the plot are profound: Is intelligence an accidental byproduct of matter, or the primary substance of the universe? Can a society remain free if it abandons its traditional moral foundations? The book argues that the physical world is merely a province of an infinite, divine empire, and that to ignore the Governor of that empire is to walk in a darkness of one’s own making.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy intellectual history will find this journal a compelling look at the nineteenth-century "culture wars." It provides a clear window into how traditionalists processed the trauma of the Darwinian revolution. You will feel the palpable intensity of a world caught between the rigid certainty of the past and a bewildering, secular future.

However, the reading experience can be challenging. The prose is dense, polemical, and reflective of the era's Victorian rhetorical flourishes, which often prioritize aggressive debate over balanced inquiry. The authors hold views on other cultures and religions that are deeply biased and, by modern standards, highly problematic. Furthermore, the scientific arguments are, of course, entirely superseded by modern knowledge. Yet, if you approach the text as a primary source—a way to understand the emotional and intellectual stakes of the 1880s—you will find it deeply rewarding. It captures a specific, vanished moment when the pulpit felt it was in a fight for the very soul of the modern world, making it an essential study for anyone interested in the enduring friction between scientific discovery and the necessity of belief.