John Henry Newman on Natural Religion

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John Henry Newman on Natural Religion

• A supplemental consideration to
• C. S. Lewiss We Have Cause to be Uneasy from
  Mere Christianity.

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Who is John Henry Newman?

• Born 1801, attended Trinity College, Oxford.
• Entered ministry in the Church of England.
• Received into the Catholic Church at age 45.
• Was made a cardinal, shortly before his death at
  age 89.

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Newman discusses natural religion in the
Grammar of Assent.

• In this book, he explored the elements of
  religious conversion, e.g. What allows one to
  submit ones will in faith?
• Among these elements, he identified natural
  religion that is, our natural knowledge of our
  duties to God.

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Before Revealed Religion comes Natural
Religion.

• That there is a Being (or beings) that have made
  man, and to whom he owes obedience.
• That disobedience to this Being is sin, and
  merits retributive punishment.
• That there are ways to atone (make up) for sin,
  e.g. sacrifice of ones goods.
• That this Being reveals Himself, and listens to
  the prayers of men.

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Newman identifies three sources of natural
religion.

• Our own minds (conscience)
• Voice of mankind (cultural beliefs and rituals)
• Course of nature (providence)

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Through conscience we know that there is a God
from whom we receive the moral law.
The god Marduk giving the law to Hammurabi,
Babylonia
Moses receiving the Law from God, Ancient Hebrew
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Through conscience we know God first as a
lawgiver, then as a judge.
Judgment of Soul, Ancient Egypt
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Traditional religion shows its dark side
outward bad news first.

• It is founded on the sense of sin.
• Its many varieties all proclaim or imply that man
  is in a degraded, servile condition.
• It demands expiation, reconciliation, and some
  great change of nature.

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Traditional religions emphasize mans impurity,
his need for cleansing.
Initiation into the Eleusian Mysteries, Ancient
Greece.
Ritual purification in Ganges by Hindus
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Central to natural religion is a priesthood that
intercedes for the people.

• The priest belongs to an elect group.
• He prays as a mediator for the people.
• Most importantly, he offers sacrifice in
  atonement for sins.

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Sacrifice characterizes religions around the
world and throughout history.
Ancient Egyptians preparing to sacrifice an ox.
Ancient Greeks sacrificing a pig
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Sacrifice is an act of atonement, making up for
sin.

• Atonement implies the substitution of something
  offered, or some personal suffering, for a
  penalty which would otherwise be exacted.
• All nations, cultures and periods of history have
  ritual forms of atonement and expiation.

Hebrew priest offering a holocaust in the Temple
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By contrast, civilized religion is more
cheerful!

• This is not an organic development with natural
  religion, but a break.
• It leaves behind all notions of sin and guilt
  it is wholly artificial.

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Nature gives a mixed message it offers
blessings, but suffering as well!
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Natural religion has a bright side as well as a
dark side.

• Religion offers hope of benefits from the gods.
• Sacrifice and atonement imply that the gods can
  be appeased.
• Prayer implies that they listen to our petitions.

Ancient Romans praying to the household gods.
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When Paul preached to the pagans, he said that
God had made Himself known to them through
providence of nature. (Acts. 17)
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Revelation is a blessing of natural religion
the gods reveal themselves.
Disciple being lead by Thoth (Ancient Egypt)
Angels appear to Abraham (Ancient Hebrew)
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What is natural religion?

• The natural knowledge we have of our duties to
  divine authority.
• Possible to us without Revelation.
• Indeed, prepares men for it.
• Even in Christians, it cannot be separated from
  their Christianity.