s believe that Christ was God.

7. Most Christians believe that after crucifixion Christ rose from
the dead and ascended into Heaven.

8. Most Christians believe, or think they believe, in the efficacy
of prayer.

9. Most Christians believe in a Devil; but he is a great many different
kinds of a Devil.

Of these beliefs I should say:

1. As to God. If there is no God, or if God is not a loving Heavenly
Father, who answers prayer, Christianity as a religion cannot stand.

I do not pretend to say whether there is or is not a God, but I deny
that there is a loving Heavenly Father who answers prayer.

2 and 3. If there is no such thing as Free Will Man could not sin
against God, and Christianity as a religion will not stand.

I deny the existence of Free Will, and possibility of Man's sinning
against God.

4. If Jesus Christ is not necessary to Man's "salvation," Christianity
as a religion will not stand.

I deny that Christ is necessary to Man's salvation from Hell or from
Sin.

5. I do not assert or deny the immortality of the soul. I know nothing
about the soul, and no man is or ever was able to tell me more than I
know.

Of the remaining four doctrines I will speak in due course.

I spoke just now of the religion I was taught in my boyhood, some forty
years ago. As that religion seems to be still very popular I will try to
express it as briefly as I can.

Adam was the first man, and the father of the human race. He was created
by God, in the likeness of God: that is to say, he was made "perfect."

But, being tempted of the Devil, Adam sinned: he fell. God was so angry
with Adam for his sin that He condemned him and all his descendants for
five thousand years to a Hell of everlasting fire.

After consigning all the generations of men for five thousand years to
horrible torment in Hell, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, down on earth
to die, and to go Hell for three days, as an atonement for the sin of
Adam.

After Christ rose from the dead all who believed on Him and were
baptised would go to Heaven. All who did not believe on Him, or were not
baptised, would go to Hell, and burn for ever in a lake of fire.

That is what we were taught in our youth; and that is what millions
of Christians believe to-day. That is the old religion of the Fall, of
"Inherited Sin," of "Universal Damnation," and of atonement by the blood
of Christ.

There is a new religion now, which shuts out