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An Appeal to the People in Behalf of Their Rights as Authorized Interpreters of the BibleCatharine Esther Beecher

An Appeal to the People in Behalf of Their Rights as Authorized Interpreters of the Bible

by OpenStories

Original author: Catharine Esther Beecher

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"An Appeal to the People in Behalf of Their Rights as Authorized Interpreters of The Bible" by Catharine E. Beecher is a theological treatise written in the mid-19th century. The work engages in a critical examination of the Augustinian Theory of Original Sin and its implications on the moral sense of humanity. Beecher argues for the rights of individuals to interpret the Bible independently, asserting that common sense and personal inquiry can lead to a clearer understanding of religious truths. The opening of this volume presents a call to action for the people in the face of an impending religious crisis. It highlights the beliefs that have historically obscured the question of salvation, focusing on how the Augustinian Theory has been integrated into church doctrines and has led many astray from a moral understanding of God and humanity. Beecher emphasizes the need for a collective awakening among the populace to reject these outdated doctrines and engage with the Bible on their own terms, using principles of common sense to discern truth.

An Appeal to the People in Behalf of Their Rights as Authorized Interpreters of the Bible, by Catharine Esther Beecher. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #56354.

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53 Chapters

  1. 1.Chapter I: Introduction552 words
  2. 2.Chapter II: The Augustine Theory of the Origin of Evil422 words
  3. 3.Chapter III: Questions Connected with the Augustinian Theory1,627 words
  4. 4.Chapter IV: The Difficulties Involved in the Augustinian Theory1,687 words
  5. 5.Chapter V: The Augustinian Theory in Creeds1,479 words
  6. 6.Chapter VI: Modes of Meeting Difficulties by Theologians1,890 words
  7. 7.Chapter VII: Theologians Themselves Concede the Augustinian Dogmas975 words
  8. 8.Chapter VIII: The Augustinian Theory Contrary to the Moral Sense of2,464 words
  9. 9.Chapter IX: The Principles of Common Sense Defined639 words
  10. 10.Chapter X: Common Sense Applied to Gain the Existence of God1,717 words
  11. 11.Chapter XI: The People’s Mental Philosophy936 words
  12. 12.Chapter XII: The Nature of Mind, or Its Powers and Faculties1,269 words
  13. 13.Chapter XIII: Nature of Mind.—regulation of the Thoughts1,315 words
  14. 14.Chapter XIV: Nature of Mind.—the Moral Sense, or Moral Susceptibilities2,493 words
  15. 15.Chapter XV: The Nature of Mind.—the Will3,168 words
  16. 16.Chapter XVI: Constitutional Varieties of the Human Mind669 words
  17. 17.Chapter XVII: Nature of Mind.—habit2,951 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVIII: The Nature of Mind Our Guide to the Natural Attributes of939 words
  19. 19.Chapter XIX: The Nature of Mind Our Guide to the Moral Attributes of God5,228 words
  20. 20.Chapter XX: Additional Proof of the Moral Attributes of God1,754 words
  21. 21.Chapter XXI: Nature of Mind as Perfect in Construction900 words
  22. 22.Chapter XXII: Right and Wrong—true Virtue3,737 words
  23. 23.Chapter XXIII: Laws and Penalties—sin and Holiness1,892 words
  24. 24.Chapter XXIV: Love to God and Love to Man2,139 words
  25. 25.Chapter XXV: Increased Civilization Increases Moral Difficulties982 words
  26. 26.Chapter XXVI: Humility and Meekness960 words
  27. 27.Chapter XXVII: The Standard of Right and Wrong Decided by the Risks of736 words
  1. 28.Chapter XXVIII: The Destiny of Man in the Future Life3,174 words
  2. 29.Chapter XXIX: What Must We Do to Be Saved?3,061 words
  3. 30.Chapter XXX: How Far Reason and Experience Are Sufficient Without2,652 words
  4. 31.Chapter XXXI: Augustinian Creeds and Theologians Teach the Common‐sense1,745 words
  5. 32.Chapter XXXII: Augustinian Creeds and Theologians Contradict the Common‐5,233 words
  6. 33.Chapter XXXIII: The Augustinian Theory Not in the Bible1,619 words
  7. 34.Chapter XXXIV: A Reliable Revelation From the Creator Impossible If It1,375 words
  8. 35.Chapter XXXV: Tendencies of the Two Opposing Systems871 words
  9. 36.Chapter XXXVI: Tendencies of the Two Systems as They Respect the801 words
  10. 37.Chapter XXXVII: Tendencies of the Two Systems in Respect to Individual3,677 words
  11. 38.Chapter XXXVIII: Tendencies of the Two Systems in Reference to the1,608 words
  12. 39.Chapter XXXIX: Tendencies of the Two Systems as to Church Organizations1,444 words
  13. 40.Chapter XL: Tendencies of the Two Systems in Regard to Humility, Meekness815 words
  14. 41.Chapter XLI: Tendencies of the Two Systems in Regard to Dogmatism,2,400 words
  15. 42.Chapter XLII: Tendencies of the Two Systems as Shown in Controversy and1,847 words
  16. 43.Chapter XLIII: Practical Tendencies of the Two Systems1,390 words
  17. 44.Chapter XLIV: Tendencies of the Two Systems in the Training of Children959 words
  18. 45.Chapter XLV: The People Rejecting the Augustinian System.—position of4,669 words
  19. 46.Chapter XLVI: Present Position of the Church2,923 words
  20. 47.Chapter XLVII: State of the Pastors of Churches970 words
  21. 48.Chapter XLVIII: The Position of Popular Education533 words
  22. 49.Chapter XLIX: The Position of Woman as Chief Educator of Mind1,057 words
  23. 50.Chapter L: Present Position of Young America1,209 words
  24. 51.Chapter LI: Present Position of the Religious Press899 words
  25. 52.Chapter LII: The Present Position of the Secular Press490 words
  26. 53.Chapter LIII: What the People Will Do?10,768 words