rogression
and fulfill the purpose of existence.

"To assume, that the people of this planet, are born subject to the
dominancy of total depravity, is to deny immortality, and the truth of
these postulates. In denying them, it denies the existence of a dominant
principle of good, and affirms the existence of a dominant principle of
evil. It also denies all progress, all moral reform, every noble
aspiration, every good deed, all evolution, all science and all reason.
Where then, in the economy of nature, is there room or use for the
doctrine of total depravity? A doctrine so pernicious, that in the
mouths of its advocates, it has done more than aught else, to destroy
the confidence of mortals, in the wisdom and justice of the Divine plan
of the universe. To even assert its existence, is to question the
existence of a universe, under the reign of justice, law and order.
Evidently, the doctrine of total depravity, does not belong to the
domain of fact. It is equally clear, that it must be a theological
fiction. A sin of theology against progress, which in the dazzling
whiteness of the spiritual light of the new religion, must soon fade
into oblivion.

"Can we teach politics to school children, as a part of our religious
duties? Is a question we will now consider. The answer, will depend
largely on the definition, which we give to the word religion. Let us
try to find a true definition, broad enough to embrace an affirmative
answer to our question. As a basis, we have human life as the highest
expression of the planet. With the physical body, as the basis for
intellectual evolution. With intellectual evolution, as the basis for
spiritual evolution. Hence, we have as a conclusion, that the spiritual
development and unfoldment of the race, up to a point where it can
accept the truth of immortality, is the logical purpose to be
accomplished by all religions. Reasoning from these premises, it would
seem clear, that the practical value of any religion, must be measured
by its ability to teach the people how to help themselves; how to master
the great problem of physical life, by attaining perfection in the arts
of feeding, clothing, housing, educating and spiritualizing the race.
If, in connection with these solid foundations for a natural religion,
we add the important fact, that this is a republic, in which the wish of
the majority, should become the law of the mass; we shall discover that
politics become the natural channel