[General] but very few now wd. call that ‘Christianity,’ (tho’ the words are there).

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afaz

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Hi

Charles Darwin in his manuscript Autobiography wrote:
"I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true, for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all of my friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine."

Emma bracketed that passage and wrote in the margin:

"I should dislike the passage in brackets to be published. It seems to me raw. Nothing can be said too severe upon the doctrine of everlasting punishment for disbelief — but very few now wd. call that ‘Christianity,’ (tho’ the words are there)."

What are the meaning of two last sentences (colored ones)?
 

Dan Vanderheiden

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Hi

Charles Darwin in his manuscript Autobiography wrote:
"I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true, for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all of my friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine."

Emma bracketed that passage and wrote in the margin:

"I should dislike the passage in brackets to be published. It seems to me raw. Nothing can be said too severe upon the doctrine of everlasting punishment for disbelief — but very few now wd. call that ‘Christianity,’ (tho’ the words are there)."

What are the meaning of two last sentences (colored ones)?

It's shorthand.

But very few now would call that 'Christianity', although the words are there.
 

MikeNewYork

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Hi

Charles Darwin in his manuscript Autobiography wrote:
"I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true, for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all of my friends, will be everlastingly punished. And this is a damnable doctrine."

Emma bracketed that passage and wrote in the margin:

"I should dislike the passage in brackets to be published. It seems to me raw. Nothing can be said too severe upon the doctrine of everlasting punishment for disbelief — but very few now wd. call that ‘Christianity,’ (tho’ the words are there)."

What are the meaning of two last sentences (colored ones)?

The words mean that the concept of everlasting punishment for simply not believing is not consistent with Christian principles.
 

SoothingDave

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The words mean that the concept of everlasting punishment for simply not believing is not consistent with Christian principles.

As generally understood by contemporary Christians, who go beyond a literal interpretation of the words.
 
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