[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—I was much impressed
by " Inquirer's " letter in last week's Spectator ; being oneself a convert from Agnosticism to Christianity, one could not fail to sympathise with it.
Mr. Joad's reference to eternal punishment seems to me the only part of his article which, on second reading, does not turn out to be shoddy, factious, superficial, and unworthy of the clear brains which, to judge from his books, he undoubtedly possesses.
I believe that to most men who think about the matter the problem of evil and the question of damnation are the most serious obstacles in their approach to Christianity. They cer- tainly cannot be dealt with within the limits of a letter to the papers. Might I, however, suggest that any of your readers who are interested in, and perhaps troubled by them, should turn to the writings of Baron von Hugel? The Baron was a liberal-minded, widely read man, in close sympathy with the minds of his contemporaries ; it is indeed probable that few Catholics have had as widespread an influence outside the limits of their communion. He faces up to the difficulties, and shows how the doctrine of hell rests, not on any vindictive- ness in God, but on the free will of the human being. It is true that his works are rather lengthy, but an excellent antho- logy has been compiled by the late Mr. Algar Thorold and published by Messrs Dent.—I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
Travellers Club, Pall Mall, S.W. I. CLONMORE.
Previous page
