A SCRUTINY OF FAITH
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—In the article styled " A Scrutiny of Faith," published in your issue of November 29, Mr. G. M. Boumphrey, when uttering his challenge to Religious Orthodoxy, says : " The religion of Moses . . . was a cruel and selfish religion, and was vastly improved by the addition of Christ's command- ment, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' " Surely one who makes such a statement in the course of what he calls " perhaps the strongest argument against the Christian faith " should have been more careful to see that it was at least accurate. The words Mr. Boumphrey quotes as an im- provement on the religion of Moses are the very words of what is reckoned one of the Mosaic books, and may be found in Leviticus xix. 18. If Mr. Boumphrey will turn to Mark xii. 28-34 he will see how, so far from adding a new commandment, Christ confirmed with His own express approval alike the great commandment of love to God and the second " which is like unto it " of love to one's neighbour.
This blunder of Mr. Boumphrey gives point to the well- merited criticism (in the same issue) by Mr. Charles of the ill- founded allegations which critics of religion, of the type of Mr. Bertrand Russell, make against the Faith.
I much regret that the attacks on Faith in the series of articles on " Challenge to Religious Orthodoxy," if printed at all, should not be accompanied in the same issue by those selected to reply to them. Many occasional readers of the Spectator may read and be impressed by the attack who never see the defence ; while those who only get a copy of the issue containing a defence are unable to appreciate it, or even to understand it, because they have not seen the arguments and statements to which reference is made.—I am, Sir, &e.,
ARTHUR POLLOIC SYM.
18 Wester Coates Gardens, Edinburgh.
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