But we shall probably most clearly and definitely answer the question of our theme, if we ask specifically concerning the several elements of the social consciousness: How does a deepening sense of the like-mindedness of men, of the mutual influence of men, of the value and sacredness of the person, of personal obligation, and of love, tend to affect our theological point of view and mode of statement? And our inquiry will follow these separate questions in separate chapters, except that for the purposes of theological inference, the last three may be appropriately grouped together.
[54] Nash, Ethics and Revelation, p. 259.
[55] Peabody, Jesus Christ and the Social Question, p. 104.
[56] Fairbairn, The Place of Christ in Modern Theology, p. 186.
CHAPTER X
THE INFLUENCE OF THE DEEPENING SENSE OF THE
LIKE-MINDEDNESS OF MEN UPON THEOLOGY
In definitely considering the influence of the social consciousness upon theological doctrines, our first question becomes: How does the deepening sense of the like-mindedness of men affect theology?
Obviously, here, the change will be largely one of mood. We shall look at our themes with a different feeling, and so speak differently, modifying our methods of putting things in those slight ways that do not seem specially significant to one who judges in the mass, but mean very much to one who feels the finer implications of personal life. These finer changes no one can hope to follow out in detail. Certain of these finer changes will naturally find incidental expression in the course of the more formal treatment.
But our attention must be mainly given to the statement of some of the most important of the plainer results of the principle in theology.
I. NO PRIME FAVORITES WITH GOD
In the first place, this conviction of the like-mindedness of men means that there can be no prime favorites with God.