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Story
April 7, 1897
Mower County Transcript
Austin, Lansing, Mower County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
A Boston newspaper reports a missionary's claim that Armenian massacre victims accepted their deaths as God's will. The author criticizes this view as erroneous, arguing against passive acceptance of horrors like massacres, plagues, or diseases, urging resistance instead.
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Full Text
PUTTING IT ON PROVIDENCE:
Abhorrent Idea Expressed by Some About the Armenian Massacres.
A newspaper—a careful Boston newspaper—in telling the other day of the address of a woman missionary of long experience in Turkey to a Boston audience represented her as saying of the Armenian massacres that the victims, being Christians, 'recognized that these things could only exist with the approval of God and that they were ready to accept the slaughters as the result of the divine will.' It is very possible that she did not speak the precise words imputed to her, but the doctrine they express is familiar and seems to the present lay writer to be sufficiently erroneous and misleading to be worth a remonstrance.
The idea that the Armenian massacres and all horrors of the sort, as well as the plague in India, and famine, pestilence and sudden death in all their manifestations occur 'with the approval of God' is not only abhorrent to our sense of divine goodness, but altogether unnecessary to our belief in omnipotence.
Is even the mere instinct of self preservation opposed to the will of God? If we suspect that there is sewer gas in our houses, we do not bow to any supposed will of God and try to be patient under it. We get the plumbers in and rip up the premises and try to get it out. If we get diphtheria germs in our throats, we don't kiss the rod. We call in the doctor and try the latest serum. If we fall into the water, we thank God that we have learned to swim. What should we do if Kurds come to knock us on the head and carry off our women? Would you tell us to kiss the rod, and that whatever happened was with God's approval?
Oh, good but illogical missionary! You would say to us: 'Fight! Fight! Kill! Die, if you must, but die hard. Since whatever happens happens with God's approval, see to it, if you can, that it happens with your approval also.' Perhaps you can't say that to the Armenians. Possibly the odds are too great, the conditions too desperate. But at least don't say that they are massacred with God's approval nor tell us that you have bid them perish meekly.—'The Point of View' in April Scribner's.
Abhorrent Idea Expressed by Some About the Armenian Massacres.
A newspaper—a careful Boston newspaper—in telling the other day of the address of a woman missionary of long experience in Turkey to a Boston audience represented her as saying of the Armenian massacres that the victims, being Christians, 'recognized that these things could only exist with the approval of God and that they were ready to accept the slaughters as the result of the divine will.' It is very possible that she did not speak the precise words imputed to her, but the doctrine they express is familiar and seems to the present lay writer to be sufficiently erroneous and misleading to be worth a remonstrance.
The idea that the Armenian massacres and all horrors of the sort, as well as the plague in India, and famine, pestilence and sudden death in all their manifestations occur 'with the approval of God' is not only abhorrent to our sense of divine goodness, but altogether unnecessary to our belief in omnipotence.
Is even the mere instinct of self preservation opposed to the will of God? If we suspect that there is sewer gas in our houses, we do not bow to any supposed will of God and try to be patient under it. We get the plumbers in and rip up the premises and try to get it out. If we get diphtheria germs in our throats, we don't kiss the rod. We call in the doctor and try the latest serum. If we fall into the water, we thank God that we have learned to swim. What should we do if Kurds come to knock us on the head and carry off our women? Would you tell us to kiss the rod, and that whatever happened was with God's approval?
Oh, good but illogical missionary! You would say to us: 'Fight! Fight! Kill! Die, if you must, but die hard. Since whatever happens happens with God's approval, see to it, if you can, that it happens with your approval also.' Perhaps you can't say that to the Armenians. Possibly the odds are too great, the conditions too desperate. But at least don't say that they are massacred with God's approval nor tell us that you have bid them perish meekly.—'The Point of View' in April Scribner's.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Tragedy
What themes does it cover?
Providence Divine
Moral Virtue
Tragedy
What keywords are associated?
Armenian Massacres
Divine Providence
Missionary Address
Theological Critique
Self Preservation
What entities or persons were involved?
Woman Missionary
Armenians
Where did it happen?
Turkey, Boston
Story Details
Key Persons
Woman Missionary
Armenians
Location
Turkey, Boston
Story Details
A missionary suggests Armenian massacre victims accepted deaths as God's will; author remonstrates against this passive doctrine, advocating resistance to evils like massacres, diseases, and disasters rather than fatalistic approval.