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Editorial
August 1, 1860
The River Falls Journal
River Falls, Pierce County, Saint Croix County, Wisconsin
What is this article about?
The editorial refutes the pessimistic view held by some that the world is a mistake, a theater of pain and illusion due to Adam's fall, where joy is deceptive and God is an inexorable judge, urging against fearing happiness in life.
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Full Text
Is the World a Mistake?--
One of the saddest mistakes which good people have made is in supposing that the world is a mistake. To these people--and their number is not small--the earth is but a theatre of pain and sickness, sorrow and death. Joy is illusive, pleasure a cheat, laughter a mockery, and happiness a thing impossible, and not even to be looked for on this side of the grave.--
The performance of all duty is the "taking up" of what they call "a cross."
They are actually afraid to be happy, under an overshadowing impression that they have no right to be happy in this life. They believe that there is something intrinsically bad in the world which they inhabit, and all the joy that proceeds from it. They have an idea that the moral evil which afflicts the human race was struck in. All the sufferings of the brute creation--the throes of labor, and sickness of body, and pains of death--are so many voices proclaiming the fatal failure of Adam. Human nature itself is an awful thing. God is a great law-giver, an inexorable avenger, an awful judge. Being to be feared more than loved. Life is a trial--severe, unrelenting, perpetual.
All that seems good and graceful and glorious in the world is a sham, for the deception of the unwary and the ruin of the unwise.--Dr. J. G. Holland.
One of the saddest mistakes which good people have made is in supposing that the world is a mistake. To these people--and their number is not small--the earth is but a theatre of pain and sickness, sorrow and death. Joy is illusive, pleasure a cheat, laughter a mockery, and happiness a thing impossible, and not even to be looked for on this side of the grave.--
The performance of all duty is the "taking up" of what they call "a cross."
They are actually afraid to be happy, under an overshadowing impression that they have no right to be happy in this life. They believe that there is something intrinsically bad in the world which they inhabit, and all the joy that proceeds from it. They have an idea that the moral evil which afflicts the human race was struck in. All the sufferings of the brute creation--the throes of labor, and sickness of body, and pains of death--are so many voices proclaiming the fatal failure of Adam. Human nature itself is an awful thing. God is a great law-giver, an inexorable avenger, an awful judge. Being to be feared more than loved. Life is a trial--severe, unrelenting, perpetual.
All that seems good and graceful and glorious in the world is a sham, for the deception of the unwary and the ruin of the unwise.--Dr. J. G. Holland.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
What keywords are associated?
World Mistake
Pessimism
Religious View
Suffering
Joy Illusion
Adam Fall
God Judge
What entities or persons were involved?
Dr. J. G. Holland
God
Adam
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Pessimistic View Of The World As A Mistake
Stance / Tone
Rejection Of Religious Pessimism
Key Figures
Dr. J. G. Holland
God
Adam
Key Arguments
World Supposed To Be A Theatre Of Pain And Death
Joy, Pleasure, And Happiness Seen As Illusions
Duty Equated To Bearing A Cross
Fear Of Happiness In This Life
Moral Evil Inherent Due To Adam's Fall
Sufferings Of Creation Proclaim Failure
Human Nature As Awful
God As Inexorable Avenger And Judge To Be Feared
Life As Severe And Perpetual Trial
Good Things In World As Shams And Deceptions