ABSTRACT
The doctrine of "Incarnation" recognises, and illustrates in developed form, an interaction between the spiritual and the material aspects of reality. the basis of Christianity-the Incarnation-emphasises and dignifies the perception that man consists essentially of both soul and body, and that he is to be aided and raised and saved, not by spiritual influences alone, but by agencies appealing to his senses and acting primarily upon his bodily organism. The one extreme called roughly materialism, or naturalism, or secularism, or positivism; its religion is a practical religion of human nature and earthly service, its god a glorified humanity, and its immortality merely racial, being one of sentiment and memory. The indication of a truth underlying the idea usually spoken of as bodily resurrection is not the popular version, but it is consistent with the highest Christian teaching. The crude popular and discredited version is not consistent with anything, and should no longer be perpetuated merely by an ancient phrase.
