THE University of Oxford is making haste, not to "speak gently
of a sister's fall", but to take the plunge with her, and is
determined not to be long after Cambridge in taking it. By an
overwhelming majority Congregation affirmed on Tuesday the
preambles of the new statutes throwing open to laymen of all
beliefs or none examinerships and degrees in the Faculty of Sacred
Theology. In each case the proposal was moved by the Warden of
Keble, who found a warm supporter in the Regius Professor of
Divinity, Dr Scott Holland. These two divines certainly had the
courage of their convictions, and did not shrink from avowing their
readiness to accept the results of the proposed new departure. A
doctor's thesis, the Warden of Keble explained, would no longer be
required to be in conformity with Christian theology, but might be
on Buddhist Nirvana. He was ready, however, to admit that it would
be only reasonable to drop the word sacra from the present
official title of the faculty. Dr Scott Holland, eager that the
study of theology should be "free", expressed his willingness to
present for a Divinity Degree a Buddhist pundit. The President of
St John's, we are glad to see, opposed the statutes, on the ground
that they would complete not merely the unchurching but the
dechristiani-zing of the University, and would further result
before very long in throwing open the professorships to
non-Christians. Professor Oman drew from the supporters of the
motion the damaging admission that a thesis attempting to disprove
the existence of God would be accepted for a theological degree.
The last word, however, has not yet been said, and Convocation,
perhaps, may reverse the judgment of Congregation.