The Damnation of Theron Ware · Chapter
VII explained
Theron Ware visits the Catholic pastorate, meets Father Forbes and Dr.
What happens
Theron Ware visits the Catholic pastorate, meets Father Forbes and Dr. Ledsmar, and discusses his interest in writing about Abraham. The conversation reveals the priest's and doctor's modern, skeptical views on biblical figures, unsettling Theron but also intriguing him.
Themes in this chapter
Intellectual Awakening and Education
Theron is exposed to modern biblical criticism and scholarly resources, challenging his traditional views.
Tradition vs. Modernity
The contrast between Theron's Methodist background and the Catholic priest's luxurious, intellectual home highlights the clash of old and new.
Religious Hypocrisy and Doubt
Father Forbes and Dr. Ledsmar discuss the Christ-myth and the non-historicity of Abraham, unsettling Theron's faith.
Characters to notice
- Theron Ware
Visits Father Forbes, feeling out of place but drawn to the intellectual atmosphere.
- Father Forbes
Hosts Theron at dinner, dressed in a black silk house-gown, and engages in scholarly discussion.
- Dr. Ledsmar
Dines with Father Forbes, offers Theron advice on Assyriology and German scholarship, and scrutinizes him.
Key passages
“This skirts very closely upon sorcery,” he said smilingly. “Do you know, there is perhaps not another man in the country who knows Assyriology so thoroughly as our friend here, Dr. Ledsmar.”
Father Forbes jokes that Theron's request is almost magical, and praises Dr. Ledsmar's expertise in Assyriology.
Highlights the specialized knowledge available to Theron.
“Modern research, you know, quite wipes him out of existence as an individual. The word ‘Abram’ is merely an eponym—it means ‘exalted father.’”
Father Forbes explains that modern scholarship considers Abraham a symbolic figure, not a historical person.
Introduces critical biblical scholarship to Theron.
“I daresay, though, that if we could go back still other scores of centuries, we should find whole receding series of types of this Christ-myth of ours.”
Father Forbes suggests that the concept of a divine intermediary like Christ has ancient precursors.
Challenges Theron's orthodox Christian beliefs.