The Christian Evidence Society is a British Christian apologetics organisation that was founded in 1870. At its financial peak in 1883, it had slightly over 400 paying members, but that it had declined to below 300 by 1897. After 1900, its focus shifted from defending against external attacks to addressing doubts from within Christianity.Dale A. Johnson, ", Journal of Religious History, Volume 11 Issue 4, Pages 558 - 577
Formation The society was founded to counter atheism in Victorian society.Bernard Shaw's Book Reviews, Bernard Shaw, Brian Tyson, , pp 139-140 Its original purpose was described by a contemporaneous source as "meeting, in fair argument, the current scepticism". Its original methods were, in the words of this source:Notices of New Books — Modern Scepticism, New Englander and Yale review p373, Cornell University, April 1, 1872 Lectures for the educated Classes aimed at the "lower grades of society, to save them from infidelity" Circulation of tracts, and offering prizes for engaging in private study followed by competitive examination.
Its membership consisted of evangelical and moderate churchmen, including Richard Whately, Archbishop of Dublin and Charles Dickison, Bishop of Meath, as well as prominent scientists, including John Hall Gladstone and William Henry Dallinger.
See also
Christian apologetics
References
External links Christian Evidence Society Records of the Christian Evidence Society at the Church of England Record Centre