Should We Give Rationalists An "Open Slather"?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 253, 25 October 1941, Page 6

Should We Give Rationalists An "Open Slather"?

VLTHAT a good thing it has been [ vv for religion in Russia that a straight out anti-God movement has been allowed there. Religion as understood and practised by most pf us could do with a little sifting. There is about it far too much husk arid not enough ' full-vitamined grain. Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have, you, that he may sift you as wheat." It's a great thing to be sifted, even if the devil has to do it: Religion in the Russia of the Czarist days was a State affair. It was protected. That's why it failed.

By the Rev. C. W. Chandler

So many people are afraid of anything in the nature of opposition. It's a great mistake. It would be quite a good thing if every theatre in Ayckland could be let on Sunday nights to the Rationalists and kindred folk who don't believe in any religion. There's nothing like making it tough for God, like Elijah did when he caused water to be poured over the sacrifice before praying that fire might come from heaven to consume it. (I. Kings 18.)

Unrestricted opportunity for the presentation of both sides of every question is vitally necessary. Trutn doesn't need State aid. Only lies need such protection. Lying is seldom suppressed; truth is frequently.

The latest pronouncement of M. Maisky, tlje Soviet Ambassador in London, with regard to religion in Russia fully substantiates what I have tried to express, namely, that the religion that needs hedging about to keep it alive isn't worth having. Article 124 of the Stalin Constitution reads: "In order to ensure to citizens freedom of conscience, the Church in the U.S.S.R. is separated from the State, and the school from the Church. Freedom of religious worship, and freedom of anti-religious propaganda is recognised for allcitizens."

And, he continued, "this article is quite clear and by no means a dead letter. Indeed, in 1940, in Russia there were over 30,000 independent religious communities of every kind, besides over 8000 churches and about 60,000 priests and ministers of religion. Those who are actively religious can hold services to marry in church, to christen their children and to bury their dead." The Christian Church has survived through 19 centuries of change. Neither violent revolutions nor murderous autocracies have been able to subdue it, and the more it gets in the way of opposition the better for it— in the long run. Of course, for those who come in for persecution, like Pastor Niemoller and Cardinal Faulhaber, it's just too bad, but religion in the future will be all the stronger for their courageous witness. "By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, thy bleeding ieet we track." Evil as an Aid to God God can and does use even the Hitlers of the world to set forth His glory. The betrayal of Judas was according to prophecy. "Woe unto the world because of offences; for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." God must have created evil as an aid to goodness. (Isaiah 45-7). If human nature is ever to be faultless, man will have to make it so. Neither "Act of God" nor "Act of Parliament" can achieve for the individual what his own full and free submission to the Divine will can achieve for him. ftK Him, ye Mints, and you will then Have nothing etae to fear: Make vsu His service your delight. Your Vanti shall be Hia care. Anything-in the nature of fear of what man can do is a straight-out i denial of God. . I Religion, as expressed in modern terms, needs opposition, and a Church that is true to its Founder, i and which does not rely upon mere worldly possessions for its strengtn. need not fear "though the earth be moved, and the hills be carried into the midst of the sea." The Church which cares about its prestige, or I its privileges, or its wealth is not worthy of survival —it would be better if it perished. ' "Carry on the go9d work, said a prominent Rationalist to me a few weeks ago in Auckland, when I was bidding him farewell. "If we don t, you'll soon be out of a job," I replied, to his intense amusement. Yes, I am in favour of an 'open slather" for all. Truth needs no tariff barriers; neither does it need a cinematograph display to bring the crowds along to hear it proclaimed. Protection has in large measure landed us where we are today. In the full and free interchange of thought lies the nations' greatest good. How about building a Cathedral of Free Thought, you Rationalists, and. seeing that every cathedral needs a bishop, how about appointing one of your number to that exalted office? I'm not too sure that the Church should not subsidise such a venture. It would help to make Christians give an account of the faith that is in them.

Bogles Made of Sawdust

Thank God that the Russian AntiGod Bogy has been stripped of its terror. You will find that most, if not all, of these bogies are only stuffed with sawdust when you start to pick them to pieces with the sharp incisors of a little cold-blooded intelligence. If the State started in to-morrow on a vigorous anti-God campaign, and plastered every street with grotesque posters such as have been used in Russia, it would, I verily believe, have a very salutary effect upon the Church. Have we not been told that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, so what have we to worry about if it rains atheist pamphlets? Says Julius Hecker: "The Communist system has so far developed nothing which can fully replace the institution of pastoral care and of the Church. Therefore, I cannot help thinking that future generations of Russian people will re-discover Jesus." The young Soviet people have demands and interests which nothing but religion can supply, i Let them but read their own beloved Leo Tolstoy and they will be, led back to the light which for a while they seem to have-forsaken.

Meanwhile, let all the Churches take a leaf out of the book of the Roman Catholic Church, which has established a seminary wholly devoted to Russian studies, including the language, history, literature and customs of the country. After two years of patient effort I can now follow the reading of the Bible in the Russian text, and what I can do in two years any decent scholar can do in half the time.