A SPIRITUAL CONCEPTION

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 113, 15 May 1934, Page 8

A SPIRITUAL CONCEPTION

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I read with much interest your report of Mr. Milner 's address, and in the main I agreed with him, but differed in detail. I also agree with both your correspondents in detail, but disagree with them taken as a whole. In other words it is a matter for rejoicing that our universities are turning out men who are not afraid to think and think hard about present conditions. Mr. Milner, I take it, looks at the world; sees the harvest of poverty, violence, prostitution of mind as well as of body, and condemns the cause.

Now what is the cause ? Wrong thinking and nothing else. Everyone knows that poverty is avoidable. That indeed, measured by volume of goods and production, New Zealand at least is more than rich; that it is absolutely silly for anyone to have to go without any of the essentials of a prosperous life. The fact that we are living in a world of illusion, a madhouse world instead of the world of reality does not alter the reality of absolute abundance for all.

Mr. Milner did not say too much, but

rather too little in condemnation of our social conditions and possibility of war. I disagree with him, however, in his rejection of religion, yet I can understand his so tfoing. Christianity as taught by the churches must stand condemned in as much as it does not teach what Christ taught. The present state of New Zealand, let-alone the world, is caused not by materialism but "materialistic Christianity." New Zealand is not, and never has been, a Christian country. We have and still are inverting our way of living. Wo try and fit Christ into our material conception of economics, instead of purifying our economics and general conception of business till they fit the Sermon on the Mount, which to my mind, is tho greatest economic and social documentever written.- In other words, "the cherished Christian belief, that has subsisted for the past two thousand years'" is overdue for dismissal. Is it not appal ling that if only the professed Christ ians in New Zealand make up their minds to follow Christ poverty would vanish as a dream. Yes, the professed Christians alone could create a mental atmosphere that would make impossiblo the present financial and business methods which not only cause misery to thousands of our own people, but are also the very germs of further wars. Tho universities are certainly to blame for their teachings in the past. Modern youth is perhaps even ahead of its teacher's, but it is also true that the teachers themselves would-be even more unorthodox but for fear of what "authority" would do. There is nothing much wrong with what modern youth thinks of our present conditions or as to what is the cure for them.

It is therefore a duty to show them that their ideals can never be achieved unless a spiritual revolution first takes place, and that a belief in God is not. only scientific, but the basis of all real science. What is wanted today is not the periodic denunciation of our universities but a determined endeavour to convert Christians to Christ, and thus give modern youth a spiritual conception worth believing in.—l am, etc. A MODERN OF FIFTY.

RE-EMPLOYMENT FIRST

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—l read with disgust the letter from "Kestored Business" who stated "that it may bo many years before unemployment is alleviated" and yet can only suggest increasing the pay of those who are in work at the" further expense of the taxpayers and our unbalanced budget. "Fetl Up V letter expresses the position clearly, and without a shadow of doubt it wonld be much better to rep/ace those who are out of employment than to increase the pay of those who earn sufficient to live comfortably. If it is likely to be many years before unemployment is alleviated, what state of soul and body will these unfortunate people be in if they are -forced to carry on with only relief work to look forward to 7 One of the great maxims of Christianity is "Do unto others as you would that they should do to you." If "Restored Business" was on the,unemployed register, would he or^she hold the views expressed? I. think not. Perhaps the best way to help' end the depression ,would be for /the Government to ' arrange six months' work alternately with those now on pay and: those suitable but ■not/employed. The six months of unemployment would give some of them an idea of what it was, like; aud some would endeavour to find a way to alleviate it. Those, fortunate enough to Ivave positions have no particular right to be retained as against-others who help to pay the taxation which finds the salaries and wages. All available moneys- should: "be:used- to reemploy those unemployed.' ' Any improvement in business resulting from further spending would be more noticeable by re-employing the unemployed, because if higher salaries were increased part of the money would be saved, which would not improve trade. The resolution recently passed by the Teachers' Association is equally bad, seeing that hundreds of ; their own members are working on- £60 a year, after being unemployed for a considerable period.—l am, etc.,

EQUITY.