ATHEISTIC COMMUNISM

Evening Star, Issue 22619, 10 April 1937, Page 22

ATHEISTIC COMMUNISM

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” might fairly describe the emotional rhetoric of your correspondent, “ Anti-humbug ” —a pseudonym which seems singularly inappropriate. Fortunately the time is past when superstition held undisputed sway, and wild and unfounded assertions could pass as evidence. That the ethics of Communism are identical with the precepts of Christianity is obvious to all except the hopelepdy prejudiced, who have been misled into giving their frantic support to a system which is the negation of Christianity. “Because of its successful application of Christian ethics in the past 18 years, Russia can be rightly described as the most Christian country, in the world.” These are tho words of the Rev. Victor, Moody, of Horsham, Victoria. The Bishop of Birmingham goes on record thus: “ Unemployment is a grave blot on our country. By contrast, so far as I pan learn, there is no Russian case of unemployment, but confidence and happiness among the people. The rapidity, of the progress is amazing,” Dr Hewlett Johnson, Dean of Canterbury states: “Russia has been doing the _ Christian duties we all ought to be doing._ They have found and put into practice the Christian idea. We should look on them as friends and allies in a great forward religious movement.” Dr Maude Royden expresses the opinion that “ the Soviet Union, in putting an end to the exploitation of man by man, has opened the way for the realisation of the brotherhood of man on a foundation of justice.” “ There is much yet to be done, but the imperfections are as nothing compared with the miracles that have already been achieved,” says the Rev. Jack Putterill, priest of Thaxted. Essex. Is “ Anti-humbug ” answered? The opinions quoted are from ministers of established reputation, and have been publicly expressed. Among the many literary and scientific friends of the Soviet may be mentioned Lord Passfield, G. B. Shaw, and Professor J. B. S. Haldane.

In reply to “ Overland,’ it might be said that he doth protest too much the poverty of the church. He is too ingenuous for this wicked Capitalist world. However, if the Church really has ho accumulated wealth, and if its bishops and priests live strictly in accordance with their vow of poverty, why did the Church range itself on the side of the lords of the earth and the oppressors of the poor? The history of the tragic struggle in Spain reveals a division in the Church on class lines. The highly placed ecclesiastics have allied themselves with the Fascist tyrants, while the lower ranks of the priesthood are mostly fighting with the legitimate Government and the people of Spain. Perhaps “ Overland ” will explain this phenomenon.—l am, etc., A. B. Powell. April 10.