RUSSIA AND RELIGION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21937, 22 October 1934, Page 12

RUSSIA AND RELIGION

Sir.—ln calling to mind the graphic description of the attitude toward religion in Russia to-dav, which was given to us in your columns some weeks ago, with its blasphemous details of tho appalling campaign against all forms of religion, I would like to pass on some conclusions I have reached after giving a great deal of consideration to the subject. It seems to me that we are bound to take this matter very seriously, and to make it our own responsibility; that the Churches in Christian lands should take a definite* stand against the forces of evil. And the only way to do this appears to be by presenting a united front of organised and continuous prayer. It would be well for all Christian Churches to set aside whole days on which church members be urged to meet together for humble, definite and united prayer for the hindering of this work of the evil one, for the progress of true religion, and prayer on behalf of those who are trying to remain faithful to God in that stricken country, and who ...must indeed be passing through deep waters. If the Churches everywhere did in this way gather their members together for a campaign of united prayer there would at least ensue a battle between the forces of good! and evil, instead of a walkover for the 1 forces of evil. Let us look to ourselves as a Christian community.. We have need for humiliation and prayer on our own account, because of the naturalistic spirit of these days. There are two very noticeable conditions to-day among the many in our own country. One is the diminishing and scant congregations in many of our churches; and the other is the extreme difficulty of giving tho Bible to the children of our schools. One day in seven was given to us that we might have time for public worship and leisure to rest our bodies. This idea is being lost sight of, the day is often a bustle, with no time for church, and is moreover increasingly given to organised sport. Wo need awakening and stirring up, that we may be better able to join forces in the great battle against the evil in tho world. Stakd- UP.