World of Religion

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 7 (Supplement)

World of Religion

By PHILEMON

A PERTINENT letter by Dr. E. A. Williams, Professor of German at' Cambridge University, appears in a recent issue of the London Times. He discusses how far the German people, as distinguished from their rulers, approve of the persecution of the Jews and like severities of the State in their country. He inclines .to the view that there is no general disapproval, and says, "the mental temper of the German people to-day is such that it cannot be judged from a purely Anglo-Saxon viewpoint." The idea that the people) out of loyalty to their leaders, are keeping silent about policies which they regard as wrong will not, he thinks, bear examination, and ho puts his finger on the root error in the words, "In German eyes there is no absolute morality. There is a German, and there is an Anglo-Saxon, morality, and there are many others, and unhappily the AngloSaxon variety in the German mind is strongly flavoured with hypocrisy. The one binding idea that overrules all others among supporters of the totalitarian state is the absolute right of the State to act as it will in what it regards as the public interest. It pursues its ruthless way with utter disregard of the individual and of opinion beyond its borders, and the good citizen looks on without protest. "Tragic Necessity" We quote Professor Williams' concluding words, which leave no doubt as to his own view—"There are very many Germans whose intellectual and moral qualities would inevitably ensure our admiration and esteem for them as individuals, and who are yet capable of approving of the persecution of the Jews. To these people that persecution will appear as a tragic necessity laid by fate upon the German nation, but at the same time as a mere accident in the deathless progress of the State, one, indivisible and everlasting, consolidating its triumphant march through the ages with the blood and suffering of countless individuals. We dare not forget that such people see hundreds of thousands of Jews sacrificed to the State, and see it almost with indifference, because they are ready to sacrifice themselves on the same altar." The criticism comes from a high authority and it throws light upon a situation which Englishmen find it hard to understand. At the same time, it should not be forgotten that the "State" jn totalitarian countries does not consist of the people of the realm, but of a small coterie of men who have become possessed of the reins of power, and whose policy it is ta put down with a strong hand every form of criticism, to control the organs by which in other nations public opinion finds expression, and to prevent the submission of themselves and their policies to a free verdict of the people. Professor Williams seems to overlook the fact that the silence of the German people may arise from fear of the consequences of criticism rather than from consent to what is going on before their eyes. Advancing Knowledge w An interesting article, which has some special value in vie.w of the approaching opening of our theological colleges, appears in a prominent religious weekly on "Theology for Beginners." It is from the pen of Dr. George Jackson, himself a widely-read thinker and teacher, and till recently a professor in the divinity schools. He tells us that he is still willing to be

"OUR HEARTS SHOULD BURN"

numbered among the learners, and calls for a certain type of text-book to aid the alert beginner. The books of his youth have long become obsolete with advancing knowledge, and new methods of approach to theological subjects. The ideal handbook will, lie says, have certain qualities. First, it will be marked by "a frank recognition of the limitations of our knowledge." In support of this ho quotes Dr. Dennev, who, on leaving his pulpit for the professor's chair at Glasgow, said, "I mean to leave plenty of room in my 'course' for agnosticism." And also Dr. W. P. Paterson who, in his inaugural lecture at Edinburgh, emphasised the distinction between "verities and problems" and proclaimed the duty of "mapping off the region of certitudes from that in which assurance was unattainable and speculation admissible."

To these masters of theology he adds Bishop Lightfoot, who, within a week of his death, wrote: "There is nothing so dangerous as the desire to make everything right and tight. I do not know whether it is that iny mind is not logical, but I find that my faith suffers nothing by leaving a thousand questions open so long as I am convinced of two or three main lines." "System-Builders" Secondly, Dr. Jackson calls for "a right use of Holy Scripture." The Bible, he says, has suffered much at the hands of "system-builders" and teachers "in bondage to texts." Passages of Scripture torn from their context and displayed in imposing array are of no. value to the true teacher. The men of the New Testament were "freethinkers" in the literal sense of the word—"They had no creed or catechism to follow; they do not quote anyone, hardly even Jesus Himself; they were not 'sound] in any traditional sense, but original;' they were not orthodox, but inspired." The words again are Dr. Dennc.v's. Finally, the text-book for' beginners should make a man's heart burn as he reads. It should not merely inform the mind, still less be written with the passing of examinations in view. Theology should be so presented as to create the passion of the preacher who is under a spiritual compulsion to utter to bis fellows the truths of which he has become assured. Then, savs Dr. Jackson, we shall have heard the last of all lifeless and unconvincing sermons in the pulpit. And once more Dr. Denney is" used to clinch the argtiment; —"lf our gospel does-not inspire thought, and if our theology does not inspire preaching, there is no Christianity in either."

Notable Convert Wide reference is being made to the conversion of Mr. J. Middleton Murry to the Christian faith, and to his desire to enter the ministry of the Anglican Church. Some ten years ago his views were almost atheistic. In one of his most striking books he said: "There is no place for God in the universe . . . the day of religion is done." But recently it became known that lie had fundamentally changed his opinions and had accepted the Christian position.

"The story of how the conversion has been brought about," says the New Zealand Methodist Times, "is a very amazing one. The human agent has been, of all men, Herr Hitler. About four years ago Mr. M'urr.v listened to a broadcast speech by the German Fuehrer. He heard Hitler say that he alone was the incarnation of law and justice. He heard him justify bis notorious purge, the murder of his comrades, asserting that he alone was the judge. And in a flash the thought came to him that this was Anti-Christ. So the violence of a defiant and selfjustifying man became the strange instrument that sent one of the most brilliant modern thinkers back to God and the Church."