CHURCH AND RUSSIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26606, 31 October 1947, Page 4

CHURCH AND RUSSIA

CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING DR J. D. SALMOND’S PLEA P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 30. Conlused thinking about Russia was apparent among the public, many of whom were not wholly prepared to accept what they read about the Soviet in the newspapers, said Dr J. D. Salmond, of Dunedin, at to-night’s session of the Presbyterian General Assembly. One of the functions of the Christian church, he said, was to help people to see the truth, not to believe all they read in print and not to “swallow” all the cabled news without impartial judgment. “ People should be taught to see things from the Russian point of view as well as from the British and American viewpoint,” Dr Salmond said.

“ People should be helped to Christian understanding of international prob-

lems.” Dr Salmond urged the dissemination of articles on world topics obtained through international church agencies. International problems must be seen through the eyes of faith, he added. The impression gained from Dr Salmond's remarks was that what one read about Russia was inaccurate, said the Rev. R. G. McDowall. He had been five weeks in the hands of the Russians after being liberated from a German prison camp and had met many people who had also had personal contact with Russians. “ The impression you get from the newspapers about Russia is exactly the impression we got from personal contact with Russians.” Mr IVlcDowall said. The Rev. G. F. McKenzie, convener of the assembly’s International Relations Committee, said he belived that interest in international affairs was a Christian duty. The church’s faith could not be isolationist or pietistic,