RELIGIOUS COLUMN. THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2707, 31 January 1906, Page 39

RELIGIOUS COLUMN. THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION.

By R. L. D.

There is no subject of such vast importance to mankind in general as thliA ftS religion. Every sane human being, in rrh/tever condition or station of life h« I*B, at some time or other seriously thinks ol religion— Whence came I? Where do I go? Man, by virtue of his immortal soul—hia true " self" — which is engraven in, the image and likeness of Almighty God, is eternally oonnected to his Creator, and ia essentially a religious being. During our brief sojourn here on earth, there is no subject or study which will bring so much satisfaction, peace, joy, and lasting happiness as that of true religion. In this materialistic age the lust for wealth and the desire for name and tome has temporarily obscured the bright purit> of that Divine Light which illuminates (he faculties of the soul, and henco the »*£*£- sity and importance of true religion i* eitoo under-estimated and overlooked. "*

We may easily get other subjects on which to employ our thoughts, but none that so deserves them as religion. We may easily get other objects on which to fix our affections, but none that will revra.??i them like religion. We may make cttef acquirements which will be useful to us in a social capacity, but none so universally and really useful as religion. To the man who died yesterday, it is now a matter of no consideration whether he was rich or poor, whether he was a prince or beggar, whether he spent his days in mirth or had anxiety and sorrow for his portion. All these things, except for the influence tbey -may Kave e-3cerfc«c? on "toG formation of his religious and moral character, are to him matters of no importance; but it is a matter of very great importance to him still, a7id will continue to be so for ever, whether he was or was not really religious, for on that single point hinges the happiness or misery of eternity. The truly religious person — the tru« Christian — respects every form of_ religion and Christian faith, making no distinction between the rich and the poor, high and low members of any church. True Christians are broad-minded enough to realise the divine truth in different religions. The narrow-minded Christian » sees only the difference, and asks, " la, this man of our faith and creed? 11 But to the true Christian, in whom dwells thei * Divine Light, God's love is to be acquiredt by all of the many forms of true God-likej faith, to him all are souls from one eternal • Godhead, who is the Father. True religion! uplifts and inspires mankind, helping tc# make to-morrow better than to-day, ani surrotfnds U3 not with dread and despair .<>■

- V>3.+erialism, but with growth of wisdom and icmony.