EDUCATION AND RELIGION
Sts,--It is indeed only too true that as a nation we are lazy thinkers. In his letter, Mr. Fyfe shows himself to be a conspicuous example. He apparently fails to understand the meaning of the word "Almighty." My experience of teaching Scripture in middle-school forms has shown me that girls of 13 and 14 are often by no means either loose or lazy thinkers and are capable of shrewd and penetrating remarks about theology. The mental and spiritual inertia that, alas, is too often apparent later is, I think, sometimes the result of the kind of fare Mr. Fyfe would offer.
Those who believe, as I do, that the Christian Faith is the only faith that fully satisfies man's need, will, I am sure, feel their responsi- bility to present their beliefs clearly to the growing generation. But may I suggest that in our efforts to train young and impressionable minds to think rightly we should beware of unconsciously causing a heresy complex? The adolescent who thinks at all honestly is almost sure sooner or later to be confronted with the same difficulties that have puzzled us, but he may hesitate to express them for fear of shocking or being snubbed. Surely this is where some of the most valuable work can be done in religious education. On the other hand, don't let us give the impression that we have a ready and final answer to all these problems. We need not be afraid to teach the
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