Sta,—The statement of your correspondent Mr. W. R. Titterton that,
" We have, as a nation, and as individuals, fallen lamentably short of the Christian ideal," is one which would command almost un:versal, but, nevertheless, unthinking assent. The fact is the a,.!-Ifeve- merits of modern civilisation have altogether out-distanced the ethical teaching of Christianity. Christianity has • hours no concern for the animal world, and its Founder 'cern° equally unconcerned about cleanliness of person and home vale° giving directions for our guidance. Slavery was a recognised :nstitu" non in the world in which He moved and received no rebuke from Him. Christianity has never prohibited polygamy, but n ester° civilisation has. Christianity has emphasised our duty to the sick and needy. Has it not over-emphasised this? If otu religion had done half as much to encourage the great dramatists, musicians, sculptors, scientists, poets and historians as it has insisted on charity, we should have done still better, for it is they who have lifted our life to a higher plane.
Most of us, if we were honest, would confess that we regarded polonius' advice to Laertes concerning enmity as more manly and dignified than offering the other cheek. Imagine offering the Nazis the other cheek. Or feeding them as the Bishop of Birmingham pretends he would have us do. Why pretend these are high ideals which we have failed vs reach. The ideal we are following, namely to oppose violence with courage, is higher. It is the men of Vichy who obey the injunction, " resist not evil." Nevertheless it is true that the Communists who regard all religions as false are ignorant. World-history reveals that there has never been a great civilisation without a great religion illuminating and guiding it. To sweep them all aside as false is foolish. Equally, if not more, foolish is the attitude of those orthodox believers who would sweep aside all religions but one, the one in which they were educated.—
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