Letters to the Editor
Many-headed Hydra Rev. D. W. A. Stride George Richards Breaking an Embargo Sir Linton Andrews Stuart Campbell The Mystery of a Diary Adm. Sir W. M. James William A. Cadbury Working-class Conscripts J. H. Naylor C. H. Stretton Frank Harris Arnold Keen Bed-making without Tears M. Julian Crispin Margery Newnham Davis Country Bus Services R. M. Robbins Restrictive Practices Leon Zeldin MANY-HEADED HYDRA Sta,—Mr. Fairlie is surely right in refuting the suggestion that the journalistic rebels have the popular wind -in their sails when they attack the Establishment klydra, even though in one cause celebre of 1955 the sentimental British public created a hydra-head where it did not exist by distorting the figure of a most human and understanding Archbishop into that of a hectoring'bully. •
Nowhere is the Establishment dog more content to let itself be wagged by its popular tail than in the BBC religious department and more particularly in the sphere, of discussion referred to .by Mr. Fairlie. The BBC can get away with its lowest common denominator and its highest (lowest?) common multiple because the majority of English people prefer it that way.
What is now even more galling to the pro- testing—not necessarily Protestant—Christian is that the 1TA seems to be going the same way. Having signed up Dr. Graham and so brought a breath of fresh air, though imported, into TV religion, it has now announced more religion at seven o'clock on Sunday evenings. But of what is this great new venture to con- sist? Why, the well-tried BBC formula of discussing 'aspects of religion in everyday life with special reference to the colour bar. This will he followed in subsequent weeks by dis- cussions of current problems. Leading church- men will take part.' Which is where• we came in.
After many centuries of Christianity the Christian attitude to current problems is widely known, but what the man in front of his television set does not know is how to answer Christ's direct question, 'Whom say ye that I am'?' Christological controversy is a banned subject in broadcast religious discus- sion, banned more effectively than is any topic under the fourteen-day rule.
Canon. Collins and Dr. Soper—both from time to time so deservedly put in their place by Pharos—get considerable publicity from the BBC which no doubt pats itself on the back for reporting their 'rebel' views, but these loud` speakers are dealing merely with the fruits of religion and not its root. This 'safe' religious controversy, this continual put- ting the cart before the horse, is a hydra-head indeed and what hope is there for any Hercules who would strike it off?
Abeam studio in mores. The Christian social doctrines sprang from the experience of men who believed they worshipped the Word made flesh and knew what they worshipped. In the New Statesman Mr. Johnson stated that the journalistic rebels had one object in com- mon : the transformation of British society into something which corresponds to the needs of the mid-twentieth century. The protesting Christian shares this object and he would will- ingly defend his views in public controversy and so bring them into the homes of the country, but who will let him?—Yours faithfully,
Previous page
