The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-21
SUNDAY. OCTOBER p. 1906.
The Religion of the Average Man

The Religion OF the Average NAN.
Under the above title the Outlook prints
a series Of articles of great interest TO
all thoughtful people. one of the con-
tributors Is Mr.. Charles T. Nesbit, of
this city. gentleman who has given much
consideration to the settlement Of social
problems. Mr.. Nesbit asserts that a
great spiritual awakening is at hand.
but the evangelists of the new life, from
his point Of view, are not the conventional
priests or clergymen, but men of daily
life. newspaper reporters, magazine writ
eTs. social settlement workers, political
agitators, and even lowly workingmen.
He argues that the religion OF the Bible
is primarily a social and ethical religion
that the Mosaic code sought 10 do justice
TO all men and establish On economic Sc
eurity, while primitive Christianity fol-
lowed the same lines. we thus see"
says Mr.. Nesbit, lin the beginning Of
both Of these great religions the predomi-
nance Of the economical and ethical ele-
ment, with little or nothing in the way
OF theology or formulated creed. Viewed
from THIS standpoint, Mr.. Nesbit regards
the Kingdom % God mentioned in the
Bible as a condition of righteous social
order, and toward this ultima Thule nc
believes we are steadily tending. There
is, 70 his mind, an awakening of a faith
which has to do with daily life. The
world" he says, has achieved religious
liberty. and very largely political liberty.
It now faces the problem Of achieving
Industrial and economic liberty
There is no doubt that the tendency Of
modern civilization is toward an ameliors-
ton Of the conditions Of human life.
Municipal. State. and Federal authorities
go almost 10 the extreme of paternaIism
in caring for the individual There is
more humanity in the world. too. then
ever before. Large amounts are annually
expended everywhere for free hospitals
and other charities, while even criminals
are treated with sympathetic considera-
ton. We are providing Fairgrounds for
poor children and public baths and
lauHdTies are being established in local
tiles where they are sadly needed. At
the same time, We are far removed from.
the millennium. The selfish greed Of cor
porations is an evil which Expresses
humanity. and our political system Is
too frequently swayed by baneful in1u-
ences. Whether the righteous social
order to which Mr.. Nesbit foRdly adverts
win be attained through the socialism
which he breaches is a question yet 10
be determined: but that We. as a people,
are striving to md some solution of the
problem is no longer a matter Of doubt.
II is a hopeful sign OF the times that
Christianity itself is tending more and
more toward the practical regeneration Of
mankind. In other words, the church is
realizing that while a man has soul to
be saved, he has also a body which
cannot be disregarded
The editor Of the Outlook. commenting
on the articles herein discussed, and after
asserting that the average man has a
religion. ventures to say that in some
important respects his conception of the
Christian religion more nearly accOrds
with that of the Master than does the
conception which has been current in the
church" There is no doubt as TO the truth
OF this assertion. The church has been
prone to teach a man how TO die rather
than how 10 live. If there can be a bet
ter understanding the church viii
realize that men are human. and if the
average man. on his part viii fairly give
the church credit for its great work.
there will be q marked advancement in
our social condition. We ought 10 have
less theology and more practical Chris
tianity; or, rather. If we have the latter.
then viii we have a theology Of the
highest type, the real Christian spirit.
that will compel our obedience and our
admiration and which viii attain for us
the perfect social order which Is our
fondest dream.