The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-09-11
POPULAR ApoLoeErlcs.
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN
BY REV. JAMES WATCHER.
/. ReIision-cood Enough for the
People.

nSl9IoH-0o0u EHou9H TOT Ho
People.
/. Objection: Religion is necessary
|. for the people, that is, for the common
people without a. higher education as
means to keep them in check; but
the educated need no religion to live
decently. 81
5 az Answer: lie Either religion is
true, or it is not true. If it is true, it
lis true also for the educated. But il
/. it is not true or only half true, it would
!, be a shame and disgrace to try to keep
/: the people in check by means of lies
and deceit. That would be using bad
means to attain a good end, which is
never allowed.
81 Where does higher education
begin? With the high school or college
graduated from an academy? With
the capitalist who has never studied
anything but the daily paper and the
stock exchanges? With the laborer
who, instead of going to church on
Sunday, goes to the club or some So
cialistic meeting and there hears a
lecture on education?
3D. That all men, also the educated,
need religion to live decently is q
matter of daily experiences and is de-
manded by sound reason. Where do
we find the greatest scandals, if not
in. the ranks of the educated? But
most of these educated people are
without religion, which explains their
INSCRIPTIONS conduct.
II. Religion Matter of Taste.
objection: Whoever has no taste
for music should not be bothered with
it. / have no taste for religion and
hence don't want to be bothered with
it.
Answer: My dear sir, please tell
me what do you mean by religion
What! You don't know and still you
pass judgment on it? Religion is the
exact, it is the sum total of the
truths and obligations arising from
this relation. Or we can say: Religion
is the worship of God in the wider
sense of the word.
The religious obligations are at least
as sacred, I should think, as the duty
of paying ones taxes. If one SHOULD
say: l have no taste to pay taxes
hence don't want to be bothered Will
it, he would soon find out the differ
ence between duty and taste.
Ill. Religion Matter of Sentiment
Objections: Religion is a matter o
sentiment; therefore good for children
and women. We men exercise our I'm
Outstanding and our willard have ne
taste Tor sentimentalities. a3isasIfF
Answer: What a grand man! Will
your clear understanding and firm will
- you are just made for religion; TO
- the conviction of the truth of the doc
trines of religion and the faithful full
filment of religious duties are tn
, very essence of religion, whilst sent
ments are only accidentals. Sent
mental, untrue and unreasonable fee
ings are even harmful to true religion
J True religion does not consist i
camp-meeting antics, but in faithful
doing your duties towards God, you
neighbor and yourself.
, w. Notwithstanding for Womer
Objections: Religion is good 70
women The man must work and ten
to business, the woman may pray.
Answer: The woman must wor
too; with her, too, idleness would
the beginning of all vice. But tn
man must pray too. Work for tn
love of God is one part of religion
therefore good intention in all on
doings, and prayer and religious VOL
ship is the other part Both mus
fpractice the whole of religion, not
part only. Work and prayi
". Religion Al Invention of Priests
Objections: Religion is an invention
of priests. f1
Answer But; my dear sir whenc
the priests? According to your viey
there must have been priests befor
there was religion, before God wa
worshipped. That is just as smart a
to say that railroads are an invention
of raiIroaders.