The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-10-30

The cause for this, the professor
believes, lies in two facts: the loss Of
faith in spiritual damnation and saliva
tion and, what he regards as more
important, the consequent loss of a
definite, soul-compelling purpose of
program" Formerly" he tells us,
"the Church knew exactly what it was
for; now it does not seem quite GER
tain. Then there was no wavering;
now those churches which are not
merely drifting are running around in
q circle, looking for some cause to
espouse, or something vaguely called
social service to perform. Then the
church preached a clear and definite
gospel of salvation, with damnation
as the unattractive, though varyingly
emphasized ALTERNATIVES; now it is not
considered quite polite in the best re-
lfgious circles to mention damnation,
and since there is nothing very
definite to be saved from, salvation
has lost its meaning" His Indictment
point is strong, particularly since he is
himself a victim of this evil: "The'
simple fact is that the Church does
not really and in its heart believe in
| the old doctrines of salvation and
damnation." In other words, Prot
estantism has in great measure ceased
to be Christian.
1t is a most pitiful spectacle, in the
professors opinion, to see the sects
as a result thus running hither and
thither, posing as the friends of "la-
Dor" and seeking something to do. A
constructive program they must have,
and he accordingly comes forward
with suggestion as to what this pro-
gram should be, or rather on what it
should be based. AS belief in the
supernatural has been Overthrown and
will not be accepted, the professors
remedy is purely materialistic. 1t
consists in what he terms workbench
philosophy" the joy and merit of
productive work and enterprise" A
new kind of salvation is needed to
put the old fervor back into the dying
churches; the moral standard of all
modern materialistic philosophers,
getting the most out of life and thus
giving the most to the community. "A
thing may be said to be saved when it
is prevented from going to waste. -.
When mans energy is being wasted,
the man is to that extent going to
waste, his life is to that extent lost,
and he stands in need of salvation.
Perhaps ii would be better to say that
the community needs his salvation :
A community in which every scrap
of human energy was saved and ap-
lplied to useful work would be the
kingdom of God..... 1t would have
the power within itself to become the
chosen community and would need
no supernatural aid. A gospel of sal
walton which saves men from going
to waste must be a vital factor i'm the
creation of such a community. The
church which breaches such gospel
effectively must become the true
Church 1t will need neither histori
cal claims, miracles, or any other adj
vertising devices to establish its title
(p. 399.)
How far from satisfying the idea OF
salvation imbedded within the soul OF
man 1siTthis ihatefialistic' creed! And
necessarily, too, it must defeat itself,
as has been SO often proved. For the
individual, bound only by the altruistic
law to work for the community will
soon forget the community in seeking
his own selfish interests. A higher
motive is needed, the motive planted
in the heart of man by the Creator
the love and attainment of God Him.
self in a life hereafter. That alone
will satisfy mans longings and lead,
too, to social peace in as far as it can
be established in human society.
Professionalism, weakened and decayed
Ishould turn away from the destructive
doctrine of materialism to the light of
the Church which has preserved the
true ideas Of salvation and happiness.
In that Church alone will be found
spiritual well-being and the funda-
mental principles making at the same
time for justice and stability on earth.
G. B. of G. V.