Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-09
OPEN FORUM
+ 4 4 X Il X Il 4 Il Il 4 x * 4
IS THERE ANY REAL
VALUE oF RELIGION?

Editor Journal: This question wOul
be easier to deal with if men possessed
a clearer and more rational idea O
what religious (pure and undefiled
really is Perhaps no event in modern
history has caused more earnest ques-
tiOning concerning the value of reig-
ion than the present war. Each Of the
belligerent nations is offering prayers
to the same God; the priest of the same
church are blessing the swords and arms
of the hostile armies; each nation is
assured Of victory because Of the right
eousness of its cause; each fighting,
numbering, butchering in the name Of
Christian love and under the banner of
the Prince of Peace; etc.
If men comprehend Christian truth
as readily as they profess the name, if
they possessed the Christian spirit as
they profess creeds, they would know
the influence, the joy, the power and
value Of religion, not only by institu-
tional authority, not by any claim of
infallibility, not by creeds or church
law but by their own spiritual exper-
fences, which, according to Jesus, is the
only true test. The answer to this
grave question will never come from
without it can only come from withinl
Religion can't he manufoctnred or
made TO orderi If can't bo borob+
sold, borrowed or traded' Il oro,yo : e i i
it grows only in ono sno+ Tbo+ omat
is the human heart Eyerv man ;s Yo t6o
gardner of that blossom of di,iritv
within his own Hfe Ho co, uur+,,ra
and make if radion+ AMI fra%raHt -, -,
he can starve it. neglect il tTamnIo =
under foot. only remember bo 10 tig aIono ~
responsible for its cmdition, " ''''
Just as there are mony oolor.,,il,ro.
tions but only one white jiobt as tbero
are MANY forms in mattor e. ','1.. nv
infinite snirit so oIso oro DJ, thog,. g,''y ohe
expressions of reIigion mon, ,"g'n en-, nun
deGroos b"t ~ AZ, ,L,' 5ion' many Iorlhs ana
Men sneols of +bo rai;oi i;on en-
heart. Of the mini of +bo Di' s1,I W ,r,. ,. ,ile
are emotional. infoIIc.,naI nanroi' "vi ni5 Z
mystical elemepts of roli@6r "'gI',' NJ anu :.
the relioion of the ou+or l'' IN. ,'e'' II
the inner sanctuary NTary ia,,'a3 "'." ". W
the definitiors of roIiaia,' III 1E. ",s
what is religion but tbe omtuarJ 49, I,,,i "ii'
festation of am inner sniritnoi roai;.l "ia,I
Pooii,otioWU W az. a., ii."'l sPiiltual reallty.
cation. is fbe kaT m roi;ai,o, ~ 'ly Sy,., SUI
is what men are soeI,ing VI. as.l, ',''',, =. y
shadows of fiction or mvtb ' "''
Religion must becomo tMbo M oroo. ....
4 firmer of reality in tbo ,,e eo.sa,'., at", 'on m
periences of man r. ha M o'lSSIous , eN
I 1t must become fine revooyor ~ "a L.,.1i,.. .uIue
and transformer in mon - iiros 'f :, se.'o. ''.
fiji to overflowino and mn. 20, ,,la. i,l ,.
supply every domond oror.. liua. i'ee3 5 muno m
cry interest. every homo of l;fo ''
To do this relioion mns, III,
within itself tbe lob+ oF ,.t;Ioi,iI Ioil'p, n' II
reason, faith. conscience intnitio,, ''4l .i.
J knowledge and facts of soionaa III H. nv ~"
mands Of ethics and tbe hoo,.,, '"e . Nv
purity OF art. "''J anu
Religion is more than nb;losonh,
more than sciercei roora. Al, ''''',.'oliiy
Z moro Nho.p