The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-08
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES
5 POTTER is well

DR. CHARLES FRANCIS POTTER is well
~ known as one of our most advanced stu
dents of religion In this his latest work Us
That in the Bible? by Charles Francis Potter
Garden City Publishing Company, 81 he has
brought out a most interesting and diverting
anthology of biblical lore. It is by no means a
hostile volume devoted solely to poking fun at
holy writ 1t is a serious and important pres
sentation of biblical thought and knowledge,
classified and arranged in intelligent fashion
under every heading from zoology to the fine
arts. One who is. interested in the place the
Bible holds in intellectual history could not do
better than to start with this volume.
DR.. James H Leuba is an authority of high
standing on all questions connected with the
history and philosophy of religion The present
volume God or Man? Study of the Value of
God to Man, by James H Leuba, Henry Holt e.
Co., S2,75) is probably his most directly useful
and practical book. 1t is serious and thorough
going analysis of the alleged necessity of God
and religion for personal happiness and social
welfare. His conclusion is well expressed in the
following paragraph:
''The claims of the religions and of philoso-
piers that they have given an adequate answer
to the problem of God are made in an Adde'S
cent concelt. An adequate solution would de-
mard complete knowledge of all things in
heaven and earth; it will, therefore, be long de-
layed! But what of that? Too long have we
let ourselves be hoodwinked by the conviction
that the primary necessity for a happy, worth
Of God and of our destiny. To renounce that
knowledge and to find, in the enjoyment and
creation OF that which now appears to us BEAU
tiful and good, satisfaction sufficient to make
life worthwhile, is proof of maturity"
T~HE religious humanists desire to base their
new cult upon man rather than upon God
They will find DR.. Leuba's book perhaps the
most powerful and effective defense of their
fundamental position.
DR.. Brooks is an ardent member of the con-
temporary free thought movement and a loyal
admirer of Joseph Lewis. His book CThe Neces-
sity of Atheism by Dr. D. NJ Brooks Free
thought Press Association, so is a sweeping,
keen and reasonably learned attack upon organ
lied religion For enemies of religion the volume
is a veritable arsenal
AT the same time, it can hardly be said
that the book justifies its title At best the
book would only justify agnoSticism and nanv
of the writer's most enthusiastically quoted in
the volume believe in the permanent social
values of a humanized and secular religion In
deed, the defenders of atheism are victims of
the same wishful thinking as the theists whom
they attack.
Most extreme economic radicals repudiate
religion root and branch. But Beardyeav re-
verts to the view set forth by st. Simon CEN
fury ago to tbs effect that a social religion
should be the main motive force in economic
revolution christianity and Class War. BY
Nicholas BerdyeaE. Sheed & Ward. $3.50.
Therefore, he makes an heroic effort to enlist
Christianity in the service Of social emancipa-
ton. The radical Christian socialist can obtain
much assurance and stimulation from this vol
ume, which pleads for new middle ages"
ONE of the most important periods in the
" struggle between science and religion was
the middle Of the nineteenth century when the
new doctrines of evolution came into conflict
with Christian tradition. Among those who were
most effective in spreading the scientific no.
TONS particularly those of Herbert Spencer, was
George Henry Lewes Miss Kitcheu gives us a
good summary of LeweS' intellectual activity in
her book on the remarkable romance of Lewes
and the eminent woman novelist, George Eliot
George Lewes and George Eliot: A Review of
Records. BY Anna Theresa Kitchel!. The John
Day Company $3.50
Since the days of Ingersoll the best known
American free thinker has been the distin-
guished lawyer and exponent of social justice
Clarence S. Darrow. Allen Crandalls little book
(The Man From Kinsman, BY Allen Crandan.
Published by Author. Sterling, Col, SD does
not pretend to be a systematic biography. 1t
is a brief appreciation of Darrow's many-sided
personality and varied activities One chapter
presents an excellent summary of Darrows views
upon religion-those Of an urbane agnostic not
at all hostile to a liberal and tolerant religion
such as contemporary humanism