The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-10-08
Liberal Viewpoint
~ DIR. LARRY ELMER BARNES

1. THE Encyclopedia Of the Social Sci
ences." Macmillan Company, S7.50)
q THE Passing Of the Gods" by w. F.
CalvertOn. Charles Scribner's Sons, ST.
3. Makers Of Christianity from Jesus to
Charlemagne," by Shirley Jackson Case.
Henry Holt & Co.. ST.
4. "A Marian Examines Christianity" by
Arthur Levett Watts & Co., S1.25.)
s. "Pietism as a Factor in the Rise of
German Nationalism," by KoppeI S. Pin
son. Columbia University Press, $3.50
6. "Deism in the Eighteenth Century
America" by Herbert NJ. Morals, columbia
University Press, $780,
!. THE Story of American Dissent" by
John VI. Mecklin. (Hercourt, Brace & Co.,
$3.50.
8. Arsenal for Skeptcs" edited by Rich
ard w. Hinton. alfred A. Knopf S25OD
9. THE Practice of Public Prayer" by ].
Hills Miller columbia University Press,
S2.5O.)
TN spite of the growth Of indifference and alb
4 sorption with material wants as a result OF
the long continued depression, there is no dearth
Of good books dealing with one phase or another
Of religion.
The great encyclopedia of the Social Science
now has reached its thirteenth volume with two
to-date, authoritative and sweeping surveys of
religion and religious institutions rarely equalled
elsewhere in the English language.
Mr.. Calverton surveys the evolution and in
fuence of'relgion in terms of the material in
tereSts which religion has served He be-
heves that the reign Of religion gradually is
passing away because we have been provided
through the natural and social sciences with
more suitable substitutes for the old religious
ideas and controls 1t is one of the most Stimu-
lating contributions to the religious problem
which has appeared in a decade.
Professor Shirley Jackson Case is we'll known
as one of the most productive and stimulating
writer's on Christian origins. In the present
volume he puts at our disposal his MANY years
of careful scholarship and his thoughtful in
terpretatonS. 1t easily is the best introduc-
ton to the origins and development of the early
Christian church The story is carried down to
the reign Of Charlemagne
MIR. LEVETT has written a very diverting
Iva and Illuminating book taking the form of
inquiries about the nature of contemporary re-
lglon, particularly Christianity, put by visitor
from Mars to a ModerniSt, a Fundamentals. a
Roman Catholic priest and rabbi.
1t will be difficult for even the most dog
matte to read this book without being provoked
into some degree of thoughtful reflection
Historians Of civilization long have insisted
upon the part played by religion in the evolu-
ton of modern nationaliSm. Dr. PinSon has
traced, learnedly and effectively, the relation
ship between German pietism and the growth O..
German nationaSm down to the opening of
the nineteenth century.
Deism represented the first notable attempt
to adapt religion to the epoch-making scientific
discoveries of the sixteenth and seventeenth CEN
turtles. 1t was the first great example of Mod
ernism 1t has been well known that the deistic
attitude developed wide following in America
among the Revolutionary Fathers DR.. Morals
gives us splendid survey OF American deisnl
which supplements the excellent recent book by
DR.. Koch on Republican Religion"
IF the Protestant religions of the United
4 States today often have lined up with the
existing order, such was not the case with their
original adherents in the United States.
Professor Mecklin has given us our first
good general hiStor yof the origin of the dissent
ing religions in the United States, when they
vigorously attacked much of the established
religion and society of their day.
How far dissent has progressed since the days
of Roger Williams can be seen by consulting the
anthology edited by Mr.. Hinton, a sort of up
to-date imitation of Bayles famous dictionary.
1t will be welcomed warmly by the free thinkers
and other crusaders against organized religion
Dean Miller has brought out a thorough
manual on the form and content of public
prayer. If the depression deepens and continues,
it may have much practical utility in the years
to come.