The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-07-07
THE BUSINESS Of RELIGION
IN A DAY LIKE THIS

the stranger the fatherless, and the
widow and shed not innocent blood
In this place neither walk after 9th
or gods 20 your hurt: then will !
cause you To dwell in this place, In
the land that gaze your fathers
for ever and ever Behold, We trust
IN lying words. that cannot profit.
This IS positive denial Of any
claim that this moral seer lament
ed the destruction Of the temple
aud IT, departure out OF The life OF
his people. In 3;l6 he even de-
nounces the efficacy OF the ark Of
the covenent and in 81. "a he ex-
presses his attitude as TO what
worthwhile religion Is like.
All OF the ethical prophets OF Is
rael from Amos to Jesus. saw the
fallacy Of tina; religion of their peo-
pie which expressed itself in cere-
god within the bonds of race and
place and who showed his kindness
only TO such as bore upon their
backs and hearts. their minds and
souls the wicked contents OF cere-
ihOHidi requirements.
The contents OF the preaching OF
these men were continued in lse
character OF Jesus and his gospel.
Jesus like them had no use IL. Che
ceremonialism of the temple. His
life and the message Of his gospel
was the meaning OF the life OF
those ethical spirits summarized
and emphasized in the words of one
OF their company who In his esti-
nation OF the pious life asked.
Wherewith shall l come before the
Lord, and bow myself before the
high God?" shall I come before him
with burnt offerings, with calves OF
a year old? Will the Lord be pleas
cd with thousands OF rams. or with
10 thousands OF rivers OF oil? shall
l give my firstborn for by trans
gression, the fruit OF my body for
the sin OF my soul? He hath showed
thee. 0 man. what Is good; and
what the Lord doth require of thee
II Is TO do justly. and TO love mercy
and walk humbly with they God ?"
micah $3.50
Now the materialism which be-
wildered the men of Israel and
made them see the values of life in
material things, then. have been
no less at work In the history OF
our world. Like Israel we have fall
en- victim OF this wicked thing. II
has come down the years in the his
tory OF Western Civilization to
curse and damn our age and day.
Our social order must be recorder
ed and new horned. To do this II
must have orientation based upor
Ideals that are different TO thos,
that have given US what we have
1.-The old aristocratic form of huma
. lsociety was organized around wa
Its main characteristic was the RI,
! TO power OF the fighting class.
!. enlarged and glorified the instint
a. OF combat. Our polite democra
m \has been organized around
ma lstsuREte Tor capital. n hangover
re The old materialistic ideals "
on ten into reIfgfon and the Bible
m the prfestIy dynasty or Israel.
- modern times II has been the r
% to power OF the trading and man
y featuring class. Its business h
!, been 10 enlarge and glorify the vi
= tue of possession. II has but carr
|, ed on. in another way and form, IN
fundamental principles of the oil
aristocratic society. So II has fail
ed to form and perpetuate a demo
cratic society in whic the veal
would be as important as The
strong and the development Of the
individual personality would be the
supreme thing and the chief aim
of society.
Today we are threatened with the
rise 10 power OF the working class
If this class rises and takes over
the helm Of the future destiny of so
ciety, the question TO be asked is
what may be expected of IL? Will IL
be any different from the old or
der? II assays to organize new
social order around the principal
of productive labor which will en-
large and glorify the instinct for |
comradeshiP. II promises TO exalt |
service above possession and 10 |
make such changes in the institu-
tons of private property as Will |
cause 1t to enlarge and not dimi-
nish the development of all the peo-
pie both individually and collective
ly. It's purposes are noble. But II IL |
fails TO undertake its task in the
spirit of the Master Builder in the |
spirit Of love. love which recognizes
that the supremest value is in the !
individual man. be he prince or
II II fails to work in love
it will get us no where. we will !
still find ourselves in the cruel
clodmire Of selfishness and strife.
(To be continued
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