The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-21
STEINBERG SEES
U. S. CLERGY IN
SOCIAL ROLE
Famed Rabbi. However, Hits
Ministers Who Pose as
Financial Experts.

FlildilCtdi EApCl los
Ths foIIsuinr article. another In the
series - weekly religious discussions
conducted br nationally prominent
rlsrrvmsn. has ben written hY Dr. Mil
ton stsiuasrE. former rabbi Of the Beth
~ Temple IN Indianapolis.
BY DIR. MILTON STEINBERG
Kahhi. The Fark-av synaEnr. New York.
ard chairman 81 the soeia Service
COMMUNION. Rabbinal Assembly Of
Amsriea.
Written for The Indianap polls Iimesl
There are many issues over which
clergy and laymen tend TO disagree.
but on none Is the difference OF
opinion likely 20 be so sharp as on
the question as 10 whether the
minister in his pulpit shall express
himself on social and economic
problems.
The typical layman is likely TO
feel that organized religion demeans
itself when 10 descends into the
smoke and confusion Of human
strife. IN brief, the man IN the pew
generally argued that the function
Of the preacher is 20 teach religion
and not politics OF sociology.
u is. OF course. Immediately APP
parent that the prime function OF
the pulpit Is TO teach religion. The
answer % our problem as 10 whether
he preacher shall discuss current
controversial issues depends. there
fore. on how We understand the
character of religion.
ON Defining Religion
Religion is more than a creed. a
tradition and an individual moral
It's. II IS inevitably concerned also
with certain social principles which
follow from its theological axiOms
For example. Judaism and CHRIS
tianity alike teach that man IS OF
divine origin
III this belief has any significance
az all, 10 means that each human
being is OF infinite moral worth.
that he IS sacred against exploita-
ton. that he shall be granted the
privilege 20 fulfill the potential di-
vinity resident within him.
Again. the historic religions Of
the Western world insist that the
physical resources OF the universe
are a trust impaired 10 man by God,
and that therefore they are in
tended 10 BE- used for the service
of mankind as a whole rather than
for certain privileged individuals.
Lead to Social Consequences
Last Of all, the soSisl ethics of
both Judaism and Christianity in
sist upon human cooperation and
mutual helpfulncSS as the ideal
mode OF lvInf as opposed TO self
CenteredneSS " and the competitive
struggle on the part Of one human
being TO live at the expense Of an
other. In brief. the theological con-
cepts Of religion lead directly to
definite social consequences.
II one admits the divine origin Of
man. the divine creation Of the
world and the brotherhood of all
men. one Is driven TO protest
against the appropriation of men
from the great resources Of nature.
and against any form of group liv-
ing which emphasizes the COMPETE
tive rather than the cooperative
ideals in human relationships.
When. then. the earnest clergy
man sets out to preach religion, ne
can not help-if he Is at all sin
cere-in drawing these cOnSe-
QuenceS. To tell the minister that
he may teach theology but not it,
practical application is to cOndne
him TO a realm OF vague, unreallZed
pOtentialitieS. II is 10 make religion
a social faulty. The pulpit then
not only does not step outside OF its
role when IT. concerns itself with So
ciaI issues. it Is fulfilling its prime
function-that Of teaching religion.
n an Economic Expert
To be Sus. every minister owes
u 20 lis self-rcSpect 10 recognize
the limitations which his position
and his personality impose upon
him. Unless in some specific social
situation a moral ideal Is clearly in
volved. the pulpit should refrain
from plunging itself into Il.
Moreover. the clergyman IS not
an economic expert. He should eN-
ercise caution in not venturing be-
yon5 fielcs IN which he can be Ger
tain. his need for restraint Is
all the more imperative because a
preacher by his position is endowed
with a special position Of authority
which ne must not abuse
The clergyman VINO involves him.
self IN complicated issues, such as
the program for the reorganization
OF railroads. or the proportion Oi
gold backing behind paper currency
puts himself into the ridiculous po-
Sition OF preaching from the pulpi,
on matters which by the widest
flights OF imagination can not Ia
associated with the social ideals OF
his religion and on which he knows
less than many a layman IN the
peWs before HIM.
Pleads for sane Use
But the fact that an instrument
may be abused Is IN no way an ar
gument against a sane use Of thai
particular instrument. And the
fact that there are limits within
which the church should move IN
It's concern with social issues does
TO. by any means imply that the
church has no place III these is
sues.
For. religion was conceived not
merely TO teach men faith, not
merely 10 give them tradition:
within the pattern Of which they
miGht find individual fulfillment
but also 10 enunciate principles for
mans collective living. IN a world
which Is beSet with distressing and
complicated problems. religion pos
Al