The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-30

on religion written for The Indiana polls
Timss nv famed American ehurchmen.
Todsv's article has been written nv the
Rev. Finis :. Idleman. ID. minister Of
the Central Church Of Disciples Of
Christ. New York CITY.
BY DR.. FINS :. IDLEMAN
Written for The indianapolis Times
There is nothing new about the
new paganism" except its new dress
Wherever it has appeared in any
age or among any people it is the
usurper. All other interests must
bow 10 It. The total life Of all the
citizens Is demanded. The state is
the end Of all striving.
Religion. education, art and eco
Monies must serve II. Racial inter-
ests are put above spiritual quail
ficatiOns The state claims divine
virtues and divine mission. National
culture and tradition are supposed
to find their embodiment n serving
this supreme end.
Little wonder il is called total
itarian There is nothing outside
it: every other human interest is
swallowed by II.
Varying Degrees of Tyranny
There are, however, varying de-
gress of its tyranny. These depend
upon the fanaticism of its dictators
and the desperation of the people.
As a parlor philosophy Ibsen, Dan
nunzio and Bernard Shaw would
outlaw religion from it. To many
such sponsors the teachings of
Christ are regarded as impractic-
able.
Others rule God out Of the uni
verse as inimical 10 the one incar-
nate divinity-the state. The rulers
Of that state receive homage. The
king can do no wrong because he
incarnates the divine state
Opposition is ruthlessly crushed
and criticism is prohibited. Cove
nantS are not sacred because the
immediate concerns are more than
honor.
The New Paganism' is now used
to describe a state Of mind especial
~ peculiar to Germany. Here, it
is believed. is to be found the full
and frank expression of the tOtali-
tartan state Under its control all
the diversified interests of the
people must come. The state is de-
termined to adapt even religion to
its own ends.
Raising New Deities
A prominent authority declared ::
1--WE all confess that, roofing in dl-
vine reality. we are responsible with
our Germanic origin before this di-
vine reality. for a German-born
faith. TIE one religion can be only
a NOrdic Germanic one"
II is maintained that even Chris
tianity owes its enduring virtues to
the Germanic character. 1T puts
the fiery spirit of the hero in the
place of the cruci1xion." The scrip
lures are to be translated in terms
of Teutonic glory
The Eighty Seventh Psalm is
freely translated to read The Lord
loveth the height of Germany more
than all the dwellings abroad"
This attitude constitutes self wor-
ship, which is the essence of pagan
ism. New deities are raised up for
old and national virtues displace the
universal.
SwaStika Above Cross
Personal freedom of convictions
IS diSallOwed and the SwaStika is put
above the cross. Only the skeleton
of traditional religion is kept to be
reconstructed and rebuilt to suit 100
per cent nationalsm.
we are adherentS of a Germanic
faith which derives its strength from
the Germanic people whose creative
religious power has remained alive
through more than 1000 years In
that announcement lies all The as
sumption of self sufficiency.
To what end is this type of pagan
faith? 1t is in order to wage war
effectively. If all the varied con-
Germs of all the citizens are brought
to serve one end-the state. then
that state is prepared to wage war
on the most efficient basis.
Education will then teach such
knowledge and with such slant as
shall most inspire national pride
and create international suspicion
and distain. Art will swell the ma
tiOnal breast with the glory of that
people. Even the Christ child ap-
pears in the distinctive biological
type of that state Industry will
have but one end. to serve. and all
its resources must await the SUI
preme command.
Distortion Of Truth
At last religion. that longest.
deepest urge of man will supply the
controlling motive and bless the
total energies of the nation with di-
vine benediction. The martialed
manhood of that state will count it
all honor to die for the fatherland
which that kind of art. education
and religion have conSpired TO pre-
sent as the divinely right nation in
the midst OF enemy peoples who plot
It's rum.
AS a fighting unit nothing can
equal the finished product of the new
paganiSm. 1t has behind 1t all the
illuStriouS history Of the PharoahS
and the Caesars. For it there are
no laws by which it is bound or
treaties which it must respect. Truth
is valuable only when 1t is useful 10
victory.
ANY means are justified which at
tain the end OF magnifying the
state. The individual is a pawn
whose worth consists in his ability
to defend the king"
AS a moral force the new pagan
ism is the antithesiS Of all true re-
ligion. II is void OF those elemental
and basic virtues without which re-
-