Evening star., 1941-01-05

What has the world done to religion
In a year when militant secularism has
been rampant, if not triumphant, and
what has religion been able to do in
such a world?
For one thing, and perhaps the most
important, myriads of people who ordi-
narily do not give much thought to re-
ligion have been compelled to ask them
selves what whole world would be like
In which the guidance and restraints Of
religion were as completely renounced
as they have been by the ruling forces in
the nations that now seek to dominate it.
The barbarians whose incursion de-
stroyed the Roman Empire had already
been Christianized, after fashion. The
neo-paganism of the present barbarian
invasion defies both Christian faith and
Christian morality. In doing so, 1t has
reminded even those who are habitually
indifferent to religion that the Christian
manner of life and thought, with all its
imperfections and practice, is in large
measure identical with what they have
cherished as the elementary decencies of
civilized life.
There is little tendency among
thoughtful people at present to blame
religion for not having prevented the
/. war. Far more general is the opinion
that the fault lies with humanity for
having given too little heed to those
values which religion eXalts. But while
1t would be stupid to make religion" the
q
corporation, the organized exponents of
religion-that is, the churcheS-cannot
be held guiltless of an unwarranted COM
placency in the presence of evils which
have given the aggressors their excuse
and their popular appeal. Thoughtfu.
churchmen realize this, and their mood
Is not one of self-righteousness. The
note Of penitence Is often sounded.
Defend Freedom of Conscience.
The Federal Council of Churches has
declared that it is the duty OF the
churches in war time to defend freedom
of conscience and the rights both of
those who conscientiously object to mill
tary service and of those who conscien-
tiously engage in it, to stand for an ulti-
mate peace with justice and liberty for
all, and to keep unbroken the fellowship
of Christians across the battle lines.
On the whole, the temptation to con-
ceive of the European conflict as holy
war" has been generally resisted, though
that has not been easy in view of the
vast preponderance of American SYM
pathy with the Allies as long as there
were any Allies, with Britain thereafter,
and with the subjected peoples.
There has been relatively little pulpit
propaganda for American entrance into
the war, though a few conspicuous
churchmen-Bishop Cannon, for example
have taken that position.
It is not easy 10 measure accurately
the effect of world conditions on the
volume and intensity of pacifist senti-
ment in the churches. In England,
Canada and the United States it had
grown to vast proportions before the
war.
The ranks OF pacif1sts in the United
States have suffered some notable
casualties, but not many. Several of the
larger denominations which are not pre-
dominantly pacifist in sentiment-includ-
ing Methodists, Northern Baptists, Con-
eregationalists, Disciples and Episco-
palians-have provided opportunity for
conscientious objectors to register so that
they may have the same claim to ex-
emption from war service that is gener-
ally accorded to Quakers.
Scruples Against War.
The Selective Service Act provides
alternative forms of service for those who
have religious scruples against participa-
ton in war Ministers, priests and theo-
logical students are exempt from the
draft. The Roman Catholic Church
played an important part in obtaining
this provision The religious interests
of the men now being inducted into the
new army are to be cared for exclusively
by chaplains. Representatives OF the Y.
NJ c. A.. knights of Columbus, Salvation
Army, ETC., are not to be admitted to the
camps at present.
Religious opinion was divided on the
conscription bill. Before it became law
there was much opposition to it by indi-
viduals and by the religious press. After
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