Evening star., 1948-03-16

To the Editor Of The Star:
Your article in Thursdays Evening Star On
Church and State" and the one in Saturdays
on Plus to the Italians" were greatly apprect-
ated by my family and myself.
LOUISE Oh. cOLLIFLoWER.
70 the Iditor Of The star:
I was raised under the belief that religion
should not be taught in the schools lest it lead
to telling people in the end what religion to
believe. I still believs in that doctrine. but
to deny God in the schools and then teach
atheism Is tempting God to do to . country
that which God seems to have done, or perhaps
should say allowed" to be done, in America.
A.B:
To the Editor Of The star:
Before scrub my floor, I should ike to
say few things to Mrs. Vashu McColluun,
MY 7-year-old daughter has just departed
Tor school. She won't receive any religious
instruction there today, but think 1t would
be nne If she did. I would not want her 70
receive education in faith not my own:
nevertheless. I think even that would be
preferable to having her grow up without
any.
I certainly do not intend that she shall be
Ar atheist. am instructing my own children
daily to have faith in God and the principles
OF Christian brotherhood I think America
is great only insofar Is she lives by these
principles.
In our nedghborhood We have q band Of
young free thinkers" who have been brought
up apart from fear or superstitution Of any
KIND. These unhampered individuals are
school-ase boys, who neither 60 to school nor
work, but spend their days lolling about un-
imaginatively. With nightfal, they seem 20
md self-expression, and . few have been ar
rested for attempted HOUSEKEEPING and gen.
eral rowdyism. have talked with some of
their parents trying to interest them in
church group which would seek to make
Christians Of their children, as well as to pro-
vide them with wholesome fun and compan-
1onship. These parents think mildly that such
q plan would be nice" but they don't know
how to get Butch, or Bill, or Dan to come as
you Just can't do . thing with boys that
age"
: 4, too, cherish democracy enough, in fact, to
give up my husband for . year and half. In
the hope OF tts PRESERVATION. can see nothing
undenocratic In the Champaign plan of reli-
sious instruction. think it represented step
In the right direction, and that 1t would have
been far better for one child to be embarrassed,
than for many children to be deprived Of the
good they might have had. I'm not worried
about democracy yet, though. I don't think
the time has come for the war lords to walk
IN. The reason Is that for every Mrs. McCol-
hln1, there are at least q few hundred who will
80 on scrubbing their floors and believing in
God. MRS. WARREN H. GIIBERTsON.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Isn't 1t regrettable that our Supreme Court
has made . borderline decision 80 distressing
to millions Of Americans who believe that re-
hgion and more religion is the only hope Of
the world, decision detrimental to our pres
tige as a supposedly Christian nation?
There are great many well-informed people
who can see little connection between the facts
in the Champaign Ill, case and the First
Amendment to the Constitution.
1t would seem that the cause Of democracy
has suffered . severe blow, rather than the
reverse IS acclaimed by Mrs. McCollum, since
every one in the Champaign school has had to
bow to the wishes Of one individual, an atheist
II this decision can start the ball rolling for
an amendment clarifying the First Amend
ment to the Constitution, 30 that this sort Of
thing never can happen again, then perhaps
Mrs McCollrm unwittingH will have done the
country great service D. A. cURRAN.
To the Editor Of The star
In your editorial on Church and State" YOU
brought out some very serious possible rami-
hcattons Of the recent Supreme Court deci-
sion on the Champaign case. believe, however,
that you 80 too far when you ask that the de-
cision be stricken from the books It would be
unfortunate If the Lords Prayer, Christmas
A~Nla Ay~A ~vHfr
Of God were removed from the school system,
but these things would be 4 small price to pay
for strict division Of the church and the state.
Churches, II they cannot get people to 10 to
them on their own initiative, should not in
my opinion be supplied with communicates by
the school system. GEORGE NJ ALDRIDGE
To the Editor Of The Star:
Just a word in appreciation Of the fine edi
torial Church and State"
M. cLEUDAN1KL.
TO the Editor Of Ths Star
Many thanks for your raight-thinkins edi-
torial on Church and State"
This is to let you know that We people Of
religion oppose the Supreme Court decision.
MRS. Z. L. ANDES
To the Editor OF The Star:
What is an atheist7 A person who believes
in force, and that's what We have in Russia
today. Religion does not put fear In children
or adults. Without it love and life and home
collapse. An atheist when faced with death
is afraid. Our country and children must have
religion to survive. .., MOTHER.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Since reading the Bible in schools must now
be considered, it would be well to call atten-
ton to the attitude of many teachers on the
subject.
Atheism is an ugly word, and is misleading |
If applied to persons who accept morality,
truth and courtesy IS the fundamentals OF |
religion An honorable teacher recognizes the
supreme value OF q good home, and the Nazi
and Soviet practice Of defying home influence