^October, 1945
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I N THE NEWS
An Interpretation'of World Affairs in the Light o)
the Scriptures. the nation’s children be “fostered and extended.” While in some circles such instruction is no more than “relig ious education,’ ’ t h e r e are many evangelical teaching groups engaged in giving the little ones a real Chris tian education—in the Word of God. Some of these organizations are out side of the established churches, oth-' ers constitute a union of operation between churches. Close contact with many of them has convinced us that a real ministry for God is being car ried on, and that the blessing of the Spirit of God is upon this service. It is estimated that 90 per cent of American Protestantism will take part in this observation of a week devoted to religious education. ♦ According to the American Bible Society, six new languages—Gio, Gua- jira, Holo, Kim, Sangtam Naga, and Southern Rengma Naga, have been added to the imposing list of lan guages’ and dialects into which have been translated either the whole Bible or portions thereof. The total is now 1,068, for which we thank God. . -.| This Society has also published a fine book entitled, “The Book of a Thousand Tongues,” which includes an impressive display of sample pages from the Scriptures printed in various languages. Profusely illustrated, this volume includes useful indexes, and may be ordered from the Society for $3.75 postpaid. It would be a fine in vestment for every Sunday School Library. ♦ A practical demonstration of the love of God shed abroad. in a human heart is the testimony of Staff Sgt. Jacob D. Deshazer, a 32-year-old Doo little flyer, who was terribly . mis treated by the Japanese during his stay in a prison camp. Writing to his mother, he expresses his desire to pre pare himself for missionary service. But the amazing part about it is that, he wants to go back to Japan with the story of the love of God as it is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a fulfillment of Matthew 5:44-45. r
,srA ^AD commentary on what goes 'r/ \ on in the minds of American people, especially the young folks, is revealed by the publi cation of the monthly circulation fig ures of some of the cheapest maga zines. Here are some figures: Approxi mately 10,000,000 pulp love and adven- jtyre story magazines; 8,000,000 “true confession” type; 3,000,000 detective stories; 10,000,000 movie magazines; i£5,000,000 adventure comic books. If you multiply these figures by 12, you ¡will be astounded at the yearly read- tog habits of our country. ,nr- ♦ ..-•/The true character of the Franco •regime in Spain is revealed by the new charter proclaiming Roman Ca tholicism as the state religion. Accord ing to this charter, “no one will be molested because.of his religious be liefs and private practice thereof,” but, fno other ceremonies or external manifestations will be allowed except those of the Catholic religion.” This of course means that no public •Protestant services will be permitted and that fine and arrest will follow «uch attempts, is ••• ♦ e Greater New York is a vast city, and concerning it there are many startling facts: for instance, 500,000 families living in the slums; 1,000,000 annual arrests; 7,000 children arrested per year; 100,000 unmarried couples living together; 1,163 suicides yearly; SfOOO cases of neglected children brought to court. If we couple with these statistics the startling fact that in this same city there are 5,000,000 people without association whatever With any church, it would seem that dtir American metropolis is pagan in deed and practically unevangelized. ♦ Prophecy reproduces a letter from a soldier in the Pacific area in which he tells of a visit to a Buddhist temple. He noted the similarity between the Buddhist ceremony and the Catholic mass. This leads the editor of Prophecy to set forth fifteen points of likeness between these two religions which are indeed striking: (1) In both
of these systems, there is a worship of pictures and images, that is, the worship of ,th£ seen. (2) Both,pray in an unknown tongue: the Romanists in Latin, the Buddhists in Sanskrit. (3) Both use candles and incense. (4) Both have masses for the dead. (5) Both count their beads. (6) Both use vain repetitions. (7) Both insist upon celibacy of the clergy. (8) Both insist upon nuns and nunneries. (9) Both practice adoration of relics. (10) Both are systems of merit. (11) Both claim miraculous cures by the priesthood. (12) Both spend huge sums of money on processions. (13) Both practice worship of saints. (14) An ornate fea ture of both religions is flower wor ship. (15) Mary, the Holy Mother, finds her perfect counterpart in Kwanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. ♦ For years it has been believed by astro-physicists that the earth was growing colder, but recently Time re ported a new view by a London biolo gist, J. B. S. Haldane. His theory is that the earth is growing warmer and that it will continue to do so for about one billion years. Professor Haldane estimates the galaxies in their present form to be about five hundred billion years old, and the earth and other planets about four hundred billions. This idea is an innovation and a re versal of what has been orthodox opinion among scientists for a number of years. When will we learn that these hypo theses are merely theories? A theory is but a guess. Perhaps tomorrow will bring another theory as revolutionary and as diverse from the others as can be. Meanwhile, the Word of God with clear and dignified language proclaims the facts about God and His universe as true today as ever. Happy is that man or woman whose faith rests without question upon the revealed truths of the Holy Scripture. ♦ President Harry S. Truman has en dorsed the Fifteenth Annual Religious Education Week—September 30 to Oc tober 7. He urges that education of
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