"/ (& '* f * BUSINESS
F E A T U R E
S E C T I O N
WORLD OTSGRAMS
James O. Henry, Editor, M .A ., Associate prof, of History, Biola Palmer Brown, Associate Editor
B ib le Reading in the Schools At a recent conference of repre sentatives of the California Teachers’ Associatipn a committee voted, with only one dissenting vote, to oppose two bills in the California Legislature on Bible reading in the public schools. They gave two reasons for their ac tion. First, they said, “no parent should be called upon to send a note to school asking that his child be excused from listening to Bible read ing.” They contended that such would be a violation of the indi vidual’s constitutional rights to free dom of religious worship and the teachers felt that no public agency has a right to place a person in a position to express himself as a religious reader or instructor. How ridiculous our educators show them selves to be in such a forced interpre tation of the Constitution. Second, they state that, “ the schools, under the present school code, are teaching morals, manners and spiritual values and are doing a good job.” This con tention can certainly be called into question in view of the acute problem we now have with young dope addicts in our schools. Their final contention is that these bills might even “jeopardize the present teaching of moral and spiritual values by raising the sectarian question.” By this they mean they consider the 'reading of the Bible to be a hindrance rather than an aid to moral standards. These are our teachers. They are hired by the school boards we elect. What will we do about the matter? Stalin’ » Failure to Cheat Death Dr. Stepan Mikhailovitch Sabotkin, a former Colonel-surgeon in the Soviet Army, in an article written for the Science Digest magazine, de scribed a mechanical heart and lung machine designed to bring Stalin back to life within the critical six minutes of clinical death. Dr. Sabot kin spoke also of a “ Life elixir” tested on human guinea pigs which was to have been used by Premier Stalin. He stated that “ the Kremlin overlord has taken drugs and 'serums
for the last 13 years in a bold scheme to live more than 100 years.” Atheistic Soviet leaders may defy God but in evitably there comes the day when they must bow to His will. “ And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this thè judgment.” Russia T om o rrow Stalin’s successor has been chosen. All speculation has ended. Now we must face realities in our relations with Russia. The most fatal mistake America can make is to engage in wishful thinking and assume that the vast Russian empire will fall apart. George Sokolsky, a syndicated columnist for the Hearst Papers, gives an analysis of the situation in Russia that should be broadcast throughout our nation as a warning. In referring to those who predicted the collapse of Russia upon the death of Stalin he said, “ they had forgotten that the Communist control of Russia is now 36 years old, that it has been cement ed by time and war, that the gen eration of Russians of which Malen kov is representative knows no other world, has never read a correct his tory of the liberalism of the 19th century, has no understanding of con stitutional development in any coun try. It is a Soviet generation, bred in the philosophy of Marxism, the po litical structure of Leninism, the pragmatic devices of Stalin.” He says of the former Premier that “What ever one may think of Stalin, his achievements have been enormous . . . If on his tomb were engraved the words, Teheran, Yalta and Pots dam, it would be sufficient to make his name loom large in history. Mal enkov cannot long thrive on Stalin’s successes and prestige. “Therefore,” says Sokolsky, “Malenkov must win in Korea, in Indo-China, in Malaya, in Iran, in Germany. He must not only succeed in one of these areas but in all of them. He must complete Stalin’s unfinished business.” The issues are clear. It is a struggle be tween atheistic communism and democracy.
Film Censorsh ip Britain’s usually ultra-conservative film censorship board has approved a nude swimming scene in a Swedish movie because it is “ beautiful and childlike.” The Board gave the movie an “A ” certificate—meaning it may be viewed by children if escorted by an adult. The Board’s secretary said, “We found the whole picture so beautiful and childlike we had no doubts whatever. It would be unfair to limit such an innocuous film.” Such a flimsy reason for approval may legalize the action, but it can in no way justify it. P ea c e and the V . IV. At a recent convocation of minis ters held on the campus of the Uni versity of Southern California, Dr. Walter W. Van Kirk of the National Council of Churches asked perhaps the most important question facing Christians in America: “What shall the churches do about the United Nations?” His own appraisal of the problem is that “ if churches every where were to abandon the United Nations the engines of total war might roll again.” Dr. Van Kirk pointed out the ac complishments and the failures of the United Nations. In describing the disappointments felt by many per sons regarding the United Nations he said, “Maybe Christians expect too much too soon.” Many persons in our churches are not so sure about the United Nations as they once were. Dr. Van Kirk, with other National Council leaders, remains very opti mistic about future possibilities for universal peace. He said that “The Churches of Christ in the United States are committed to the estab lishment of a world political order,” and that “ Christians are the divinely inspired propagandists of world com munity.” Van Kirk’s views stand in complete contradiction to the Great Commission as given to the apostles and also to Paul’s admonition to young Timothy to “ Preach the Word!”
T6
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook Online document