RATIONALISM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 7, 4 July 1949, Page 4

RATIONALISM

Sir, —Someone put a book in my letter box entitled, “Is progress possible” published by the Rationalists’s Association. The author M. B. Gilos, whose name I have abbreviated to M.8.G., contends that progress is impossible until Christianity dies a natural death, and blames it for the secret and national sins of society. The Christian God is the Tribal God of the ancient Israelities, an obsolete myth. The Bible a perversion of the truth which science has exposed. Creation and Eden are mythical imagination. If they are and can M.B.G. suggest a simple more comprehensive definition of the power and wisdom of the Almighty or a more dramatic setting 'for the illustration of satonic deceit? M.B.G.’s attitude to sex is astounding. He informs his readers that primitive man was naked and contends that nudity is preferable to the prudery of modern ladies attire and that to preach prudery and chasitity from the pulpit is to promote social evils (not mentioned in polite society).

If M.B.G. is not satisfied with the nudity of some films he should be presented with a pocket X-ray outfit to be surreptitiously adjusted when the lights are out. After accusing Christianity of the crimes mentioned M.B.G. goes on to say that Rationalists practice all the Christian virtues that are worthwhile. They are good citizens, sober and industrious. They have their homes, wives, children, and fellowmen, but ignore the source thereof. M.B.G. argues that science has proved his statements. But there are two kinds of science, constructive and destructive. During the war science did all it could for its victims, but science was also responsible for a terrible toll of death and destruction the aftermath of which the world still suffers. M.B.G. quotes the Oxford dictionary of which he certainly is an eloquent master, ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth—that the fear (not of apostate priests and hypercritical layman with which M.B.G. decorates his discourse, but the fear or love of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom a way which a wayfaring man though a fool shall not err therein.

Yours etc., HARRY SERGANT