RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1782, 21 June 1913, Page 9

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

THE OUTLOOK IN GERMANY.. TWO POINTS OF VIEW. RELIGION AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE. I'he following interesting article on "Rc"S1011 "i Germany" is taken from the New lork "Uutlook":— Gorman religious fiurnals, according to tlio London "Christian World's" correspendent, are lamenting tlint unbelief lias gained ground in Germany, that religion in the ianiih- and family worship have come practically non-existent, and that jiarcnt s have for the most'part become liidiilerent to tho religious training of children. In Berlin it is said to bo not y,"" s " n ] for parents to try to resell tho Ijibles thev had Ixien obliged to buy for their children's use preparatory to conurination in tho State Church. Onco .confirmed, they had no further use for Jiibles. A secular journal in ono of tho . "no provinces says: "Our family life 'I ; jec ™" n .S> more raw and immature. The old allections .which characterised our race are rapidly disappearing. Instead, vc have parents with no conception of their duty as moral guides, and children Who resent all discipline, all parental control, and arc taught by example to be selt-indulgent, and to follow pleasure and gain as the aim and object of life." A Berlin pastor was recently haled to court by angry parents for chastising their boys for using vile language to nim 111 their confirmation class. Entire districts arc reported where it is all but impossible to find young men for ordination to the ministry. In consequence, home missionary effort in South Germany is almost at a standstill. Such is the shrinkage of divinity students that ft ftouth Gorman journal predicts that, if it goes on for five years more at tho present rate, there will be nono left in any Irotestant university in Germany. Ihe decline is m part duo to tho fact that theological teaching is dominated bv modern scientific tliought. In tho resulting antagonism between tho orthodox and liberal parties in tho Church the orthodox ijarty has thus far prevailed, its religious interest seems mainly conspicuous in heresy trials.

■ What Professor. Harnack Says. With regard to these statements, the well-known authority, Dr. Adolf Harnack, Professor of Church History at the University of Berlin, writes to ''The Outlook : ' as follows:— "Such general, judgments.as the abov-e, concerning present religious 'and social conditions of any nation, are indisputably and scientifically almost worthless. They are based upon a few observations in certain great cities. But what significance lias that with regard to a nation of. sixtylive million souls? It is a fact that the study of theology in Germany i.s increasing. It is a fact that religious interest, the study of religious questions, 'and an earnest idealism—as opposed to materialistic and sceptical views—are also increasing. It seems to me also to be a fact that with Protestants ecclesiasticism is declining. But ecclesiasticism in Protestant Germany has not tho same isignificance' for religion as in England and America."

This is confirmed bj; Hcrr yon Cliappius, Under-Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Worship, and by tho llev. Dr. J. P. Dickie, formerly pastor of (lie American Church in Berlin, and who still resides there.. So far from there being a lack of religious progress in Germany, Dr. Dickie declares that in 110 country, so far as ho knows, has religion, 'made as much progress in winning tho hearts and influencing tho lives of the people. With regard to church . attendance, Dr, Dickie notes an increase, and -with regard to the home missionary zeal "a marvellous increase," while "a-ycry notable foreign missionary spirit has secured and is constantly securing tho gifts cf • rich.and. poor." 'The Students',, Forward jMoVOnierit for' tlie- Evangelisati<},n".;of v ihp Worltl has taken deep root. The work" of both the Young Men's and Young Women's Christian Association is' carried on in every large German city, as is a'.so the work of Christian hostels and hospices. With regard to the falling off of Hie sales of Bibles, Dr. Dickic dcclar:;? that this is 110 more typical of Germany than our train robberies in America are typical of cur civilisation. As to the number of candidates for tho ministry, we learn that there are at present over 4200 candidates, 2000 Protestant and ICOO Catholic. The shadows may seem dark if one' thinks of tho dogged resistance of ecclesiasticism to certain progressive movements in Germany in general and in Prussia, in particular. However, the very fact' that there are discussions shows that there is an interest in religion.