DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 95, 13 July 1927, Page 14

DR. FRANK CRANE’S DAILY EDITORIAL

THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGION (Copyright, 1927.) J) R ' ROBERT A MHVLIKAN, world-famous scientist, in an address the other day on the subject of Evolution, declared that religion was one of the most striking examples of evolution. This was not in the way of controversy or heresy, hut was merely emphasising what was already taught in every theological school of importance in the United States States. Scholars have been pointing out that there was a progression of doctrine in the Bible, the Goa of the Old Testament not having the ideals presented in the new. There is no doubt but that religion has advanced greatlv from the davs of Moses until the days of Christ. Christ Jesus is said to have come “in the fullness of time”; that is He came when .lie development of mankind and its stage of progress warranted Since His day there has been a great progress made. Formerly re ligious denominations were cruel. It was common to have fierce fightinamong sects and both Protestants and Catholics were guiltv of things of which they voulo not nowadays be guilty. tnings The idea of God has undergone considerable variations God mav he the same “yesterday, to-day and forever,” but our understanding and arn prehension of Him progress. v We have rejected the old. tribal gods, the god of wrath and vengeance and have substituted the god of Love. vengeance, As the process of men’s minds has broadened, as their understanding and sympathy have deepened their conception of God has improved, and no one can look at the activities of churches to-day and compare them with those of yesterday and not see that there has been a great advance The missionaries in foreign countries are not so much interested in making converts to their beliefs as they are in doing good to the peonle The recent activities of the churches, such as the YMC A ' the Y.W.C.A and the Y.M.H.A., have all been in the line of helping ImmanUy rather than of fighting certain beliefs. 1 In other words, there has been a definite evolution of religion from merely belief m certain tenets to practical helpfulness of mankind Religion means nothing more than a devotion to the general good. Whatever there is of God nowadays is a God who inhabits all of the people, and whatever makes for the welfare of all mankind is pleasing to Him. atever Religion, like everything else, must be tested by its results Its tri umph is not due to its wanting all people to believe in certain things so much as it is in improving our well being. ss so