The Religion of the Modern Girl

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 32, 22 February 1929, Page 12

The Religion of the Modern Girl

HAS the modern girl a religion at all? . Some, judging by her lack of outward observances, her ignorance of divinity and theology, her disregard, in speech at all events, of the Christian moral code, would be inclined to reply to this question in the negative. Others, more discerning, have come to perceive that the modern girl not only has a religion, but within the last year or two has slowly returned to a more orthodox and disciplined profession of faith. Girls of to-day have been taught to think, to acquire opinions of their own -founded not on emotion or on blind acceptance of traditions, but on knowledge and experience. This mode of education must inevitably lead them to a thoughtful consider:tion of religion, and so the strongest factors that make for irreligion, ignorance, and indifference have heen routed. Only Half-way. At first, youth seemed inclined to come only half-way along the path that led them back to the religion of their fathers. They had proved the need of some kind of religion, but following out the ratler dangerous implications of so much in secular education they tried to evolve a new religion of their own. The girls of the Twentieth Century found orthodox Christianity dema..ded a renunciation of the ..cense they had learnt to call liberty. They found discipline, both exterior and interior, to be an essentia. of conventional religion. They were expected actually to obey their spiritual pastors and masters, when they had neyer been taught to obey either their parents or their schoolmistresses. Naturally there were withdrawals, rebellions. Many girls tried to appcase their longing for a less mate.‘alist and more unselfish life by taking up social work. They preferred ardent belief in humanity and in the brotherhood of man. In practice they found th. this was only one half of religion, and the wisest came back to learn the other half-to seek from :.uthority, instruction and benediction. Fancy Religion. Others returned by tle roundabout road of ‘"faney religions’’-curious cults blended of superstition and sensationalism, and all demanding so very much greater credulity than the Creed, which they had, as innumerable schoolgirls announced, "difficulty in accepting." At all events, by different ways, the majority of modern girls have returned. They are now among the keenest supporters and most devout followers of their church. Their ecclesiastical

leaders have wisely encouraged their eontribution of youthful zest, arranged, parochial and social works on new lines — altered where non-essential were involved-and so removed many minor stumbling blocks. The church of to-day needs youth, and youth needs the church-P.T.