Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 4, No. 7 July 2, 1941
Contra
Contra.
Perhaps the most intelligent statement from the other side was made by Miss Hildreth who pointed out that a religion which may have been a good thing when it was formulated, may have, outlived its usefulness, and indeed become an evil thing to-day. Mr. Chapman-Taylor made many excellent points, but did not appear to be at the top of his form. He outlined a rational view of the universe, in which Science was to play a notable part. In a passage which stood cut above the rest he condemned the church's attitude to such [unclear: evils] as syphilis. Mike Mitchell saw hope in the movement for the leadership of the people. Hubert Witheford was convincing in his economic interpretation of the wrongs of present-day society. Likewise Shirley Sutch who saw history as the continual struggle for the betterment of economic conditions. John McCreary expounded a Pacifist viewpoint ably enough, while Mr. Winchester put forward a Socialist argument. Jim's becoming a little sensational, perhaps due to the influence of "Super-Comrade" Nathan, but his arguments were fundamentally sound. He saw Christianity as a slave's philosophy to-day, and resented its accent on humility. Mr. Irving condemned Mr. Nathan, taking himself the more correctly Socialist view of Christianity as the enemy of working-class militancy. It was the Bishop of Toledo who led the fascists into the city.
The Rev. Newell seemed a little annoyed when he summed up. And to our mind quite rightly so. There was a lack of sincerity in many speakers, a lack of logical argument in nearly all, and generally speaking opportunities for advancing both sides were lost.
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Those who prate about a better social order after the war are talking mischievous nonsense. However the war ends, we shall be an impoverished nation. We shall all have to work harder and spend less.
—[unclear: Dean] Inge. .