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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 13, No. 20. Thursday, September 7, 1950

Rapprochement of Churches

Rapprochement of Churches

One of the most significant things in our day is the fact that the churches are coming together more and more. There still exists, of course, the division between the Roman and Protestant churches. None of us who have received a liberal education could believe that human beings measure up to the standard of infallibility. Otherwise, however, there is much growing co-operation between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant churches. Apart from the Roman Catholic church, sectarian divisions now existing are anachronisms—the main issues which called them into being no longer exist and the extant differences are mainly in forms of government. The great differences which are to be found among Christians are (I suppose he was referring to differing attitudes to sex, war, fundamentalism, etc) cut across the barriers of denominations. A tremendous amount of saintliness is to be found in all sections of the Churches. The maintenance of such barriers as remain is causing grave damage to Christianity. It is for us to devise ways and means of reducing and removing these barriers. Is not N.Z. eminently suited in many ways to give a lead in this?

Discussion was slow in starting, evidence that he had taken our breath away somewhat. What about the "menace of Communism?" The first thing, said Raven, is to rid our minds of the bogy and to counteract the lamentably prevalent tendencies to hysteria. Though not as fundamental as the issues to which he had referred it was yet a serious question.

We should recognise the considerable good achieved within Russia and elsewhere: but we cannot shut our eyes to its defects. We must try to understand Communism, and also not forget that the peoples of the East are people. He suggested that our best means of contact was through China. He thought Communism was not the main force working for war at the present time.

As to food shortage and world population, a great problem but not necessarily so immediate, obviously we must consider proper and equitable distribution of food. Christianity and the rationing of population are compatible.

The problem of evil and pain was related to God's creation of freely responding persons, and an alternative where no-one could come to any harm seemed to be a sort of padded cell life. The apparent cruelty of nature seemed almost to indicate an all pervading law of sacrifice. Yet God was in it all: God did not stand and watch and say sometimes "Oh, well played, sir!" But Raven was acutely conscious of the difficulty of this problem.

Other points included that democracy is rather a question of social relationship than merely government by committee. The question of a university is to fit people for the fullness of life, not merely to impart technical skills.

Throughout the evening, one could not help but be profoundly impressed with the encompassment of his mind and the depth of his insights. The fundamental issues he raised were crucial, and that he could meticulously show their relevance in the short time was amazing. The unclothed platitudes stood as naked fact, and we were confronted—involved.

Canon Raven must have made his remarks about us (VUC) in the Listener on inadequate evidence. He saw us only in the vacation, and his was the rushed visit of the busy man—we at VU can forgive him.

E. E. Robinson.