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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 15, No. 2. March 13, 1952

Pacificism An Issue

Pacificism An Issue

How did the Conference respond to the challenge of the world's social conflicts? What had Christian students to say about peace, and politics, and economics, and so on? There were two tendencies observable in the attitudes of students to this. The first was in the direction of a rather stereotyped "party line" approach, perhaps coloured by Christian principles, but more or less conforming to a secular radical approach. The second became noticeable in an informal discussion on pacifism; there was no very wholehearted attempt to relate the discussion to the modern situation; it was rather an abstract consideration of principles, of violence as opposed to non-violence.

There is a very serious situation to be faced by Christian students in this direction if the faith is to retain any vigour in its redemption of the ordering of society, and it may be a situation which will receive more serious and wholehearted consideration in preparation for the next Summer Conference on the theme "The Evangelisation of the World in this Generation." The question of missionary activity will perhaps make us think out more carefully our attitude to the contemporary political situation

There are lots more things could be mentioned—the great interest in music shown at the Conference, the talks, the services, the outdoor life. An important experiment in the life of the S.C.M. followed the Conference when a work-camp was held in Wellington for six weeks and an opportunity of worshipping and working in a Christian community was taken by some of the students. The best way of finding out about Conference is to attend; next year's is being held in Christchurch.

B. A. Walker.