Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 11, No. 10, August 18th, 1948

Soap-box and Pulpit

Soap-box and Pulpit

On Thursday, 5th August, the SCM and the Socialist Club "got together" under the chairmanship of the Rev. Martin Sullivan to discuss Socialism and Religion. Harry Evison spoke on the theme that Socialism contained the core of Christian ethics, and quoted Marx to the effect that "only under Socialism can the principles of Christianity be realised." He felt sure that Socialists and Christians could reach a synthesis [ unclear: on a] practical programme for the betterment of society. The Dean of Canterbury, Dr. Hewlett Johnson, was quoted as a serious student who had himself found such a synthesis. Improving the individual was a hopeless task without the improvement of the society.

Jim Battersby said he felt that while the material was important, too much emphasis should not be placed on it at the expense of the spiritual. This was after all, the core of Christianity. But still, to avoid the accusation of being an "opiate," Christianity should take a lead in material matters, and here no better programme was offering than one of practical social improvements. Here was common ground for Christians and Socialists. But for the Socialist this material betterment might tend to be an end in itself: for a Christian this was but a means to a spiritual end.

Discussion was diffuse, Mr. Brown apparently thought it a heresy to put such importance on things practical. The teachings of Christ were, he said, but an accretion of Christianity. The core of Christianity was the mystical union of believers in the person of Christ Himself. This is not a line of argument advised to convince Socialists.

The common ground for co-operation was stressed by many speakers from both SCM and Soc. Club. This was the main theme of remarks made by Messrs. Miller.' Robinson, Moore, McLeod and Piper. Christianity claimed to cover a wider ground than Socialism, but where the two claimed to cover the same ground, they should join hands.

The net result was, as Mr. McLeod said, and as Mr. Sullivan also said in summing up, "We should cease to distrust each other."