PAGE TWO Role of Religion In World Today By DR. LUTHER H. HARSHBARGER University Chaplain Second of a Series Karl Marx once defined religion as "the sigh of the hard-pressed creature, the heart of a heartless world.” He was being derisive, but can you think of a better definition? Marx knew what we all should understand—that no analysis of what's going on in the world can omit the religious problem, for religion is the main source of transcendent judgment on any human society. It is literally true that we are the kind of beings who must have some kind of underlying faith or philosophy, some explanation of the meaning and purpose of life which will provide basic directives for living. Intellectually, we need something beyond mere physical) survival to work for and toward. There is ample documentation in the history of man for this view, just by listing all the substitute religions which men and societies have pursued. While no religious faith can give a detailed blueprint of what should be done in every international tension situation or power struggle. Western religion, or the Judeo-Chrislian tradition, or the Biblical perspective does possess the necessary intellectual valid ity and the ethic to give basic direction to human society. It is unfortunately true, however, that contemporary religion has not provided a theology to meet the demands of the thinking mind or provided adequate guidance to its adherents in solving the problems of the social or international order. This is partly due to the unfortunate compartmenlalizations of our life, by which we assume tragic dichotomies between the religious and the secular, voting and praying, church and Congress, congregation and the market place, nations and races, and believe these unhappy divisions to be finally real The Biblical perspective corrects that error. All Jewish and Christian thought about the world must begin with God and His not with man and his needs. The Bible insists that since this world is the medium of God’s self-disclosure and is the com- munity in which God acts and reveals Himself, the whole of this actual world has to be taken ser iously. This principle is amply demonstrated in the story of the covenant between God and Israel and in the drama of the Incarna- tion in Christian history. When the religious man, there fore .asks the question. “What’s going on in the world?” the es- sence of his answer is that God is moving and acting in the his torical events of his time; in all the problems, good or bad; in all the international mess; and his responsibility is to keep his eye on the future for God's next move. This means, as Reinhold Niehbur has pointed out, that the religious man has to face not only ultimate, but also immediate is lues. It is his task and the task of religious institutions to see what can and cannot be done about justice on earth, to renew the truth they, hold, and apply it to themselves, to the problems of war or peace. While the Biblical perspective gives us no assurance that men can march ever onward and upward, it is, it the same time, not a counsel of despair. A realistic understanding of man and his limita tions is a necessary foundation for dealing effectively with political or international problems, and this understanding will save us from many utopian illusions, as well as the slough of despond. The reli gious man necessarily understands that the battle is never wholly won or lost, and therefore, he must always look for new and fresh opportunities to reduce tension and to administer justice. To a student of .history it is clear that we are living in a time of great revolution. In our lifetime. Western civilization and West ern religion have met many challenges—Nazism. Fascism. Com munism. Each challenged the fundamental convictions and con cepts of our faith and society. Where are we going? While this direction is not so clear, it seems to me that we are moving in exorably toward a world community and human solidarity. We may struggle against that, but it is the movement of history and the direction in which God is going. This world, originally created in harmony, has been utterly at the mercy of the agents of con tusion. It is clear to the religious man that it is God's purpose to reunite it and to reconcile mankind. In the face of these overwhelming events, the individual might well ask what he can do. He can, first of all, acknowledge his in escapable involvement in all the problems of our times as a part of his religious duty. Secondly, he can accept the moral conse quences of decisive action. And, third, he can participate in the political and economic decisions at the place where these decisions are made. Elections Committee Students wishing to apply for membership on next year’s All- XJniversity Elections Committee may fill out application forms be fore May 23 at the Hetzel Union desk. (Continued, on page five) THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA Wills Named Chairman Of IFC Board George Wills, junior in arts and letters from McDonogh, Md., has been named Interfraternity Council Board of Control Chair man. Wills succeeds Richard Shil linger, senior in business admin istration from Mount Alton. Hart Appoints Chairmen James Hart, IFC president, has also appointed Samuel Fleming, sophomore in pre-medicine from Huntingdon, chairman of the IFC workshop committee, and Thomas Wellington, junior in physics from State College, chairman of the IFC public relations commit tee. Board Members Named Five new members have been appointed to the IFC Board of Control. They are Frank Farrell, junior in arts and letters from Alden; Edward Long, junior in arts and letters from Wanamie; Alan Ruebens, junior in pre medicine from Philadelphia; Da vid Lenzner, junior in business administration from Scranton; and Robert Yeager, junior in metal lurgy from Bellefonte. Nelson to Head Ad Fraternity Paul Nelson, junior in journal ism from Palmerton, has been elected president of Alpha Delta Sigma, national professional ad vertising fraternity. Other officers are Pat Palmier, junior in journalism from Brook ville, vice president; Thomas Fos ter, sophomore in journalism from Bellefonte, secretary; and John Lytle, senior in agriculture from Indiana, treasurer. Initiates of Alpha Delta Sigma are Ronald Casarella, James Fer raro, Richard Schilpp, James McGrew, John Clifford, Hugo Henderson, Charles Reiser, Ron ald Martino, Albert Buffington, Riggs Griffith, William Kieffer, Robert Piccone, Thomas McDon ald, Raymond Young and Leonard Epstein. Dont just sit there! You'll enjoy today’s copy of this publication much more if you'll get up right now and get yourself an ice-cold bottle of Coca-Cola. (Naturally, we’d be hauler, tool) Bottled under .Authority of The Coca-Cola Company by COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY OF ALTOONA TIM Approves Retention Of Present Council Plan Town Independent Men last night passed a constitutional amendment to retain the present system of representation of town independent men by an elected council. The council system has been used on a trial basis for the past semester and the TIM off: effective than the previous S 3 The open meetings had been inj use since TIM was formed in 1954. Under this plan all TIM members were asked to attend) meetings Interest Was Low Council members said atten dance and interest was so low under the meeting plan that little was accomplished at meetings. This year it was decided to try the council system. At the begin ning of the semester, a council was elected and has .been suc cessful enough to warrant con tinuation, according to the coun cil. A constitutional amendment providing that members of TIM who served on the council the previous year are to be auto matically placed on the ballot for the next election was also ap proved. It will also be noted on the ballot that the man has been an incumbent on council. Must Get Petition The amendment further states that members of TIM who have not served on council must be nominated by a petition signed by 20 town independents. Fifty town indies have signed up for the TIM banquet which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday! at the Pleasant Gap Grange Hall. Bruce Pellnitz, ticket chairman, said some tickets are still avail-j able, for $1.50 each. They may be obtained from Pellnitz at AD 8- 8078. ICCB to Meet Tonight The Intercollege Council Board will meet tonight in 217 Hetzel Union immediately following the All-University Cabinet meeting. The board will discuss council elections and freshman Orienta tion week. eonioMT iter tmi c9C*coia eoxrjuir THURSDAY. MAY 16. 1957 icers said it proved much more astern of open meetings. Lion Predicts Clear Skies The Nittany Lion rejoiced at today’s prediction of clear and cooler weather. The expected high for today is 65 degrees. The Lion is still slightly inca pacitated by a large splint on his tail—a grim reminder of his re cent sports car mishap. Undaunted, he was busily writ ing a speech for today’s Armed Forces Day cere monies. He an nounced that he was through with sports cars, and .would lead the parade in a Cad illac, com plete with three cushions for his tail. He commended the weather bureau on its “fine prediction.” WMAJ 1450 VYJVIMJ Qn y our D , a| Thursday 6:30 6:32 8:30 8:45 Siam On Morning Show Morning Devotions _ Morning Bhow _ Robert Burleigh 10:00 —-- Cecil Brown 10:15 Classic*! Interlude 11:00 News 11:05 ~ ... Musto for Listening 11:15 -- - - A Woman's Decision 11:30 - ■ - Queen for • Day 12:00 Mniio At Noon 12:15 Centre County News 12:30 What's Going On 12:35 .. Music 12:45 , Area Bporta 12:50 Centre County Ag. Ext 1:00 World News 1:15 Swap Shop 1:30 Afternoon of Muaic 6:00 Bob A Rayi News 6:45 .. Music for Listening 6:00 _ World News; market summary 6:15 -■ - ■ Music for Listening 6:30 - Sports Bpeela) -- Music Local News Fulton Lewis Jr. World News Thursday Night — Music for Listening ... Headlines in Chezn ...... Music for Listening - Hubzapoppia The Queen's Men Campus News —Music of th* Master* —— Groo/ology Sign Off 3220HE] Feature: 1:30. 3:34, 5:18, «:SS. 10:01 “The Gruel Tower” PLUS SNEAK PREVIEW at 8:30 CLUE - COMEDY -Technicolor— -ClnemaScope— , *CATHAUM NOW: 2:00. 3:56. 5:52, 7:48, 8:44 BEN GAZZAHA “THE STRANGE ONE” FRIDAY AND SATURDAY “Exceedingly Good Movie*' —Sat. Review of Lit. “YOUNG STRANGER” JAMES MacARTHUR KIM HUNTER * NITTANY NOW - DOORS OPEN 6 PM JAMES CAGNEY FAT O'BRIEN “FIGHTING G9HI”
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers