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|
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6:32
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10:15 Classic*! Interlude
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12:35 .. Music
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1:00 World News
1:15 Swap Shop
1:30 Afternoon of Muaic
6:00 Bob A Rayi News
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World News
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—Music of th* Master*
—— Groo/ology
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