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Show Friday May 7, 1965 SIGNPOST Page 7 Want Something To Worship World Religions Offer Variety .. ..by Eugene Carlson "Man, unlike other animals, is a creature won comprehends things he cannot see and believes in things he cannot comprehend." This is the way a leading American anthropologist, William Howells, once explained man's irresistible urge to worship. This urge to worship has been the subject of several lectures presented this past week at Weber State College during its second annual "Religious Emphasis Week." L.D.S., Catholic, Jewish and Protestant deominations were all represented on their respective days. Of course, these are all in the large area of Christian religions, of -which there are approximately 750 million members or about 27 of the earths population. Three other great religions are; Islam, Buddhist, and Hindu, and their various ramificationscomprise the bulk of the earths remaining population. The point of all this rambling is not to show how Christians are outnumbered in the world by about three to one, but just to impress on us that we should be aware of other philosophies and forces outside of our own society, Some of these great religions differ quite readically from Christianity such as Hinduism with its 330,000,000 gods. And others are quite close such as the Moslem religion, which embraces only one supreme God, among other similarities. Many theologists have been discussing the blending of the great religions, possibly into some kind of religious U. N. which would dissolve differences and promote brotherhood. Others find the idea as revolting as the original United Nations. At any rate, it seems that everyone wants something he can worship or idolize whether, it be animals (primitive man concept) a moral God or gods (more modern) or money (old, but it still holds its place.) Man goes through thousands of rites in his quest to please his gods or God magic, myths, hunting rites, puberty rites, planting rites, burial rites, drinking rites (?), and a myriad of incantations. But there are three maia ideas around which all philosophies of religion center: Religion as creed and dogma; religion as faith er individual experience; and relig-gion as conduct. Communism even fits into the loose definition of a religion with its god being the stale. Religion has thrived on man's desire and apparently, need for something . "more than bread alone." Whether the recent Gallup Poll taken in the U. S. which states that a fewer percentage of persons are attending church now than in previous years or the statement of a college girl that "Religion just can't keep up with the peace," are prophetic of change or not, religion will probably accept the challenge just as it has around the world for St. &!&3yjO 283$$ by George Butsikares Apocryphal writings are any writings which have at one time or another been considered scripture by Israelites of Christians but have not been universally accepted by our Judaeo-Christian culture as scripture. By this definition, the New Testiment would would also be considered apocryphal in the Jewish religion and the Old Testament apocrphal to certain of the Christian sects. The standard, works of thc Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints aside from the Bible namely the "Book of Mormon," "The Doctrine and Covenants," and "The Pearl of Great Price," would also be consideded apocryphal to our Judaeo-Christian culture in general. THE DICTIONARY defines Apocryphal as being of doubtful origin' and authenticity. Generally speaking when one thinks of "Judith," the last two books of Daniel found in Catholic Bibles (including "Susanna and the Elders"), Ecclesiastic-us," "Adam and Eve," "The Wisdom of Solomom," and other worthwhile writ of Biblical style and age. However, with the exception of those who accept their religious beliefs by faith, most people at centuries. Its' a great age to live-in where the progressive Playboy philosophy and "Kiss me Stupid" clash with Puritan inhi-bititon and "Give Me that Old Time Religion." least inwardly consider all the scripture apocryphal. THE MOST INTEREST I N G literature of the Bible can be found in the Old Testa m e n t. Whether it be the tale of Esther, the seductive Jewess who used drunken King Vashti as her pawn, the story of Ruth, who placed herself in a compromising position in order to assure raising seed unto her dead husband, the book of Hosea, a prophet who married a two-timing prostitute so that God could illustrate a point; the adventures of David, royal lover; "Proverbs," a collection of quotations in the practical vein; or the sheer poetry of "Isaiah" the entire Old Testament is filled with literary material to which writers in all periods since have alluded. "The Book of Mormon" is also rich in literary matter. Consider the maturing of Nephi- the poetic soul of Lehi; the beautiful description of Mary (1st Nephi 11:13-20); the classical defense of the Jews: "A Bible! 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