OCR Text |
Show r rV art, music, and every other realm - of life. Admittedly, some religions practices in some" cults, are, to say the least, on the fringe of normality. 7 BIOLOGISTS TESTIMONY On the other hand we have the testimony of the biologist that . . ; religion- - is natural to man and belongs to his normal relations to the universe as an important factor in his social and spiritual development. It cuts deeply into his life and so Ig Involved in his whole history and personality. alks to Thfe BY . JOHN T. WAHLQUIST, PH.D 13---Relig- ion hear-- anyone- - suggest tha t " we could get along without hanks. We get a new banker and start all over again. We recognize the9 N 'the strictest sense-o- f term a critic is one who possesses such knowledge that he is a skilled judge,- - likewise, criticism is defined as the art I of judging something accord-in- g tocertain -- standards following careful examination. At the outside, we submit, religion has nothing to fear from crjtics or criticism carried on in the proper spirit. Most of the competent critics and their "criticisms" are highly favorable to religion. After all Christianity has met the pragmatic test over the last two thousand years., It is the words of the so called critics that are usually in the negative. Many of the criticisms of re-- i ligion .are merely, the express sions of the incompetent who lack both religious experience and training, We should pay no more attention to them than we would pay to a music critic f or to an art who is . critic who is the fact that the bank renders an Indispensable social service. In. the ..instances.: where in stitutions fail the members, we must recognize that error is a human defect Unfortunately, for the one perfections, the church is dependent upon human beings for its leaderships Even though the church is conceded to be who.-expec- ts -- divine, we cannot-reasonab- ly expect its officials to act divine ly. Nor should we lose our faith because some individual has displayed the worst. Instead of the best, in his makeup. Incidentally, we can learn fronT theoffenders". Therepen-tan- pur-.chas- Page 2 Dec. 11, 1943 t man may be a good counselor; he knows from the firsthand experience the evil of his ' way. f tone-deaWe are not likely to have color-blindso much sympathy of another "CRITICS-Mogroup of critics. These we st COMPETENT may designate as the rationof the critics of religion could be dismissed' With the alizers. There are those who query: have you ever tried it? know that religion has a We are in the great role to play, bnt they justified asking religioua .critic the following questions (questions that are taken for granted in artistic and literary criticism): Do you know the history of religion? Do you know its standard works? Do jou know the great contributors . to the subject? Do you know their specific contiibutions? How much money have you Invested in , training yourself in this field? ini the If the .ansners-ar- e negative, the criticisms can be dismissed as the opinions-- of the incompetent, just as they would be in the realms ' of music, art, and literature. Many of the criticisps of religion are the expressions of the disappointed and the unhappy. With this group, we have deep sympathy. Some individuals- have expected too much of religion, or at least too much from identification with a particular sect or con- gregation. Also, some-ha- ve expected too much of church leaders. The church, it is said, has failed some in their hour of need. Occasionally a church leader has been caught In an unethical act Because the minister sold a bag of sheeps wool full of" tares, the will have nothing to do with ordained ministers. Oftentimes the disappointed are willing to dispense with the church and its services. The fallacy of this" position Is - readily explained. Some bankers are thieves. We know .....that to. ha.tr ue.hecau.se once in a long time a crooked banker brings ,a banking Institution tumbling to the ground.. But, In such an instance, we never more thoroughly the will carry none of the responsibility for its success or failure; rather, they look for an escape, from reality, Plutarch said, If you search the world, you may find cities without walls, without letters, without kings, without money; but no one ever saw a city without a Deity, without temple, .or. .without prayers In spite of this fact, there are those who fear that religion is an abnormal expres sion and they do not wish to be caught in irrational moods and acts. Let us admit that there Is a lunatic fringe in religion, as in politics, literature, ing characteristic to react religiously to the universe,-Bein- g natural to man, religion as is to be expected, is associated with the normality of health and being.- - Psychological analysis has brought forward the fact that both mental and physical .troubles are often caused either by lack, exaggeration, or premature develop- ment of religion. Hence the absence, repression or misdirection of religion may cause certain abnormal affections or neuroses. In the curative process religion plays a potent foie in supplying a certain external support needed by human beings to prevent their being aimless, or morbid. GRATIFIES DESIRES who doubts the Anyone curative effect of religion should read the volume entitled FEAR, written by the eminent Catholic physician, Oliver, Years ago, a leading mental hygenist, LaRue, wrote; religion permits to gratify every legitimate desire, and it supports us under shock, as nothing else can. It helps to establish a strong mental constitution,Large-minde- d -- a self-assure- d high-leve- J T. Wahlquist, author . of these articles, Talks to Teachers will be glad to L con- sciousness of man is investigate ed, the more intimate is found to be the part religion plays In, it It is perhaps mans lead- - l integration and to practice that personality he wishes to become . . . The religious type of character, serene, fearless, lovbut ing, patient, not free from consuming emotions, loyal to the good, is the type, other things being equal, best adapted to maintain mental health. Lastly let ns pay some attention to the irresponsible, the lazy, the carefree; who will not make the effort to .understand the role of who live at the animal level; without thought of duties and responsibilities; . who tope there Is nothing to religion, becan.se It may interfere with their pleasures. This group is not entitled to t, self-seekin- rell-gio- nj over the centuries, still they Seek to escape any responsibility for its present or future states); and, the grumblings of the irresponsible, who make no effort to understand religion, and, consequently, subtract from their lives and the Ives of their associates the only thing that can give meaning to life.- - Editors note Dr. John discuss questions .and problems which may be i submitted to him by auxiliary superintendents and lay teachers In the Priesthood and auxiliary classes of the Church. Address all "questions to. Dr. John T. Wahlquist, care of the News Section, Deseret News, Salt Lake L City, Utah. Primary To Compile President's Book "JTIE , an opinioit on the subject, and certainly it is not worthy of a reply, y. - - - Primary! Association has commenced a unique collection of autobiographies or biographies of retiring stake Primary presidencies with their photographs whenever available. The story of the service rendered by these devoted leaders, some of whom have served for. upwards of a quarter of a century will he preserved In a beautiful book at the Primary offices. All former Primary stake presidencies who have not already done so are invited to send to the General Offices at 39 Bish- -' -- Salt Lake City, Utah, brief autobiographies, mentioning their years of esrv-icand a photograph of themselves to be included in the -- In this brief articlb we have dealt largely upon the groups we have characterized as critics 'and not enough upon the true critics of religion those who by virtue of experience and training are entitled to an opinion on the subject. This has been done wilfully it is not the words of. the. competent .critics ..that.. disturb us from day to day. We are disturbed by what we hear the most the words of the Incompetent, those not entitled to an opinion; by the. sorrow of the disappointed and unhappy, who oftentimes lack "understanding of the operations of a n y institution . .. dependent, even in part,- upon human be ings; by the rationalizations of those who deliberately seek an escape from reality (blessed with sufficient intelligence to discern the role' of religion d' - e, book. stake Among the Primary presidents retiring In 194X who have rendered the - longest years of service- - arr Mrs. Nora Chappell of Wayne Stake, Mrs. Claire S. Hacking of Uintah Stake, Mrs. Vera Berryhill of Mt Graham Stake, and Mrs. Lucy H. Jeppesen of Reno Stake. Region Receives Gift Relief Society Presents Cow THE Wasatch Stake Welfare man, and John J. Barnard, was pleasur-abl- Wasatch County agricultural Committee surprised at the recent agent ..The cow is to be known conference as R. S. Lady Wasatch and her stake quarterly the Relief Societies of offspring will also bear the inthe stake presented an out- itials R.S. so that her destanding Holstein cow to be scendants may be identified in added to the regional dairy Ihe herd in future years. She herd, which is located near has for the past year, a record of 491 lbs. of butterfat in 305 Heber, Utah. Mrs. Nellie C. DeGraff, pres- days, which is a very outstandident of the Wasatch Stake Re- ing record. , This venture on the part-lief Society organization made the presentation of the gift. It the Relief Society workers is was received in behalf of the another of the outstanding project by Henry D. Moyle, of achievements .of the Relief Sothe General-Churc- h Welfare ciety organization. Funds for Committee, Patriarch Joseph F. the purchase of this animal Smith and President II. Clay were raised in addition to the Cummings, Chairman of the welfare assignment made to Northeast Utah Regional We- the Relief Society during 1943. Members of the Wasatch lfare Program. The animal presented is a Stake Relief Society who were very fine individual selected instrumental in planning this from the herd of W. W. War-nic- event, .in addition to Mrs. were Mrs. Mary Thomas, of Pleasant Grove, by Lyman H. Rich, extension dairy and JMrs Mary. M. Sanders y n of k De-Gra- ff er BETWEEN SESSIONS of the recent Wasatch Stake Quarterly Conference the Relief Society presented this Holstein cow to the - - stake welfare committee to be added to the regional dairy farm. |