In a certain English city, sixth-formers from a large number of schools combine to organize Brains Trusts, at which leading citizens are invited to answer a large number of questions. As It is useful to know how the mind of youth is working on ‘religious’ matters we appreciate the opportunity of publishing the questions posed at a recent Brains Trust on “Religion and the Modern World.”
- Can Communism be regarded as a religion?
- Are Sunday Schools out of date? If so, should they be substituted for some other institution?
- Religious people claim that religion can bring unity and peace to the world. How is this possible seeing that there are so many different religions in -the world, with varying standards of conduct?
- Is religion the answer to the present crime-wave?
- Does Christianity recognize a colour-bar? If not, is Christianity possible for a South African statesman?
- Which is the most important in the moulding of man’s character - Religion, Heredity or Environment.
- Have Christians any right to impose their views on others by Parliamentary legislation?
- Seeing that a Communist or Fascist cannot obtain a Civil Service post, has the Toleration Act of 1689 fallen into oblivion?
- Has Christianity failed?
- Why has the Church always supported Capitalism?
- It has been said that religion is a drug used by the ruling classes to keep the poor where they are. Is this true?
- What should Christianity do to counteract the advances of Communism?
- Do the policies of the Kremlin spring from a love of humanity?
- Does Christianity aggravate wars?
- Has religion opposed or obstructed the social and mental progress of man?
- Has science disproved religion?
- Does lack of religious faith necessarily lead to moral retrogression?
- Has there been a decline in moral standards in this century? If so, what is the cause?
- Can we create fine characters - that is, people who are honest, pure, loving, generous, etc. - merely by education? If so, what sort of education will it be?
- Need democracy have any basis in religion?
- Is home-life happier and healthier if the members of the family have a religious faith?
- In view of the fact that Christian missionaries have always been followed by westernization, with its diseases, drink and gunpowder, has it been a blessing?
- What is the aim of human life?
- Is war between Communism and Christian democracy inevitable?
- Is the Church misusing money by spending it on restoring sacred buildings? Are there better ways of spending it?
- Can the world be saved by changing human nature or the system by which we live?
- Are young people today worse than their parents?
- Will each member of the Brains Trust say how they have reached their present standards of conduct. Also, how would they set about improving themselves?
- Is Christianity practicable in business?
- If you had the entire upbringing of a selfish, wilful, bad-mannered scruffy little boy, how would you set about turning him into a law-abiding citizen loving his neighbour?
