more concerned about Communist power than about the major
166 CHRISTIANITY AND OTHER FAITHS
unless she can maintain her fellowship across all the boundaries and barriers of our age; unless she can work with all good movements for freedom from hunger and want, unless she can help to redeem and transform our culture; she will seem to multitudes an irrelevant and expendable force. On the other hand, a new vision, a new ded-
ication, a new united power in the world-wide Church of Christ, would give humanity new hope and courage.
9. We have said that twentieth-century Christianity is becoming more concerned about Communist power than about the major non-Christian religions. This does not mean a neglect of the other religions but rather a new phase in our relation to them. We see that Communist ideology and action challenge all religious faiths. To the orthodox Marxist every form of religion is an opiate and will ultimately disappear in the Communist society where the dialectic of history is resolved. Therefore, we find ourselves standing along-
side Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and other living religions in opposition to the self-sufficient secularism and atheistic creed of the Communist movement. Again, our study both of other religions and of the world-wide ideological struggle strengthens our conviction that Christianity has something unique to offer, as the __way of salvation that mankind most needs, and as the highest ideal _ of personal and social living. Through a purified Christian Church, perhaps even a severely persecuted Church, God can work His will in our age. Communism will help to sweep away many super-
stitions and low forms of religion. It will destroy the wood, hay, and stubble, but the true gold will remain. And even if civilization comes crashing down around us, Christians can be the beginning of the new order that arises. Christianity should lead the believing world in its meek yet mighty encounter with Communist power, © confident that we shall see new miracles in the spiritual as well as
_ the scientific realm. 10. The Communist faith is eschatological. But its utopia lacks _ height and depth. It has been called a secularized form of the
_ Christian apocalyptic. This is an oversimplification, but it is cer-
tainly able to fire the imagination and kindle the enthusiasm of mul- 'titudes. Even those who once were inspired and have been dis- : illusioned admit its hypnotic power. But what does it promise us beyond this brief and earth-bound life? What hope do we have
on aeCe
beyond human history with its darkness and tragedy along with its se and joy? The Communist a in China has forbidden | ;;