Religion a Fundamental Necessity by John McDowell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1916

Religion a Fundamental Necessity

By John McDowell

Too many are treating religion today as though it were an incidental of life, rather than an essential; a luxury, rather than a necessity; a mere external form of life, rather than a vital principle in life. Men are not asking in our day, what kind of religion is needed, but, “Is religion needed?” The materialistic philosopher, the atheistic socialist, and the nominal religionist are answering this far-reaching question in the negative. The real denial of God in our day is not the denial of His existence but of His reign. Over against this materialism and paganism, the followers of Christ are challenged to maintain that religion is essential to life; that it is not “the cake of life,” but “the bread of life;” and that no theory can be true to the facts of man’s nature, which disregards religion as an internal, inalienable factor in his consciousness. “There is no living without it.” The verdict of history is that religion is universal. The verdict of Scripture is that religion is essential, and the verdict of human experience is that religion is indispensable. Man may exist without religion, but he cannot live without it.—John McDowell, D. D., in Record of Christian Work.