The World’s Mental Diet

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

The World’s Mental Diet

“THE world is full of weak, starving, feeble, sentimental morality. The firm, strong issues, such as the Word of God weaves into the soul-life of man, are sadly wanting. And why? — Simply because the religion of our fathers is ignored. And the great mass of people live upon the veriest trash, newspaper gossip, infidel lectures, telegrams announcing horrible murders, glowing descriptions of nameless sins raked up out of the filth of human depravity, blood-and-thunder novels, scandals, outrages, riots, fires, floods, calamities, husks, vanities, vexation of spirit. These are the staple mental diet from which a sound, fearless, unflinching character is expected to grow. Vain expectation! No stream can rise higher than its fountain; that which a man soweth shall he also reap. If we sow to the flesh, we must expect to reap corruption. And what a mighty harvest this country is reaping!”