Booming Religion

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 13.

The well-known historian and popular writer, Prof. Goldwin Smith, says that “the storm center of all the problems which perplex us at present seems to be in the region of religion.” To this Dr. Richard T. Ely, of Madison, Wis., adds that “we live in a time when we see the fulfillment of Mazzini’s prophecy that every political question would become a social question, and every social question a religious question.” There is truth in both these utterances, but the inference which is being drawn from the situation is delusive. The very men who mark these facts and comment upon them also set them forth as omens of moral reform and approaching good times. No greater evidence of the delusive nature of the popular religious wave could be shown than this,—the popular revival efforts are aimed at the “salvation of society” rather than the salvation of individuals. They are largely connected with endeavors to secure some kind of reformatory laws, or ordinances, or other regulations of a civil nature. In other words, the securing of great imaginary reforms through political channels seems to be the prevailing thought of the more aggressive religionists. These forces seem to be imbued with a kind of short-cut or labor-saving idea of religious progress. If they can but enlist the political power of the country, especially the law-making bodies, in their religious schemes, the way to a more direct control of the masses will be made comparatively smooth. Of course when certain political interests see advantage to be gained by conciliating or compromising with these aggressive religious influences, it will be but natural for them to take advantage of the opportunity. But what must be the result?—It will simply be a great increase of what is already prevalent, “a form of godliness” parading in the rôle of Christianity.