Little Religion | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 24, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 24.

Little Religion.

THE word "sermon" seems to grate harshly on the ears of many people. Listening to a sermon is considered as a sort of penance, which they are constrained to undergo once a week as an expiation for their "shortcomings;" for "shortcomings" also sounds less harsh than "sins." And so the word "sermonizing" is used to characterize any talk which, being of a serious cast, is consequently disagreeable. This is doubtless why "sermonettes" have become so popular lately. They are ostensibly for children, but we learn that they are preferred by older people. A "sermonette" is supposed to be a diluted sermon,—easier to take. And now they have the "churchette." This, the Sunday School Times aptly defines as a place "where they have

sermonettes, and prayerettes, and hymnettes, and creedettes, and commandmentettes, and all the other little 'ettes.'" All this is in harmony with the mistaken idea that religion must be belittled in order to adapt it to children.