"The task before Western civilization today . . . is the greatest [our] civilzation has ever faced. It is a complete reconstruction that is demanded. . .
"Niothing but Christianity can carry the Western peoples through this unparallelled crisis. But it must be Christianity in its purity and its fulness, not a Christianity wasting its energy on doctrinal controversy, broken by denominational divisions, or absorbed in taking care of its machinery. It must, in short, be a Christianity neither intellectualized, nor sectarianized, nor institutionalized.
"t must be a Christianity, born as at the first, in the hearts of the common people, simple, democratic, brotherly: like a tree, its top in the sky but its roots deep in common earth; treating institutions, even the most venerable, as the mere temporary contrivances that they are; with the faith of Jesus in the human heart and in the ultimate triumph of love, and a willingness, like His, to find a throne in a cross." [Salem Bland, The New Christianity, 1920!! ]
Interesting to think of what might have happened if Western Christianity had actually followed Bland's vision/advice. Instead of his name. Sorry. He influenced many of Canada's social gospellers / radicals, including J. S. Woodsworth. [btw my family finds this picture eerie. . . a certain similarity in appearance. . . anyway, that's him on the right]
Bill - you look good in the get-up!
Posted by: Pernell | October 19, 2006 at 08:26 AM
Bill,
That is spooky.
Peace,
Jamie
Posted by: Jamie Arpin-Ricci | October 19, 2006 at 09:15 AM
What a timely quote Bill...may we hear it afresh. Peace...Ron+
Posted by: ron | October 20, 2006 at 02:22 AM
that is an amazing quote
I am finding a treasure trove of great insights here.
Thanks for sharing
Posted by: len | November 06, 2006 at 05:05 PM