SANA
Volume I, Number 15 July 27, 1963
Ut omnes unu: sint
During his papel reign, Pope John XXIII prouoted s spirit of reconciliation
between the Roman Catholic Church and the other communions of Christendom. Despite
his deeth, his plens for the reconvening of the Ecumenicel Council will be cerried
out by his successor, Pope Paul VI. For the first time in generations, the divisive
fectors of the Christien church sre being exemined with a feeling of mutual under-
stending and concern never before experienced. This spirit may be accounted for by
an increased desire on the peit of 311 Christians to relate themselves to the world
end to each other,
The term "ecumenical" encompasses three aspects of the life of the Church:
church reunion, church renevel, and church mission, The first, church reunion, fires
the popular imecinotion the most. However, it appears most unlikely that wembers of
the Protestant, Rowen Catholic, end Ort odox traditions will achieve organic unity
within the near future. There ere so many problems in church polity end practice that
it will teke a long time before a unified church could ever meterialize. However,
this does not meen that the ecumenical movement is a failure since there are many
other useful and constructive paths thet it has and will follow.
The term "church r-nevel" refers to a return to the prophetic note within the
Church. In other words, it is the reslization on the part of Christians that they
must witness to the need for sociel juctice and equality throughout the world. It is
not enough for the Church to be-a mute observer of the dilemma of our ties, it must
be com itted and involved in its solution. The ethical problems of our society thus
become the passionete concern of sll members of the community or faith.
The fine] thrust of the ecumenical movewent is a concern for the mission of the
Church in the vorld. ‘hile c super-church mey not be formed, still it is possible for
various Christians to participote in the many fecets of Christian activities through-
out the world. Certcinly the appeal of Christ to "love thy neighbor" does not follow
sectarian lines. To perpetuate a sys of separete, over-lapping titutions for
the purpose of helping menkind is scendalous to 211 Christendom and is en offense to
the rit of the Church,
The tregedy of the ecumenicel movement at this time is the feilure to find eny
real voice on the locel level. Too often people sre so involved in the intricacies
of their own denowinetio systen thet they becowe spiritually myopic. Unless
neubers of verious comuunions cen trenscend the verious cleims of superiority, then
no real progress will be wede "so thet they cll may be one,"
Editor
A RAINY SUNDAY LFTERNOON
A courageous nen like Medger Evers, the NAACP vorker in Jackson, liississippi who
risked end lost his life fishting for the ceuses of civil rights and humen dignity,
should be honored, end the ceremonies held in front of the New York Stete Capitol on
Sundey efternoon, July fourteenth, ceve us in this crea an opportunity to honor him
end to express our own dedicetion to the ceuses for which he lived and died.
I for one wes cled thet I could cevote e little pert of a sumer cfternoon to
this purpose, cnd I was slso gled to find eround six hundred of my fellow citizens
there (\hy not ore?). Hany of the words spoken (not 11) seemed like good end appro-
priate words, end yet I felt vaguely uncoxferteble ond unheppy, end not just beceuse
of the rain that vas running down the beel of my neck.
The spe: kers' pletform, erected under the teil of Phil Sheriden' ¢ horse, was
well-stocked with representctives of the stete end city povernients, end there were
elso statenents from a number of clergymen, r presenting the "uejor faiths." It was
@ proper mesioriel cer wony, senctioned by both Church and Stete. And yet I don't want
to give the x ression--it wos not ell sham cnd ewpty show. I repeat thet a
number of the speokers were quite sincere, and the singing wes good. a
+ then was wrong, or, if not wrong, inadequete? Perhaps only e note of con-
trast--Medgar E vers fighting alone in the Southern night, with the whole -society in
which he lived solidly, deeply, elevolentky, and unrelentingly against him, as con-
trasted with this scene--open, free, risking only the crease in our pants, and the
organized might of State and Church apperently on our side,
The hypocrisy wes not so much in the speckers on the pletform es in the audience,
including mys-1f. There was self-deception in our notion that through this ceremony
we were reolly identifying with the Nedger Evers of our world, the lonely fighters
on the frontiers of sen' s conscience. ‘hen the representetives of the entrenched
institutions of orgenized society eppecr publicly in behalf of & cause, ve ere cele-
b&ating not the struggle but only the victory, end it must be a victory that at least
some people think: is slready secure.
But in couses like thet for which Medgar Evers gave his life, the reel bettle
must go on witiout end, and the victories are much less than they mey seem to be.
Indeed, the very blescing of e ceuse b power end out ority mekes its cenuine pursuit
in some weys horcer. Sur ly, meny of us et these ceremonies reelired, at lerst in
the shadow ereas of our minds, that vit in sight of our elevated position on the
Capitol steps tere parts of our own city where there is herd evidence that human
rights end huwene values are still bein, nied. To demand greater performance in
the service of idesls to which those in positions of power already give loud end
feirly conv.ncing support, seems uncreteful end uncompromising. It is the attitude
of the malcontent, the chronic rebel, the inconsolable. But it is elso the position
of the sincere end the com»itted and those who choose and act on the basis of their
own ‘convictions rtther then on the besis of whet may be the currently popular cause.
Such people will’ olveys be the lonely few, ond we will not hold public testimonials
for such people, except maybe efter they are dead and the reelly herd pert of their
bettle seeus to heve been safely won,
And so I em gled thet et least it reirted on us all--a somewhat cold and pelting
rein, for this gcve a slight touch of iron to an othervise somewhet flabby occesion.
ve stood our ground end did not bresk and run, even when it poured, but was this
becouse we wanted to express our devotion to % e cause of ri solute ection in the face
of overwhelming opposition, or wersly because we felt the pressure of the others
present, especielly that of our duly constituted leseders?
. H, Leue
Stoffs Calender of Events:
July 29-Mr. John Jennings, regional
director of the Stete Comaission
on Human Rights will speak on the
Black Muslim Movement at & p.m.
at Brubecher Hell.
August 5-Pastor Valter Bouman of St. Met-
thew' s Lutheran Church will speak
on the Ecumenical Movement within
the United Stetes.
Editor: Alan isinercik
Associate Editor: Toi: Bartlow
Typist: Linde Van Bur’n
Sponsor: Campus Christien Council
SAS SEN
Skandalon is the journel of the Campus Christian Council during the reg» ler
session of the ccedevic yeor at St:te, Its eim has been to present articles that
were of interest cndof concern to the comeurity of faith within the university com-
munity. It hes welcomed erticles from 211 weubers of the academic co
sufficient interest is nm, one wore issue cen be published during the suamer
session. All contributions may be submitted in the Student Meil (in lower Drsper
neer the Co-op) for the editor, Alen Minercik, or by celling him et HE 6-0948, or by
leaving ther ct his cpartuert et 457 Stete Street.
FOR GOD SO LOVED 75% OF THE JORLDE
It has been sugrested that one way to meet the problem of raciel discrimina-
tion in emloyment is 2 quote system vhich would essign jobs to the different
reces onc percertege besis., Such c system meinteins the felse position that
difference in the way e men ought to be treeted. The problem
inction in employment vill not be met until we reclize thet race
is coupletely irrelevant to cbility to do 2 job. The quote system Coes not neet
the problem; it circurvents it ond repleces one form of discrimination with
enother,
DR. BOUMAN TO SPELK ON ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT
Dr. Velter R . Boumen, pestor of St. Metthew's Lutheran Church in Albony, will
speak to students and feculty of the University on the topic "The Ecumenical Move-
ment in the Auericen Church" August 5th at 8:00 p.m. in Brubscher Hall,
Dr. Bouwen hes recently received his Ph.D, degree from the University of
Heidelberg, Germany, where he mejored in ecumenice] studies. He is currently
representéig the iissouri Synod Lutheran Church et the fourth Vorld Feith end Order
Conference in Lontreal vhere he hes remarked thet "It is e sed commentery on the
ecumenical movement thet it has not yet found reel voice in the local situetion."
Dr. Boumen's lecture will be sponsored by the Campus Christian Council,
THE SUPREME COURT »ND US
The "Great Americen Ideal" is often cited es e source of inspiretion for and
uotivetion to ection in this country, While we are continually essured of the
existence of such on idecl there seems to be no conserisus on e definition of it.
Many people have no idec whet this idecl might be and t ose who dco cen't egree. I
would define it as follows: The Great Americen Ideal is the belief thet no person or
group of persons hes sufficient irsight and judgment to be eble to determine the pro-
per noe of belief enc action for all other persons or groups of persons. It is this
ideol which is the basis for the First Amendment prohibition efeinst esteblishment
of religion end the eusrantee of religious freedow,
Then the recent Supreme Court decision on prayer end Bible resding in public
schools was correct both legally ond ideclistically. The constitutional ban ecgainst
religious esteblishvent implies the illegelity of any kind of government support o f
any religious group. To use Justice Tow C. Clerk! s words, "In the relstionship
between men snd religion the stete is firmly com itted to a position of neutrclity."
In the recent cases (Abington School District v. Schempp ond Murray v. Curlett) the
stete was on the side of those who believe in God, especially t ose who regard the
Bible es holy scripture--Ghristians end Jevs. In violetion of the American Ideal the
governuents of Pennsylvenis end Marylend escerted, through lews providing for Bible
reedings ond preyers, thet Christiens end Jews do have sufficient insight ond judg-
ment to sey thet their beliefs are right for ell men.
While the decision was © correct one, it was not « very heppy one for Chris-
tiens. ‘Je do ossert thet our faith is right for e211 men and that ve have the respon-
sibility to say so whenever we have the opportunity. The Supreme Court hes said
that we will not cet thet opsortunity in the public schools. ‘Je must seek it
elsevhere,
Ve are perticvlerly interested in finding vays to trein our young people in the
Christian foith. There cre three obvious institutions for such training: the home,
the church, end peroc’ iel schools.’ The home is potentielly the m-st powerful. Chil-
dren spend most of t eir time et home ond gain many ettitvdes, prejudices, end beliefs
from their peren «. The mejor problem is that the howe must be Christian in order to
reise Christien children. The church cen contribute to the job of reising Christian
youth becsuse it is the institution most directly concerned with érticuleting Chris-
tien belief and prcetice. But the church often doe: a poor job of erticuletion ond
often is not heerd. Parochial schools have the cdventare of combining seculer end
religious elucetion but hes the disedvantare of high cost.
Ye cannot condem the Supreme Court for prohibiting us the use of e plitform
which ves not constitutionally ours. Theat is its job. Our job is to make the fullest
use of those pletforus--home, church, perochiel sehool--which are rightfully ours,
Ton Bartlow
The Trials and Perils of Giving Away Coca-Cola
or
I Was a Teen-Age Coke Shop
Every evening et. 7:30 p.m. on Sundey through Thursday, tio people work at a
Coke Shop on Hanilton Street in the South Enc of Albeny. The Coke Shop is sponsored
by the Campus Christien Council end is availeble to oll the teenagers of the neigh-
borhood. Coca-Cola, dencing to records of verying quality, games, and the opportunity
to get torether, have been the primery enticements for the kids. For the pertici-
pants of the progrem, the progrem offers o chance for perticipstion end st'dy on
the problems of the Inner-City. The major need of the group is « few nore volunteers
for the recinder of the suvner session. The time involved is tivo evenings ¢ veek
for three hours cn evening. If no nev people join the croup then it will be forced
to curtcil its efforts in the South End, anyone interested may cmtact the Rev. Gerald
Plitz ct either 463-8524 (his home) or st estmineter Fresb terien Church (HE 6-8544)
or T om Bartlow at his howe (HE 6-8948),
SCIENCE AFD RELICION eS
(Ed¢itor' s note: The following is @ text from a syuposium on the role of
science an rcligion. This is pert of the reply of Dr. Robert Renkin
who is the Visiting Associate Professor of Sociology from Chico State
College in Chico, Celifornia.)
This leads me to suggest thet we cenvot rest content here to define religion in
this broad, functionel sense, It is importent to speck of a specific religious
system. Let us teke for exemple the r ligious system vith vhich ve ore most fewiliar
Ye need not imply thet it is the only functionel religion--the only true religion--
we only sey thet it is the st comon religious expression in \estern Civilization.
I speek of the Hebrew-Christien religion. Since there sre verictions within this
vestern tredition, let se define it as it perteins to re personally, The Hebrew-
Christion fcith wckes sense out of life for we in the following weys:
ad, It leeds me to offirm the worth of humen persorelity. This is the besis
of ny volue- ju ts, That + ehich enhences the humen personelity is "good"; and
thet which degredes it is "bad Thus there is in ay faith-« strong prophet note
of chellenge to the stetus quo; my religion produces pecifists in the tive of
extrene netiovelism; Christian sociclists in tines of exphosis upon free enterprise
and rugged vicus lis . . Wherever the stctus qvo violetes human rights, this
religion is cpt to evbarress the forces of cons:rvetion end cell for reform, This
euphesis upon t e orth of humen perconality is an effirmetion; not on empirical
verificetion. . . Ky scientific knovledge cen help me to decide how best to protect
thie velue--what mckes for en organized person in « functioning society; end what
mekes for ¢ disorganized person in « disintegreting society. Ky science cenr ot make
the originel decision es to what is of besic .orth, This velue-cecision is not ny
scientific discovery; it is wy effi tion es © .orel men.
2. I night iche the first effiruetion as e humanist without any religious
dimentions. . . Even es such my science would not provide me the evidence for that
affirwation; I vould wcke thet value-judgeent es uorel aen. ly science vould not
provice for ue the effirmetion t ot life hee vorth end thus ecning. This is c kind
of fcith--albeit a hb stic feith. I wove on, however, to make a second eaffirma-
tion which the humanist does not meke. I believe in the vorth of the huwen person-
elity beceuse I believe in 6 universe which friendly to tie huzen personality. ..
This universe is not indifferent to the reletionship of person to person which has
he quality of restive love--indeed this reletionship hes not only humon dimensions
but eternel dimensione. . . In short, men's purpose end nesning comes frou the fact
that he inters into reletionships with other ten ond vith eteinel being. In tredi-
tionel terns, I believe in God "ho is the "heart" of the universe.
I hesten to edd thet this is en effirmation end not a sttenent of verifiable
ovledge. I cen muster evpirice] evidence to shor you thet when wen live es if this
were so that they wcke ederurte edjustwents in their behevior vhen defeet and death
ond success and fcilure come...
I believe in the vorth of personelity end I believe the universe is friendly to
an personelity. For me the two cre rel ted: one is essentiel to the other. These
ctions €o not rake it impoesible for ue to velcoue scientific discovery so long
they reucin flexible. They cen be my vorking pepers cs life zoves on and demands
thst I mske some kind of velue-judgments every pean! ere es much light as I
have to go on et the present t . Neverthelese, I trust that they vill remein
sufficiently undogm tic for we to sppreciate ther exciting sesreh for evpirical
knowledge in which ve cre ell engeged in the vorld of science.
I do not ween to imply that be en undoguetic accom odetion to nev ciscoveries
in science end changing _needs of society thet religious effirwation vill one dey be
umecessery. . . It does not sey "yeo or ney" to wun's persistent need for weaning.
Scientific discoveries serve only to help uon's religious effirretions mcke "better"
sense ell the tie. I think this is heppening im our ovn life-time. . . About the
time of Dervin, there was another scientific cevelopwent which hes been wost signi-
ficont to relirion: this ves the historical end sociologicel criticisu of Biblical
cou:ses, It w scovereé thet the Bible stories of crestion end the creat flood
and the loses wirecles vere not historice] eccounts of sctual heppeninges ct ell,
but sttempts of sensitive ren in pre-scientific era to explein the beginnings of
things. They ere profounc vthicel interpretetions of won' s behavior. . . The
Bible does not pretend to cive scientific explanetions; ror does science pretend to
gropple with the probless of meaning. As a recult of the Biblicel resec reh vhich
still goes on enc vhich hes been given recent encourere.ent in the Deed See Scrolls,
weny contemporory men of religion heve coue to reclize that other ports of the Bible
are likewise in the cetepory of holy tease end myth.
I en suggesting the t religion is uan's attempt to esteblish effira: tions about
the weaning of life while science is the business of accumuleting ewpirical knowledge
of ccusotion. I em sugresting. . .thet there mcoy clweys be some tension between
science ond religion es scientific discoveries dezcnd reed sotwents in religious ef-
firmctions. Such tension is not conflict in the usuel sense, but is the price we pay
for growth in wisdom end truth, Such tensicn is to be weleowed for the good of both
science and religion. The only difference “hich may be defined os conflict is thet
between the findings of science end the dogmetic and unchenging oss ertctions of some
religion.
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted