The Western Socialist
Vol. 27 - No. 218
No. 7, 1960
page 13
To the Editor:
Dear Sir --- Re your editorial of July 23 in which the pastor believes the first task of the Church is to get people to think. As a member of the Socialist Party of Canada I have made some study of history, economics and politics, and I find in my learning that churches and religion exist, not to get the worker to think, but to keep him from thinking.
In the past the church has faithfully played its part of consoling the slave and serving as a refuge for the oppressed.
It would not be easy in this society to adhere to the 10 commandments, for it is only human nature to want food, clothing and shelter and the things that go with them. To have these, one must have money. For the average worker it is very hard to come by, if he is able to get any at all. Hence some find themselves compelled to steal what they themselves have produced in the first place to give themselves and families a livelihood.
The church continually expounds on "Thou shalt not this" and "Thou shalt not that," but the fundamental cause of the problems facing the world today — the capitalist system itself — they leave unquestioned.
Only when this system is abolished, and the world's products are produced for use will we have a world fit for the useful section of society to live in.
ANDY CORDEN
Daily FREE Press, Nanaimo, B.C. 8-24-60