Religion \ 1h Scorer Om,

FORTNIGHTLY CLUB
FEBRUARY 27, 1992

JOHN M. BUCHANAN

THIS IS AN UNUSUAL PRIVILEGE FOR
ME. \ I HAVE BEEN INTRIGUED TO LEARN
See —— oe
ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND ITS
FASCINATI Gs \\ I HAVE ADMIRED
YOUR HANDSOME-BULLDING WHICH IS ONE OF
THE PRICELESS paiRtONS WHICH GRACE
=

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND MAKES THESE SEVERAL
SESS Ss

SQUARE BLOCKS PERHAPS THE MOST LIVABLE

AND LIVELY URBAN NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE

counrry. | Ano I HAVE ENJQYED ON OCCASION

A RECEPTION OR DINNER INSIDE AS WELL.

BUT MOST OF ALL I LIKE BEING HERE

ee

BECAUSE THE REASON I'M HERE IS THAT I'M

MARRIED TO A-ueMBER.|\ THat SHOE HAS BEEN

amit |
ON .THE OTHER FOOT FOR MOST OF OUR YEARS

ToceTHER.\ AS A MEMBER OF WHAT USED TO
——

1

BE AN OVERWHELMINGLY MALE Ai dieses IN

WHICH CLERGY SPOUSE MEANT CLERGY WIFE.

AND IN A PROFESSION WHERE THERE ARE
__-

OCCASIONALLY ALL SORTS OF EXPECTATIONS
ea

ABOUT THE ROLE OF CLERGY WIFE { ALL THE
Ss
WAY FROM A KIND OF EL OF
PARENTHOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY - ("DID YOU
SEE WHAT HER KIDS DID LAST SUNDAY?") TO

CONSCRIPTED SECRETARY, \TO SUNDAY SCHOOL

TEACHER AND WOMEN’S—GUILD OFFICER } DEAR
SUE HAS, OVER THE YEARS, DON THAN

A FEW TH S SHE DIDN'T NECESSARILY
VOLUNTEER TO DO, BECAUSE OF MY gos. |So
, ie Soe
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE BECAUSE 4 *
TQO=RER ANU E LOU SE tie ae ONIN Eerie T .
« ..« ALTHOUGH FOR THIS INVERSION TO BE

TOTALLY ACCURATE, SHE OUGHT TO BE TALK~

ING, AND I OUGHT TO BE SITTING THERE

—=,

TRYING TO LOOK_INTERESTED IN IDEAS AND
ee

WORDS I'VE HEARD A THOUSAND TIMES BE-

FORE.

beim wv War
“een 20 Yens -

To BE PERFECTLY CANDID, ACTUALLY,
SSS
IF SHE AND I HAVE LEARNED ANYTHING OVER
THE MORE THAN THREE DECADES WE'VE BEEN
pene
AT THIS, IT IS THE BOLE WOF CLERGY

SPOUSE - OR ANYBORY_S SPOUSE FOR THAT

MATTER, IS OF A FO ATION FOR
ORGANIZING-YOURLIFE\ ESTABLISHING.YOUR

PRIORITIES, \OR BEING Harpy. \ So SHE HAS

SIMPLY REEUSED..TO BE A MINISTER'S WIFE.
oes ae

SHE IS SIMPLY WHO SHE IS AND THAT HAS

BEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH - AND IT HAS

ee

WORKED.

So + I'M PLEASED TO BE were\ Ano I

CONFESS THAT I'VE RECENTLY WONDERED WHAT

—

POSSIBLY I MIGHT SAY THAT WOULD BE OF
INTEREST TO you.\\ Dzp YOU EVER NOTICE

HOW A TOPIC FOR A SPEECH YOU ARE
PLANNING TO MAKE SOUNDS WITTY, ELOQUENT
= wz

AND ENGAGING SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE, BUT
a
WHEN THE TIME COMES TO PREPARE THE
Ses —— ae

SPEECH YOU WONDER WHAT IN THE WORLD YOU

3

HAD IN MIND? an AND I AGREED ON

THE TOPIC ("RELIGION IN THE SECULAR CITY"
————

LAST MAY AFTER TRYING SEVERAL
=, ny,

ALTERNATIVES, |AND I KNOW SHE HAD AN
eee bo

UNBREAKABLE ENGAGEMENT WHICH PREVENTED

HERE FROM BEING HERE. | NEVERTHELESS ONE
ea -
WONDERS WHETHER SUSAN HAD SECOND
THOUGHTS.
NEVES, IT IS AN IMPORTANT
- ee
TOPIC, lone WHICH CLA THE INTEREST OF
THE SCHOLARS WHO OBSERVE, ANALYZE AND
we —
Se,

CRITIQUE OUR cutrure, | ano IT POPS_UP IN

LOTS OF INTERESTING WAYS. \ IT IS,_OF

COURSE, A MAJOR CONCERN FOR ME, AND FOR
ANYONE CONNECTED WITH AN "OFFICIALLY"
eS Sa
RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION IN THE CITY.
ie
I PROPOSE TO TALK ABOUT IT A BIT
AND THEN TQEOCUS.ON HOW THE PARTICULAR
2

INSTITUTION I_ SERVE, FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN
———

CHURCH, LIVES OUT ITS LIFE AND ITS SELF

SS

SS

unpensTaNoese, |e THE FASCINATING CITY
a

4

BLOCK ON MICHIGAN AVENUE BETWEEN DELAWARE

PLACE AND NUT.

| wy GROWN. CHILDREN

MEASUR ERY CAREFULLY THE QUESTIONS

THEY ASK OF ME. |ir's A FAMILY JOKE NOW.

I'M INCLINED TO GO ON A BIT, AND TELL

THEM MORE_THAN_THEY REALLY WANT TO

eee

Know. .| LIKE THE LITTLE BOY WHO..ASKED
one oav,("Wana, wieRe p1p I come snoM?”)

SHE KNEW.JHE MOMENT HAD ARRIVED, |THE
MOMENT SHE HAD DREADED AND THQUGHT ABOUT

AND READ ABOUT AND REHEARSED IN HER
— Ss

MIND. \ THAT FUL BUT WONDERFUL MOMENT

WHEN SHE WOULD TELL HER SQN ABOUT SEX

Ss
AND HOW CONCEPTION HAPPENS AND BIRTH AND
HUMAN LOVE AND henge, So, AS ALL THE
= { we
MANUALS

TRUCTED HER, SHE LIFTED HIM
Sw

HAPPENS AND

— =e

PPENED ani( vow VERY MUCH SHE

(iow)r1

AND HIS DADDY L CH OTHER.\ AND_AT
THE END HE SAID "I DON’T WANT TO KNOW

—e

ABOUT THAT sturr.| WHERE DID I COME FROM?
————— oe ee)
WAS IT PITISBURGH OR PHILADELPHIA?"
SO JUST LET ME KNO _T'm LLY
De
TELLING YOU MORE THAN YOU WANT TO HEAR -
a ee tee nh ae
OR IT BEING SIE TIME THE WORLD OVER,
EXCEPT IN AMERICA, DO FEEL FREE TO DROP
ba LY

OFF FOR A WHILE.
bi

== . RELIGION IN THE SECULAR CITY. ™
( secuuss’-("9F OR RELATING TO THE

wo OR TEMPORAL"

W

ECULARISM INDIFFERENCE TO OR
REJECTI R EXCLUSION OF RELIGION AND
——— as
RELIGIOUS res ie

THE TERM ITS CAME TO THE
ATTENTION OF THE SCHOLARLY COMMUNITY IN

SS, ———L—SSEE Ey
THE TITLE OF A VERY POPULAR BOOK BY

ESS nee

HARVARD PROFESSOR HARVEY Cox.\ HIs TITLE

WAS THE SECULAR CiTy. \is THE 60s

EVERYBODY WAS READING AND QUOTING FROM
Ss Ss

r1.\ Cox, WHOSE BASIC BUSINESS IS _TEACH-

ING THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY AT THE

=

DIVINITY SCHOOL AT HARVARD, |SAW AS HIS

== 4 =

TITLE SUGGESTS, THE AMERICAN C N THE

fee

WAY TO BECOMING FREE OF pevrcron | AFTER
ee ge —,

00 YEARS OF EXISTING UNDER THE CANOPY

OF A HEAVEN OCCUPIED BY A GOD EVERYONE

MORE OR LESS ACKNOWLEDGED,\ AND OFTEN AN

Ss

ECCLESIASTICAL SYSTEM THAT WAS THE REAL
SOURCE OF POLITICAL powER, \WE TERN

CIVILIZATION WAS FINALLY EMERGING SANS
ed

a

RELIGION ND BETTER FOR IT.
=a ip ee
By MID TWENTIETH CENTURY, AMERICAN
SS
CULTURE SEEMED WE WAY TO

BECOMING secuar. \ ON THE SURFACE OF
aa
THINGS - THERE WERE FEWER AND FEWER

PUBLICLY RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS AND GESTURES.

eee
Siti MIGHT STILL HAVE AN INV ION

BEFORE A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME IN

RURAL TEXAS, BUT THE PRACTICE WAS FAD-
SS

rwe.|\Lanowar E COURT DECISIONS,

BASED ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
oa

CONSTITUTION GUARANTEEING FREEDOM OF
=a

RELIGION QRekREEDOM FROM RELIGION TO
ALL, FINALLY PROHIBITED READING THE
Sree eee
BIBLE AND PRAYING-IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THAT ANGERED A LOT OF PEOPLE AND STILL
eee ——— Se
poes.\ A LOT OF IDN’T UNDERSTAND
IT AND STILL pon’t.\\ PARTICULARLY DIS-
en qe
TRESSING WAS THE FACT THAT THE MAINLINE
eNver ed Vs
CHURCHES AGREED - IN FACT #™BND FRIEND
es. fs
OF THE COURT BRIEFS. | THE.PRESBYTERIANS,
= SS
METHODISTS, EPISCOPALIANS WERE SAYING
a, ———
THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, NOT A
———o=

BAD one, /! To TAKE RELIGION OUT _OF PUBLIC

eoucatron. || It IS STILL OUR POSITION.
Se bal

MADELINE MurrAy_O’HARE FORMED AN ORGANI-

ZATION AND ATTACKED ALL ALONG THE FRONT
eeeaaQ&jcsa rere sae

Sas

OF PUBLIC SPONSORED RELIGION:

"In GoD WE TRUST" ON COINS, CHAPLAINS IN
z —— Fe aaa

THE ARMED SERVICES AND Concress)| THE
STAR OF BETHLEHEM OVER THE Court HOUSE

A

)
AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS - HIGH SCHOOL

—E— Eee

assemacy |\ Taar BATTLE CONTINUES, BUT AT

8

THE TIME MANY CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS NOT
SO MUCH A REFINEMENT AND EXTENSION OF A

BASIC FREEDOM CONTAJNED IN OUR BILL OF

RIGHTS SO MUCH AS IT WAS A GENERAL

TURNING AWAY FROM GOD AND RELIGION.

Say

DURING THE EISENHOWER YEARS CON-

GRESS HAD PUT "UNDER.GOD" IN THE PLEDGE
OF ALLEGIANCE. | Tae 60s SEEMED TO REMOVE

GOD FROM THE COMMON LIFE.

wa,
AS PERHAPS IT WAS VIETN ND THE

NOW RECOGNIZABLE COLLAPSE OF PUBLIC

ST..INeTHE INSTITUTIONS OF OUR

TRU
eee aii

currure:||wwen IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THE
SS

Cayesiv( RESOLUTION THAT AUTHORIZED THE WAR WAS

BASED ON AN EVENT IN THE GULF_OF TONKIN
SSS =A a]

THAT DID NOT warren, | THAT MILITARY

LEADERS, POLLELCIANS (INT, LIGENCE

EXPERTS, EDUCATORS, WERE LING THE
el

TRUTH, \OR WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE THE

TRUTH. . |] THERE WAS S NG TAKEN AWAY

FROM THE SOUL OF THE NATION, WHICH IT

—eeL——aEyy-

HAS NOT RECOVERED: BASIC TRUST. \ AND SO
ee a es

THOSE WHO LOOK.AT_US CAREFULLY, POETS

AND ARTISTS FOR INSTANCE, SAW ful CULTURE

WITH NO coNsensus,|no U E VALUES,

NO HEART, NO »_ soul} \ tr WAS NO COINCI-
SS 7

DENCE THAT THE CHURCHES WHICH WERE FULL
Sr ad

AND GROWING IN THE 50S BEGAN TO SHRINK
mm ae EE

AND TO GET NOTICEABLY OLDER ~- AS A WHOLE

of MslYSSET ae pay
GENERATION DROPPED OUT.

DEEPER STILL” romgusoeemuny WEST-

ERN SCHOLARS it HAD BEEN PREDICTING, THE
oe Mat *

DEMISE OF nec taxon THERE WAS, IN THE

UNIVERSITY, A VERY RESPECTABLE SECULAR-

ISM IN FACT, | $a 7 SERIOUS

SCHOLARS_ARGUED THAT_SCHOLARSHIP IS, BY

DEFINITION, SECULAR.

KARL_MARX_ LOOKED AT THE SLUMS OF

INDUSTRIAL_REVOLUTION.LONDON AND SAID
THAT RELIGION WAS A KIND OF NARCOTIC,

WHICH LULLED EXPLOITED PEOPLE INTO DOCIL-
a

ITY WITH PROMISES OF AN AFTER LIFE.
—— ae,

10

"RELIGION... SAID MARX, "WAS THE OPIATE

— =

OF THE PEOPLE"| AND PREDICTED THAT IN THE
eS SS

NEW CLASSLESS SOCIETY WHICH WAS COMING,
eS eS

RELIGION WAS A VESTIGE OF PRIVILEGE€ AND
=

WOULD

SIGMUND FREUD ‘FIGURED Gop WAS
—

MERELY A_ PROJECTION OF EVERY INFANT'S
SS

BASIC FEA FEAR. \ nen HUMAN BEINGS BECAME

ee

HEALTHY THEY WOULDN'T NEED GoD Gop. ‘\ WHEN

HUMAN, SOCIETY BECAME HEALTHY THERE WOULD

ad

BE NO NEED FOR RELIGION.
=

ue drtsier knwSengan THE
DEA

“ ————
or’GOBb A CENTURY BEFORE THE AN-

NOUNCEMENT MADE IT ON THE COVER OF _TIME

(1966) AND FROM WITHIN THE RELIGIOUS

COMMUNITY THEOLOGIANS, LIKE Cox, AND

ees EET

DIETRICK BONHOFFER, WERE TALKING ABOUT
SS si

SOMETHING _ CALLED Cretrcronuess CurIs-

raanzty" ) SECULAR RELIGION; \COMMITMENT
c.. Se

11

TO THE HUMAN communzry,| To LIBERATION,

ee]
PEACE AND JUSTICE, WITHOUT THE TRAPPINGS
=—_ _——- i cst

OF INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION.

eo

WHAT EFFECT WAS ALL THIS HAVING?

BUT FOR ONE
eee

THING, MEMBERSHIP IN A CHURCH WAS NO

At es

LONGER A PREREQUISITE FOR SOCIAL RE-
Se as

SPECTABILITY,| GOOD BU OR POLITICAL
==,

SUCCESS. N FACT, INA PERIOD OF TWO
Soe

DECADES OR.SO,..IN SOME CASES, TAKING
EE

a

RELIGION_SERIOUSLY MOVED FROM ASSET TO

LIABILITY.

ns,

LIBERAL ARTS Eoucarron; (ron TWO

H 2S—THE” DOMAIN OF THE MAINLINE
‘Ste

CHURCHES, WOULD DISTINCTLY MOVE AWAY

FROM ITS RELIGIOUS ROOTS.\ THE UNIVERSI-

TY OF CHICAGO HAD LONG SINCE SEPARATED

Ld

ITSELF FROM ITS BAPTIST FOUNDATIONS
SSE =

FORMALLY - BUT NOW MANY IF NOT MOST

12

FORMER CHURCH SCHOOLS @2ND IT" IMPOR-

Lseumnnineneneed
TANT TO DEEMPHASIZE IF NOT DROP ALTO-
ce EEE ty =

GETHER THE CHURCH CONNECTION.

Cusovoezens_ EDUCAT ON ITSELF,

REFLECTED THAT MORE \ PREPARATION FOR
Se a

MINISTRY_FOCUSED ON SECULAR CULTURE NOT

SACRED RITUAL. Vue LEARNED PSYCHOLOGY,
oe |

SOCIOLQGY. AS WELL AS BIBLE AND THEOLOGY.
= —

CouRSES QN PREACHING WERE REPLACED WITH
— 2

SEMINARS IN GROUP pynanzes.\ \Ano PEOPLE
eee ec

WHO ACTUALLY WANTED TO BECOME MINISTERS

OF THE CHURCH WERE A D TO PRE-

PARED TO COMBINE MINISTRY WITH SOME

on

OTHER ACTIVITY WHICH WOULD PROVIDE
SS Aa

ADEQUATE INCOME. | WE EVEN HAVE A TERM
—EEe

FOR IT - t's CALLED ent MAKING MINIS-

try" } AFTER ST. PAUL, WHO APPARENTLY
ee ae

—

SUPPORTED HIMSELF BETWEEN MISSIONARY

ee SESS a,

JOURNEYS BY MAKING TENTS.
—_—

13

» OU KNOW OF COURSE ABOUT
, SS ae
THAT WONDERFUL INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF
Say)
MARK Twarn.\ A NEWSPAPER PRINTED HIS
Genie a ee
OBITUARY BY ACCIDENT. \ TWAIN HEARD ABOUT
———— —SSS ees

IT AND WROTE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR.
SS

( "THE REPORT OF MY DEMISE IS SOMEWHAT

EXAGGERATED,‘ HE SAID.
=

AND SO - REPORTS OF THE DEMISE OF

RELIGION ARE EXAGGERATED.
IN FACT, TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE
Sa,
SECULAR City, HARVEY COX WROTE ANOTHER
——
ane} AA AGAIN EVERYBODY READ IT AND
Qe
QUOTED FROM 1T.\ IT'S TITLE -RELIGION IN.
Se Se —SE os,
THE SECULAR crry, \ Cox MADE IT ONTO THE
——_
COVER OF THE NEw YoRK TIMES SUNDAY
=
MAGAZINE. | Has HARVARD COURSE ON
es

CHRISTIANITY AND WESTERN CIVILIZATION
een

(ese

WAS THE MOST POPULAR ON CAMPUS - HUN-

DREDS OF stupents,| No CLASSROOM BIG
4 ae

——

sieaieaad ie MEETING IN THE AUDITORIUM.

De |

14

WHAT HAPPENED?

= SS

F ONE THING:
A WORLD-WIDE RESURGENCE OF
i

FUNDAMENTALISM -
—EEs
CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, MOSLEM
— ee a
TSLAMEC FUNDAMENTALIST REVOLU-
IN ND HOUT THE
TION Tran[a THROUG oy TH
MUSLEM WORLD.
Sed

JEWISH FUNDIES HAVE “mR

THE EAR OF GOVERNMENT AND IN MANY WAYS

ARE MOST POWERFUL LOBBY IN MIDDLE EAST.

« .» A VARIETY OF CHRISTIAN FUNDA-

| ona

MENTALISTS, ALL OBJECT OF MAJOR MEM
——, =e

STUDY.
AN EXPLOSION OF MARGINAL RELIGIONS,
OFTEN FROM OTHERS y MAINLY EASTERN <
el o
CULTURES.
el

MOONIES

—— --e

Yags KRISHNAS

EASTERN MYSTICISM HINDUISM
————————, | aE

-CHARLSMATIC.MOVEMENT - IN «
_—_———

15

AMERICA PE LISM BUT

ALSO ROMAN—CATHOLIC AND
——

TELEVANGELISTS AND “kasi r

Wee me enganol hog uaeJ

FALWELL, ROBERTS > nw

a
v
\py? (In CLASS BY THEMSELVES)
SPIRITUAL RESURGENCE WORLD-WIDE
Mme gg

~ OFTEN IN THE MIDDLE OF POLITICAL UPHEAV-

-SOLIDARITY IN POLAND ~ baud Sane

= -Sovret CuurcH 1,000 YEARS ei
SN

a hh
ye)

-ROMANIA AND LASLO TOEKES

-CHINESE CHURCH EMERGES_AFIER 40

YEARS | stron , GROWING, 3

TIMES AS BIG - S-"-=-0>
r C\o wes

16

Wor-p CoUNCIL OF CHURCHES - uth

7 IN Canserra.—telb eee ~ swe
-AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA (aes
oe —

CONSERVATIVE GROWTH.

—_—
-S. & C. AMERICA - RENEWED R.C.

BASE COMMUNITIES, LIBERAT@
THEOLOGY AND PROTESTANT
EVANGELICALISM.
a ——)

NoT ONLY DIDN'T DISAPPEAR |- BUT

SOMETHING LIKE THE OPPOSITE.

IN ART. LITERATUBE, EZLM, RELIGIOUS

THEMES REAPPEARED -

NOVELS AND SHORT ES OF
VELS AND SHORT SLORS

FLANNERY O'CONNOR »

RAYMOND CARVER, ao
Veh “Lr WG
Joun_UpDiKE, (rapzmour 7

NO@EEISTO
ANNE DILLARD, ANN TYLER
ed |

17

AND ENCOURAGING NEW DIALOGUES
ESS

BETWEEN ART AND THEOLOGY -

“~ Yellele er
in Vasee. EDWARD NEE ano GeorGE— ~,

'
BALLANQHNE’S THE PRODIGAL _

Ay. Exuzerts on SPIRITUALITY -

AND A NEW APPRECIATION
aS ee
THAT ART AND SPIRITUALITY

—=
ARE krnpreps | SIBLINGS

PERHAPS AND THAT

a

F
SPIRITUALITY WON T_FADE

ANY MORE THAN ART WILL.

—,.

5.) INTRIGUING NEW FRONTIER IS_SCIENCE

AND THEOLOGY.
aed

CITE REVIEW IN New YORK TIMES

ee
REV ERy OF BOOKS: 2/23/92. THE .
WA
ane OF Goo, | PAUL pak

PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICAL

Qa Puysics AT U. OF Adela A¢
(i | "IT IS NOT REALLY SURPRISING THAT

PHYSICISTS ARE EXPLORING ISSUES ONCE

RESERVED FOR RELIGIOUS SCHOLARS.

18

SCIENCE TODAY, MORE SO THAN EVER, IS
ENCROACHING INTO TERRITORIES PREVIOUSLY
ENTRUSTED TO THEOLOGY ALONE."

"THE LURE OF THE ETERNAL CONTINUES
TO TUG AT OUR FINITE MINDS." a

ae
{> <A DEFINING INCIDENT IN ROBT.
CoLe’s Harvarp Drary.

(Hanan Mep. ScHOOoL CHILD

PSYCHIATRIST »

SPIRITUAL LIFE OF CHURCH

BESTSELLER ,

VISITED MEDICAL SCHOOL
FRIEND IN HOSPITAL, DYING OF
CANCER.

&
ANGRY-PRIEST HAD JUST Wierud

Cilia -
HAD USED ALL THE
PSYCHOLOGY HE HAD
Sa =r
i]
re.
BEEN TauenT | Tuagmame jAGguare/>
HOW PATIENT WAS

“FEELING, COPING,

19

MANAGING, CONFRONTING
%

Cola HIS STRESS
Pe ate [sme FRIEND WANTED TO TALK
ABOUT GOD AND HIS wavs asout CHRISTSeeet
=, —— ——eee,
38K AND HIS LIFE, \apour HEAVEN AND HELL,
Sse =z =e
ONLY TO BE APPROACHED REPEATEDLY WITH
PSYCHOLOGICAL WORDS AND PHRASES."
(°. 10 )
"HE COMES IN HERE IN HIS ROMAN

COLLAR AND OFFERS PSYCHOLOGICAL LEAVALI-

TIES-AS Gop! =
DOES IT MATTER? Lig THERE SOMETHING
———— et

GOOD OR BAD ABOUT THE SECULARIZATION OF
ee SSS

CULTURE OR THE RETURN OF pevzcron? [\ts
[Ss

THERE SOMETHI NGAMESSENG FROM THE HUMAN

EQUATION WHEN THE SPIRITUAL IS SIMPLY

ERASED || OR IN FACT TION
MERELY A KIND OF "COMING OF AGE"?
pt RE Ta
I'M IN THE BUSINESS OF RELIGION AND
fee =e

I’M INCLINED TO LOOK FAVORABLY ON ANY-
SS aa

== _——_—

THING THAT IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS. ir

20

I’m NOT AT ALL CERTAIN THAT THE ABSOLUTE

Fee
CERTAINTY ABOUT THE TRUTH WHICH IS
ity

WHAT FUNDAMENTALISM IS os A VERY
ee —
HEALTHY PHENOMENON WHEN PEOPLE WHO ARE
es = [ow

DIVERSE - RACIALLY, RELIGIOUSLY, CULTUR-

ALLY MUST EXIST TOGETHER.

I'm SUR MosLEM
SSE or ee
FUNDAMENTALISTS AND JEWISH FUNDAMENTAL-
Ee
ISTS IN THE NEAR EAST IS ONE OF THE
eae
REASONS WHY PEACE SEEMS AS REMOTE AS
al

EVER.

AnD I'M CONVINCED THAT THE CREA-

a
TIONISTS {uo ARE FUNDAMENTALISTS

MASQUERADING AS SCIENTISTS t ARE NOT

ONLY WRONG - BUT A VERY DETRIMENTAL
ESS

INFLUENCE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.

==

I THINK - SECULARISM - IS A GOOD
SS ee ll ll i
THING WHEN IT FORCES THE ISSUE OF
—

AUTHENTIC SPIRITUALITY BY CRITIQUING ITS

OrVy
MORE INNOCUOUS F@6GU6./| THAT IS - BY

SUGGESTING THAT READING THE BIBLE AND

==

21

PRAYING IN SCHOOL IS A VIOLATION OF A
SES ss

BASIC CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT - NOT TO HAVE

ANY RELIGION IMPOSED ON US \ ar ACTUALLY

RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHAT REAL PIETY -
= =a

REAL PRAYER ~- REAL DEVOTION - MIGHT BE.

emt OS
HOWEV WITH THESE FEW DISCLAIMERS
Sa TO
I DO BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT
OUR HUMANITY WHICH IS AT STAKE IN THE
eS De |

SECULAR CITY.
aE

THE PROBLEM WITH SECULARISM ULTI-

—
MATELY IS NOT THAT IT IS TOQ.LOOSE AND
Se

GODLESS,\ TOO LIBERAL AND TOO BROAD |- BUT

THAT IT DEFINES HUMAN BEINGS TOO NAR-
a TE

ES AND HOR-
Es

ROWLY \ 4s PRODUCTS OF
Ee _=—=

MONES AND INSTINCTS J SECULARISM._NEVER
== a =e

QUITE EXPLAINS SATISFACTORILY A CLAUDE

Monet oR A J. S. BACH. | SECULARISM
aaa —w#- ————

DEFINES US AS CONSUMERS, FOR INSTANCE,

eee =:
AND NEVER ADEQUAT AINS MOTHER
=a

THERE R A MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr\ OR
—e ee

A DESMOND TuTU.

qa

22

My ARGUI ITH SECULARISM IS THAT
IT MAKES Js TO \ rere 25 1 IS NO
17 NO ecstasy, | [no MYSTERY.

INTERESTING THAT THOUGH THE 1980s
y "

ey
USED THE LANGUAGE OF TRADITIONAL

RELIGION AND —, IT TURNED OUT TO BE
————

AN EXPERIMENT IN SECULARISM -| an ATTEMPT
eh

TO DEFINE THE NEW AMERICAN AS A CONSUM-
———__ ee ae
ER-PRODUCER. | AND WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON
——_—_————————
NOW IS A FULL-SCALE REACTION.
IT DIDN'T WORK.) IT RAMU. THE
a a a
NATIONAL DEBT,\ MADE A FEW PEOPLE FABU-
ee

ow
LOUSLY WEALTHY AND WORE THE COUNTRY
eS] Es

our LIKE A NIGHT OF TOO MUCH FOOD
1—— EEE

AND CAROUSING AND BRAWLING IN THE STREET

- IT LEFT US WITH WHAT FEELS LIKE A
at

SPIRITUAL HANGOVER -(avtuous IT Is
—

ORDINARILY DESCRIBED MORE DELICATELY

——

THAN THEM.

SO THE RETURN OF RELIGION | anrnur
enemies,

SCHLESINGER, IN THE CYCLES OF AMERICAN
al

23

HISTORY ARGUES THAT OUR CULTURE SWINGS
Ty ded

BACK AND FORTH IN INTERVALS OF A GENERA-
So Ey

——— pve se

TION OR SO_BETWEEN LIBERALISM AND CON-
—
SERVATISM, |L OKI ND LOOKING IN,
_— _

SELFISHNESS...AND cenenoszty.\\ ano, WE
pa Se RS,
MIGHT PROPOSE.- SECULARISM AND SPIRITU-

ALITY.
ay

MY ANALYSIS.IS THAT WHAT HAS_PRO-

PORTED TO BE SPIRITUALITY AND PIETY - IN
ed ery
THE 80s - [was ACTUALLY SECULARISM AND
SSS

THAT THE REACTION IS BRINGING ABOUT A
me Sy

RENEWAL OF D
RENEWED RELIGION.
Ss
JUST IN TIME, I MIGHT ADD, BECAUSE
—_— eee =r
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE HUMAN RACE j-
ee ert

AND OUR CORNER IT,IS CONFRONTING SOME
Se

SPECTACULARLY DIFFICULT DILEMMAS -(ave

THA WAY FROM A HOLE IN. THE OZONE WHICH

IS A THREAT TO MY GRANDCHILDREN MORE
SERIOUS THAN ANY THREAT BEFORE TQLAN

ENTRENCHED UNDER CLASS OF POVERTY SEVER-
———— <A

24

AL GENERATIONS DEEP Ar. A WAR AGAINST
—ap

DRUGS WHICH EVERY BIG CITY MAYOR AND

POLICE CHIEF KNOWS WE HAVE ALREADY LOST.

THE OTHER SIDE WON... <*:

THE SOLULLONS...T0..THOSE PROBLEMS

WILL NOT BE EASY \ THEY WILL REQUIRE

ENORMOUS quounrs_oF voney / commyeyt -
AND MORE -| THINGS LIKE SACRIELCE, .SELF-
DENTAL, \ LOVE = THAT IS TO SAY, SOMETHING

LIKE RELIGION.
eee

AND BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHERE
===,

WE ARE TODAY re GRATEFUL FOR THE
ee”

OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE FRONT LINES ON
ele Ee

ONE OF THE BUSIEST STREETS IN ONE OF THE
— SS

BIGGEST CITIES ANYWHERE.

Now A WORD ABOUT HOW THIS PLAYS QUT

AT FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
APOLOGIES FOR WHAT MIGHT SOUND LIKE
—_= se So
A COMMERCIAL \ BUT SUSAN THOUGHT YOU
eee ==
MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

————

US:...

25

-BEEN THERE SINCE 1914 -

-CHARACTERIZED BY RESPONSIVENESS TO
—_——— sn

ITS ENVIRONMENT...

I LIKE TO COMPARE US TO THE CATHE-
[SSS See,

DRALS IN MEDIEVAL TIMES -[ THEN, THE

CATHEDRAL OFTEN CAME FIRST AND THE TOWN

=a =_—=_

GREW AROUND IT -
SSS

HER FIRST - AND THEN

THE CHURCH RESPONDING TO ITS NEIGH-

BORS.
PRESBYTERZANISM HISTORICALLY HAS
Ve
SEEN _CHURGH=- NOT AS A RETREAT FROM THE
———— 0 ESS eee

WORLD - BUT IN A REAL SENSE AS A PLACE

WHERE RELIGION AND LLEEAMEEiegiND _EX~
Pa]
CHANGE _VLEYS.
WE'RE NOT A(CL BUT AN NTERGEC TLOW

SECTION...
LIKE THE MEDIEVAL CATHEDRAL WITH
Se
THE MERCHANT STALLS,\ THE VENDORS, THE

es
JUGGLERS, THE SPEECHMAKERS - ON ITS
=a

STEPS - WE TRY TO BE A PLACE WHERE AR]
= ba

26

AND COMMERCE AND POLITICS AND ALL SORTS
[cosmemanes

OF CONDITIONS OF HUMAN BEINGS CONGRE-
or

GATE.
SO IN ADDITION TO TRADITIONAL
——-
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES OF WORSHIP AND
Ra TT
TEACHING - .,
Pal

WE INVITE THE ARTS IN { ano SPONSOR

Es

EXHIBITS AND CONCERTS AND RECITALS...

WE HAVE SHOWN VARIOUS KINDS OF SCULP-

TuRE, | PRESENTED JAZZ MUSICIANS PAUL

WINTER AND DAVE BRUBECK AS WELL AS CSO

=,

HORNIST, DALE CLevencer, \RoBeRT SHAW.
ES

Ano Mya AngeLou, \ FOLK SINGERS AND DANC-
SSS, aay

eee

ERS..| WE HAVE STAGED JULIAN AND AMAHL

AND THE NIGHT VISITORS IN OUR SANCTUARY
AND IN SEVERAL WEEKS WILL PRESENT MOTHER
WOVE THE MORNING WRITTEN AND PERFORMED

-_
BY CAROL LYNN PEARSON.

WE TRY TO BE OPEN AND WELCOMING TO

Sesame ETT

THE WORLD -

27

WE ARE - IN FACT - OPEN DAILY AND A

—

STEADYSTREAM COMES_IN ...

ON A SATURDAY ~ 400-5--

WE TORE DOWN OUR HIGH HEDGES -

————<—

PLANTED FLOWERS \, REMOVED_SOME FENCES

AND BUILT A SMALL ESPLANADE IN FRONT -

———

WE ADDED BIRD FEEDERS |AND WE TRY TO
+ See

n't

SAY THIS IS A PLACE TO LOOK INWARD AND

OUTWARD.
Scrat

WE ARE ALSO A QUIET SOCIAL SERVICE

— STATION.
Teen 365
ARENTS - .

sla

TONIGHT BLACK HISTORY

SocIAL SERVICE. Comru—
Defence ls

FOOD, CLOTHES
eee Se

HOMELESS SHELTER

=_—

—

COA
orc
RCC

_-CABRINI-ALIVE

28

JAIL AND HOSPITAL
mee Se

PRE SCHOOL
ee Community
WE ARE - A REMINDER TO THE Ger OF

THE FULLNESS AND BEAUTY OF THE WHOLE
—— SS

DIVERSE HUMAN FAMILY WHICH MAKES UP A
See

CITY.

A NOON DAY_ORGAN RECITAL FEATURING

ea ater ea ay

THE WORKS OF J. S. BACH 4 AND THE
HOMELESS MAN SLEEPING ON OUR STEPS - ARE

BOTH IN A WAY REMINDERS OF THE
COMPLEXITY OF HUMANKIND AND THE HUMAN

ENTERPRISE,

AND WE A REMINDER SURROUNDED, AS
eS | _

WE ARE - BY -

HENRI BENDEL, BLOomMIES & 4 SEASONS

Hancock BUILDING

WATER TOWER PLACE

Now L’Escapo & FAO ScHWARzZ

al

OF ANOTHER meaanr’* \ ARE A COUNTER
Ss,

i eal

29

CULTURE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF A WONDER-
==,
FUL CONCENTRATION OF COMMERCE AND CON-
ee
SUMERISM.

I a T LD PICTURES
EOeK TO LOOK AT THE 0 I .

é
THE STREET IS FAIRLY NON-DESCRIPT -

IN FACT MY HOUSE - MANSE - SITS ON A

SPOT ONCE OCCUPIED BY A TAVERN.

THE STEEPLE DOMINATED \ Rose ABOVE
_—————

- MUCH LIKE THOSE_MEDIEVAL CATHEDRALS.
Sere

TODAY, THE REVERSE _4.TODAY - I LIKE
: ij.

TO LOOK DOWN FROM HANCOCK OBSERVATORY =
ad

TO THE TINY CHURCH AND COURTYARD
yee

AND =&RRET -/ LIKE A JEWEL IN
es
THE MIDST OF ITS TOWERING
Ea
NEIGHBORS.

~ A THEOLOGICAL INVERSION t BUT

STILL, PERHAPS MORE, AT THE HEART OF THE
[en el Soe

CITY.
(Furune? >)

~

WE'RE GROWING -| 1,200 In 1911

3,600 rn 1992

30

WE'RE LOOKING AT FUTURE NEEDS AND

MOVING TOWARD PROVIDING FOR THEM.
-CLEAN AND RESTORE SANCTUARY

-NEED EDUCATION, RECREATION, ART
SPACES. ?

Cc

PH ApAMS CRANE - A MAS PIECE
ward Yaw Doren -

-COLLABORATED WITH SHAW.

ENGLISH GOTHIC
Pesent—
LANDMARK - OR HISTORICAL =

Tron WAdvaaed . .
VAM - Lone I SUPPORT AND

ADMIRE TO INSURE FUTURE GENERATIONS
__——O ss

WILL HAVE DISTINGUISHED ARCHITECTURE OUT

- WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT?

OF THE PAST.
BUT WHEN THAT GOOD IMPULSE ®UMPS
INTO ANOTHER GOOD IDEA \ namecy THE
SEE 8 § oo aS
FREEDOM OF RELIGION FROM ALL

a,
INTERFERENCE BY THE STATE -|THERE ARE
= ———————

ee

COMPLICATED ISSUES TO SAY THE LEAST.

=

31

PRESBYTERIANS - ET. AL. ARE

Ee |

INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT THE FIRST
Cael

AMENDMENT GUARANTEES AGAINST war ANY _
fay

et

INFLUENCE FRO E \ rake PRECEDENCE.

-TO DESIGNATE LANDMARK - IS ESSEN-

TIALLY TO REMOVE THE TRUSTEESHIP j- IF

NOT THE OWNERSHIP, FROM ITS OWNERS | AND

ae i elena woe

GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. -

oe La
AND WHILE THAT MAY BE A GOOD IDEA -/*t 5/4
a a enfant
WE BELIEVE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS ARE
THE EXCEPTION. Th [Sou To. Sduple - © sbt bo
o— Gu wut
(so WE ARE OPPOSED IN PRINCIPAL AND prsevain. -
WELL CONTINUE TO BE OPPOSED. fay for ib-.
IN THE MEANTIME, (THE SALE OF, OR

MOVEMENT OF FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH -

NOT TO SAY THE DEMOLISHING OF FOURTH

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - HAS NEVER - REPEAT

never | SEEN CONSIDERED OR DISCUSSED AND
ee

px je
NEVER WILL BE.
,
WE KNOW WE HAVE A TREASURE WE
ee Le
HAVE MAINTAINED IT FAITHFULLY AND WILL
Fea al ea

32

continue. | We HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO
area | |

SO, AND WE DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED THE
eee es | .

. CIMA =~.
HELP OF THE STATE 6S city ue

”

——————

33