Abstract
THERE has been a remarkable spate of books inspired by the War, and they are none of them of the furious anti-Hitler type which the case would warrant. The writers are stirred by social passion among themselves. Let them use the war as binding the nation in determined and religious ardour which will stretch far beyond the war itself. Sir Richard Gregory's “Religion, Science and Civilization” is, of course, of ampler scope and full of interesting matter. It leans in the same direction as Mr. Stapledon in stressing the religious side but avoiding any orthodox religions. The most striking feature of all these religious-social war exhortations is that they come from and go to the religious who frankly discard the accepted creed of the Church of England or any other church. Their attitude is forward-looking, but not attached to any church. The future of organized religion will therefore become more and more vague and insincere, unless the discard of impossible doctrines and legends is frankly made.
Beyond the “Isms”
By Olaf Stapledon. (Searchlight Books, No. 16.) Pp. 128. (London: Martin Seeker and Warburg, Ltd., 1942.) 2s. net.
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MARVIN, F. Beyond the "Isms". Nature 149, 593 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/149593b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/149593b0