"Christian Realism"

Having failed to check Christianity in East Germany by simple harassment, the Communists there have shifted tactics a bit. Like the Chinese Reds, they are now trying to wreck the Christian churches by infiltrating them. Last week the Communist-run East German Christian Democratic Union Party published a set of 22 articles setting forth the point of view which "Christian realism" now directs all East Germans to adopt.

The first few theses are fairly unexceptionable statements about peace, loving one's neighbor and "the dignity of work" (plus a reminder that Christians can count on the Christian Democratic Union Party to lead them "to unity in political action"). Further on, the Communist line gets clearer. Samples: P:"Progressive Christians have all been moved by the conviction that Christianity cannot be static but must be in a state of holy flux . . . [They] hold it as only natural ... to remove antiquated forms and look for new ones." P:"Without being a follower of dialectical materialism, the Christian must recognize as correct the foundation of economic analysis in Marxism and Leninism." P:"Socialism today gives the Christian the best chance to fulfill the aims of Christ and to practice practical Christianity. The doctrine developed by Karl Marx for the erection of a better social order found exemplary realization in the socialist Soviet Union."

P:"The preparations for a third world war by the Anglo-American imperialists force a clear decision: anyone not for the imperialist war must join the peace front . . . There can be no true Christian who is not a fighter for peace."

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