What Positive Faith?

Communism is not only a persuasive religion ; it is a highly organized one. Back from a six weeks' trip to Soviet Russia with this conviction, the London Daily Mail's Correspondent Alexander Clifford wrote:

"If you join the queue outside the Kremlin and shuffle your way in through the red marble portals of Lenin's tomb, you automatically take your hat off. . . . You have been visiting a shrine. . . . Communism is now a fully fledged religion which claims to be of universal application. . . . It has a tremendous literature of commentary and exegesis, and all the usual saints and martyrs and heresies. . . . It is rigidly orthodox and highly fanatical. . . . And this . . . religion has really got a grip on the world."

A faith that is so firmly held cannot be combated on political or diplomatic levels, thinks Clifford: "Capitalism is feverishly trying to save itself by half-converting itself into Socialism. . . . Bombs are . . . irrelevant, for Communism is a thing of the mind . . . and not just a move in power politics. . . . The only really relevant thing is another faith -- a positive and constructive faith with the power to seize on men's minds. . . ."

How strong a faith can the West offer? "It is generations now since Christianity tried to impose its universality," wrote Protestant Clifford. "But one of its churches, the Roman Catholic, still has a worldwide organization. . . . Has the largest Christian Church enough spiritual strength to withstand Communism? Has it any plans for doing so?" To find out, Correspondent Clifford hustled off to Rome. His cables back to London were not overly optimistic:

"This war of religions is now seriously on. . . . The practical facts are that Communism offers a recipe for a good life in this world, and it is firing men's minds; that vast numbers of the workers believe the Church to be a reactionary protector of wealth and privilege. . . . There are some bold spirits who talk of a new positive crusade. . . .

"But there is no sign of [a crusade] that I can see. . . . As far as an outsider can judge . . . the Vatican is leaning most heavily on its spiritual strength as a defensive weapon, and its faith that evil cannot in the end prevail."*

* For a more recent development in Vatican-Kremlin relations, see INTERNATIONAL.

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