Life, 1925-04-30 · page 36 of 42
Life — April 30, 1925 — page 36: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page combines commercial advertising with editorial content on religion's relevance in modern society. **The Advertisement:** The top features an Arrow Collar ad using an attractive male portrait—typical early 20th-century marketing that associated quality clothing with masculine appeal and social status. **The Editorial Feature:** The bulk of the page presents "Life's Question Contest," a reader-response column debating whether religion is declining. Contributors argue both sides: some claim true religion (as spiritual experience) remains vital despite weakening organized churches; others contend institutional religion has become merely "business"—reduced to "drives, promotions, card indexes, budgets, publicity and advertising" rather than genuine faith. **The Satire/Point:** The contrast itself is satirical: Life juxtaposes consumerist advertising (selling identity through clothes) with philosophical debate about religion's commercialization. The inclusion of a clergyman's admission that churches function as businesses underscores the irony—organized religion mimics commercial promotion, making it indistinguishable from the advertising surrounding it on the page. **Context:** This reflects 1920s-era skepticism about institutional religion amid modernization and the rise of consumer culture.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SaaS THE GUARDS </ ARROW COLLAR was desic 1 the kind of man who likes fo es fi lind ofiman that look as if they were just for him, and bate chance buyer in the multitude. 2OSeach CLUETT, PEABODY & CO,, Inc, Makers DPER [NG AG Summer Vacation Plans? PERHAPS —— RAYMOND-WHITCOMB SUMMER CRUISES Luxurious—Comprehensive a MEDITERRANEAN (June 27) Completest Mediterranean route ever devised —30cities—13 countries—Rome, Venice, Gra- nada, Athens,Cairo,&c. 20,000-ton“Oronsay” —AIll rooms outside. 53 days to Cherbourg. $675 & up. MIDNIGHT SUN UJune 30) 37 days from New York—Iceland, Norway's Fjords, Sweden, Denmark, France. '20,000-ton “Franconia” (Cunard). $725 & up. ROUND the WORLD (Oct. 10) Most comprehensive world-cruise — Japan, China, Java, India, Egypt, also Australia, &c. —never cruised to before. Brand-new 20, ton Cunarder “Carinthia”. $2,000 & up. i yA Booklets, ship-plans, &c. from Raymond & Whitcomb Co. Exec. Offices: Park & Beacon Sts., Boston New York Philadelphia Chicago San Les We : kash 2. Cf ASSIASKN LiFe’s Question Contest (Continued from page 12) If the Church is religion, God help it, but it is not. Religion is God, and‘there is all that we need. Frank W’, Bentley, Box 306, Missouri Valley, Lowa. No, if religion is an inner thing. Creeds, rituals are on the wane. Scientific statements about religion are decreasing. So are infidels and hypocrites. Man is “incurably religious.” Honest seekers after God and truth, notably among the young, are increasing. If religion is “the life of God in the soul of man,” it is not on the wane. Our God is not a heathen deity, waxing and waning in power. Life is not a physical process. It is an unexplained, mys tical thing, not often discussed, but the most fundamental de sire of the human heart. Religion is life—the life of God in man, not philosophy about God. It is in the soul, not on the tongue. Theology, like the Inquisition and the Cro-Magnon Man, is dead. Religion is as alive as Youth, and Hope, and Spring! . Peoria, Il, Whex men learn what is life and what is death; when they know who made the universe, the world, and man- kind; when they learn the purpose of our existence and our eventual goal—THEN religion will come to an end. But it is not now on the wane, nor will it lose strength until all men know everything about which any one of them might ask a question. Men will not allow themselves to be called ignorant. There- fore, their imaginations picture an all-powerful thing which can be blamed for all that men fail to understand. Of course, different creeds may come and go with each pass ing day, but religion cares not in what vehicle she rides. The gods of Brahmanism, Buddhism, Mohammedanism and Chris tianity may tumble down the chute to join the thousands who have gone before, but religion—well, we must have some excuse for living! Marshall McClintock, 801 Westover Road, Kansas City, Missour No, religion is not “on the wane"; it is dead, so far at least as the churches are concerned. Rev. Dr. Justin W. Nixon, of Rochester, N. Y., declared in a recent address before the Presbyterian Ministers’ Associa tion that religion, as exemplified by the churches, has become “@ business.” “It consists,” he said, “of drives, promotions, card indexes budgets, publicity and advertising, and an elaborate system of follow-up work instead of being what it should be: @ triv secking to know God.” An elderly, old-fashioned Christian woman of my acquaint ance put it rather more tersely when she said : “There are three hundred CHURCHES in this city—BU7 NO CHRIST!" W. T. Withrow, 69 Plymouth Avenue North, Rochester, N. ¥. More Honorable Mentions Youne Atttsox, Louisville, Ky.: Mrs. Emma Asreckes, Denver, Colo.; Harvey E.” Averitt, Birmingham, _Ala.; A. E. Bape: E, Cleveland, O.; Frank S. Baitey, E. Brain- tree, Mass. W. Bateman, Dallas, Texas; R. J. Bennett, . R, Bicetow, Natick, Mass.; Mrs. F. A. ¥ ; Freo W. Butt, Westbrook, Conn. ; , JR, Prescott, Ariz.; Atsert Carr, Greensburg, Cramoers, Bronxville, N. Y.; A. Garpver ase, Mexico, M L Calif.; B.S. Cornett, Brockville, Can.; Curster, Pompton Lakes, N. J.; Francis J. Curran, Providence, R. I.; A, B. Daze, Los Gatos, Cali: New York son, River Falls, Wis.; D. E. Di Charles- rs. E. Epstetn, Atlanta, Ga.; Freveric B. Mass. ; W. Govtp, Malden, Mass.; Atexanper Gray, Springfield, C. F. Hamitton, Detroit, Mich.; Lee HamiLtos, le, Ky.; Rosa S. Harats, Mount Vernon, N. Y.; comicbooks.com