Communism and the Theologians. Study of an Encounter, by Charles West

[p035] Communism and the Theologians. Study of an Encounter, by Charles West (SCM Press, 35s.) There is a large and growing library on the subject of the relations between Christianity and communism, and a remark- ably high percentage of it is so much waste paper, either because it has been written by Christians who have never taken the trouble to find out what communism is, or because it has been written by communists who have never taken the trouble to find out what Christianity is. The first thing that has to be said about this book is that it is a serious one, and July-August 1959 for that alone we may be profoundly grateful. For all this it has also to be posed at once that like all such literature now appearing this is a cold war book. The author ‘has no hesitation in writing (p. 11): ‘Communist power may wax or wane. It may shift from the military to the diplomatic sphere and back again. But it will not disappear, nor will the non-communist world’s responsibility for containing it, negotiating with it, seeking some viable structure of order this side of total war.’ This is a peaceful position and one of a rational opponent of communism, who sees the world as inescapably involved in revolutionary change: ‘The revolution is bigger than com- munism’ (p. 12). On this background West chooses a number of contemporary theologians, some who see in communism simply the enemy, some, as Hromadka, who see in it judgment and hope, and others who take a variety of different positions. It is perhaps a pity that the only form of Christian socialism which is discussed is that of Tillich; there are schools of Christian socialism in England which have not been without influence. That a book written by an assistant secretary of the World Council of Churches should be able to face the fact that Marxism has effectively criticized the amoral morality of ‘the secular world’ more than Christianity has done is a sign of the tremendous movement of opinion in the world today. That the writer feels compelled to see communism not only as this salutary revolutionary force but also as a tyrannous power is something which communists would do well to ponder. STANLEY EVANS Year Book