God or Caesar

Media

Part of Panorama

Title
God or Caesar
Language
English
Year
1939
Subject
Spirituality
God
Rights
In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
Abstract
A rhetorical commentary article on the importance of Christian God to mankind.
Fulltext
GOD OR CAESAR NINETEEN hundred years ago civilization had to make a choice of allegiance. Were men to bow the knee to God, the Creator of the Universe, or to Caesars who claimed the divinity of supreme beings? Mankind again faces this issue, and the conflict between God and Caesar is as wide as the world. Civilization embraces many religions and no religion. But when Pope Pius XI departed this life, the peoples of the world were unanimous. They poured forth gratitude for his services to mankind. For he had the courage to uphold the goodness and mercy of God. The dictators are very much alike. They wield power and exult in conquest. But they awaken no gratitude. They are obeyed only because they are dreaded, and vast communities are arming to resist their aggression. Nineteen hundred years ago the struggle between God and Caesar seemed to oe unequal. On the one side were humble men and women, often reduced to the status of slavery and the Colosseum was a conAUGUST, 1939 centration camp for the martyrs. On the other side were the wealth and aristocracy of the Roman Empire, backed by mobilized legions with their faces-rods for scourgiAg the people, bound around axes for cutting off their heads. Amid pain and poverty and what is sometimes ridiculed as superstition, the weaker side won against the stronger. The communities of people who believed in God grew into the civilization of the future. The paganism of imperial Rome collapsed in ruins. The Pope was only a secular sovereign by symbolism. His kingdom, his army, his post office, his courts of law, his coinage-all were token alone of the power that is abroad in the world. Within an hour, the Caesars could obliterate Vatican City-with its traditions and its treasures-from the face of the earth. Ye t t h e Pope, murmuring "Peace" with his dying breath, meant more to mankind than all of the dictators put together as they breathed forth fire and slaughter over land and sea. For 33 the Pope was serving God who is Death, and Man's instinct for surthe author of Life, and the Dicta- vival has always been victorious tors are angels of Death. over the impulse to suicide. That victory may be hard to win. But The issue between God and it is assured.-Conde.nsed from Caesar is a duel between Life and The Commentator. * * ,.. TO PLEASE WO.MEN GIRL students of an American university have compiled the following "Dont's" which men are advised to observe if they want to be on the best terms with Eve: If you are a man, then DON'T: Be late for appointments. Boast. Walk on the inside of the pavement when accompanymg a woman. Consider the opinions of your sex superior to those of the fair sex. Talk continually of the wonderful things you can do. Blow your motor-horn instead of coming to the door for your girl friend. Be so conceited that you think every woman is on your trail, their object being matrimony. Domineer. Rather conceal the fact that you're master in your own home. Be careless about personal grooming. Be stingy. Argue with your wife or hold her up to ridicule. Talk about business all the time. Leave ashes except in ashtrays. Feel inferior if you have to help with the housework, Talk about other women with whom you used to go out. Use a potent-smelling hair cream. Attribute all bad driving to women.-Parade. PANORAMA
Date Issued
IV(8) August, 1939