"Communism is a response to the failures of Christians." With this warning against Christian self-righteousness, Professor John C. Bennett of Union Theological Seminary prefaces an analysis of the conflicts between Christianity and Communism. In the current Presbyterian Tribune, Congregationalist Bennett points out two major differences between the two outstanding 20th Century faiths.
Bennett rates Communism's "idolatry" as a greater fault than its theoretical Marxist atheism. The Communist regards his particular movement as being able to redeem the world. This passionate "belief, says Bennett, "develops a form of complete human self-sufficiency that is incompatible with the Christian understanding of man's dependence upon God....
