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Rabbi Hertzberg [who urged peaceful theological coexistence between Christians and Jews—Sept. 28] apparently does not understand Christianity, as regrettably many Christians do not. There can never be any proper relaxation of missionary zeal for the church. For the Christian, Christ comes first and martyrdom is preferable to compromise.
(THE REV.) H. W. FAIRBROTHER St. Matthias' Episcopal Church Baltimore
Sir:
Jewish blood has been spilled for 17 centuries in attempts to purge us of our "sins" and lead us to salvation through Jesus. I think the time is ripe for Christian leaders to try to convert Christians to Christianity and to leave the Jews alone.
PERETZ M. KATZ Forest Hills, N.Y.
Sir:
Re your statement that Judaism is traditionally opposed to proselytizing. Why don't you scrutinize the Old Testament? Ruth the Moabite-is a good starter.
EVA STEINBERG Astoria, N.Y.
Hell's Fire
Sir:
I was disappointed to find that in our age of so-called enlightenment so little progress has been made toward solving the main issues of our destiny. It took 43 theologians five years of study to reach the conclusion that, after all, Hell may not be a place of fiery torment but a state of loneliness and frustration. This still makes very little difference in view of the Bible's numerous statements that Hell is the common grave of all mankind and where "man hath no pre-eminence above a beast [Ecclesiastes 3:19]."
MRS. J. A. NELMES Toronto
Sir:
Your article, under the heading "Hell of Loneliness," which told of the United Church of Canada's publishing a booklet that repudiates Hell as a place of fire and torment, really sickened me. The men responsible are playing right into Satan's hands. A little study into God's Holy Word should convince anyone who desires to know the truth that Hell is just what Jesus said it is, a place of fire and torment.
ALBERT W. WEBER Barrington, N.J.
Sir:
About Heaven and Hell: the humans-in-Heaven idea probably began about 1000 B.C. with Greek hero worship. Previously Heaven was for gods only. Since Hell had been for everybody, good or bad, maybe it seemed inconceivable that it should be a tormenting place.
RICHARD HILL
Toronto
*"Our country! in her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong!" -Who said to her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi: "Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God [Ruth 1:16]."