the Calvinists of Holland, the Puritans
of England, and the Huguenots of France?

II

The contributions made by Christianity to the working efficiency and the
constructive social abilities of humanity in the past have been mainly
indirect. The main aim set before Christians was to save their souls from
eternal woe, to have communion with God now and hereafter, and to live
God-fearing lives. It was individualistic religion, concentrated on the
life to come. Its social effectiveness was largely a by-product. What,
now, would have been the result if Christianity had placed an equally
strong emphasis on the Kingdom of God, the ideal social order? Other
things being equal, a Christian father and mother are better parents than
others because they have more sense of duty, more love, and a higher
valuation of spiritual things. But if, in addition, they have a religious
desire for a higher social order and realize that noble children are a
splendid contribution to it, how will that affect their parenthood? A
teacher, artist, or scientist who is also a religious man, will do
conscientious work if he works under the motives of individualistic
religion. But if he has a vision of the Kingdom of God on earth and sees
the contributions he can make to it, will not that raise the character of
his output? A business man of strong Christian character will work hard,
keep his word in business, and deal fairly with employes and customers.
But would not a new direction be given to his moral energies if his
religion taught him that he must help to shape the workings of industry
and trade so that hereafter there will be no fundamental clash between
business and the morals of Christianity?

What the world of Christian men and women needs is to have a great social
objective set before them and laid on their conscience with the authority
of religion. Then religion would get behind social evolution in earnest.

This would be no new and foreign element imported into our religion. It
would be a modern revival of the doctrine of Jesus himself, which has been
too long submerged and neglected. One chief reason why it was side-tracked
is that no despotic State and no society dominated by a predatory class
ever wanted religion applied to a reconstruction of the social order. The
idea of the Kingdom of God reawoke with the rise of modern democracy. Now
is the time for it.

III

The idea of the Kingdom of God is not identified with any speci