ourselves the question: What will the new era be like? What kind of
civilization will we build for ourselves?

The great global conflict which we know as World War II left this
planet on which we live divided into two hostile camps, one comprised
of nations dedicated to the principles and ideals of democracy and the
other consisting of nations adhering to the doctrine of communism.
The leadership of the division of nations which pursues the ideals and
principles of democracy fell into our hands, not so much because we
sought it but because we alone possessed the strength to provide that
leadership. This is the heaviest responsibility ever placed upon this
nation of ours, and the way we discharge this responsibility will, in a
large measure, determine the course of mankind in the future. The
world now is engulfed in a fierce conflict—a conflict which we did not
choose and do not like, but a conflict which, try as we may, we cannot
escape. It is a conflict of arms, involving the most serious military
threat our country has ever faced. In an armaments race unprecedented
in history, we stand in grave danger constantly of being out-distanced by
our enterprising and ingenious rivals, the Russians. It is a conflict, too,
of educational systems, and we note with great concern the almost
incredible progress Soviet Russia has made in the education of its
people during the past forty years. Their achievements in space
exploration would indicate that in some areas the Russians already are
ahead of us in research and technology, and this presents a most
challenging prospect.

It is a contest to see who will produce the sharpest intellects, the
toughest minds. It is a conflict, also, of wills: Who will work the
hardest? Who will exert the most effort? Who will show the strongest
determination? And it is a conflict of ideals, of philosophies of life, with
the peoples of the democracies and the peoples of the communist nations
poles apart in the way they look at things.

Finally—and most important of all, I think—it is a conflict of
religious concepts. One force teaches men to love God, and to love God,
we who were brought up in the Christian faith know so well, one must
love his fellowman.

It is quite certain, I believe, that this world conflict is moving to a
climax. We call this conflict the "Cold War, " but a cold war, like any
other war, does not go on forever. In one way or another, the conflict
will be resolved.

What are we as Christians to do in this savage warfare that goes on
all about us? I believe the time has come when we of the Christian faith

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