The name is absent

38 The Rice Institute Pamphlet

of one type of social participation does not necessarily ex-
clude his influence even on tire context he criticizes.

The widespread religious illiteracy at many levels of
American life must be explained in part from the failure of in-
stitutional leadership. Ligon’s studies show that growth
toward religious maturity is a small fraction of the possible
in the average American adolescent between the eighth and
twelfth grades.¹⁸ Very often, little is added in religious out-
reach or knowledge even at the college level. There are, of
course, notable exceptions to the cases studied. Yet, these
conclusions are confirmed, on the whole, by the fact that
responsible adults are often asked to accept and participate
in a particular tradition without clear and definitive knowl-
edge of its teachings. It is not surprising that their loyalties
are sometimes expressed in devotion to secondary if not un-
important practices and ideas.

The uncritical acceptance of religious ideas in the end
leads to negative consequences for devotion and piety. Injury
to moral and religious living follows from the refusal to re-
evaluate particular traditions from a more ultimate reference.
Western theism teaches that no religious object less than God
is an end in itself. Neitlrer the human person nor his com-
munity are absolute; both, as finite and fallible, are to be
continually judged from God’s goodness and love. The in-
adequacy and unworthiness of their holiest claims and prac-
tices stand out by comparison with God’s transcendent real-
ity. Authentic faith activates ethical sensitivity and under-
standing. Confronted by the ultimate goodness and right-
eousness of God, it discovers a new and profound dimension
in existence.

Refigious education must recognize that spiritual goods by
their very nature are not the exclusive possession of any sin-

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