What could happen?

What could happen?

"This brings me to a final consideration, which compromises, as it were all the others. The more the conditions of men are equalized and assimilated to each other, the more important it is for religion; whilst it carefully abstains from the daily turmoil of secular affairs, not needlessly to run counter to the ideas which generally prevail, or to the permanent interests which exist in the mass of the people. For as public opinion grows to be more and more the first and more irrestisible of existing powers, the religious principle has no external support strong enough to enable it long to resist its attacks..."

P 154

For some reason this made me think of the gradual disappearance of religion and the rise of government in certain socialist countries in Europe. With the disappearance of religion in Countries like Sweden, The Netherlands, and others, we see that more and more countries are relying on their governments for the needs of the people. No longer do we see citizens of these countries going to their church for help in times of need, instead we see people turning to their local government for money and charity. In a small population, where socialism seems to be working, there is a lack of religion. What would James say about this? What would he think about these countries, who were once rich in Christian tradition, now helping its people through government, rather through prayer and charity?