were no better than average Americans.nHe discovered that Marx and Pelagiusnwere wrong. He also discovered, in andrab church in East Berhn, with “nonmajestic choirs or fancy vestments,”nthat Christ is right.nVree focuses his considerable analyticalnpowers upon modern movements innChristianity by contrasting the inadequaciesnof American Christianity withnEast German Catholicism, in whichnfaith is strong and theology is orthodoxnbecause “people in East Germany cannget nothing from church; they can onlyngive.” From his visit to East Berlin andnhis subsequent reflections, Vree drawsnthree conclusions:n(1) Theological modernism is anjourney away from Christ, notntoward Him. This was certainlynthe case with me, and I’vennever seen any evidence that itnhas been otherwise with others.n(2) As important as it is tontransform social structures onnbehalf of the less fortunate, tonreduce Christianity to socialnreform alone is to sap it of itsnunique power, the power tonchange lives, without whichnsocial reform is a superficialnundertaking. (3) One of thenmost insidious threats to thenchurch today is our ownnmilitant anti-Communism.nIn defense of his surprising third conclusion,nVree argues that anti-nCommunism is simply an “unwillingnessnto be tested by persecution” andnthat people use anti-Communism tonjustify consumerism. When Vree’s argumentsnare put together, however,nthey do not substantiate his conclusion.nAlso problematic are the relationshipsnVree posits between capitalism,nsocialism, and the values of the culturalnrevolution of the 60’s. His initial insightsnare good: he sees that capitalism,nonce antithetical to the counterculturenand its values, has now absorbed thosenvalues. Whereas it once encouraged thenvirtues of hard work and self-sacrifice,n”capitalism now requires an ethos ofnself-indulgence.” Having discoverednthat mass hedonism can be profitable,ncapitalists have presided over the “institutionalizationnof the cultural revolution”nin American society. Vree’s diagnosisnof this shift in values is acute, butnhis assumption that a new socialismnwould prove superior to the new capitalismnis not convincing.nThis same puzzling assumptionnabout the desirability of socialism alsonmars an otherwise strong final chapter,n”A Christian Response,” in which VreenIntroducing ‘The Source’non the interaction of religion and society..nRichard John Neuhaus’snTHE Idigionniciety REPORTnThe Religion & Society Report is anbrand new newsletter from The RockfordnInstitute’s New York Center on Religionn& Society.nIts purpose is bold and frankly controversial:nto reaffirm religion’s role in shapingnthe culture of our time — and, through thenculture, the ways we live together in publicnand private.nIntroductory offer — you save $6nEach monthly issue will deal vigorously andnoutspokenly with ideas covering the fullnspectrum of religious conviction and debaten— from left to right, from fundamentalist tonliberal — and we invite you to subscribe now.nOur introductory offer: subscribe at $18nfor one year — and save $6 off the regularn$24 subscription price.nYou’ll get on-the-scene,n’Inside’ informationnThe Report is edited by Richard JohnnNeuhaus, pastor, theologian, author, editor,nand one of the most respected figures on thenreligious scene today. Pastor Neuhausnbrings to this newsletter years of leadershipnin the renewal of religion and society.nLeading off each issue will be a timelynanalysis, followed by a variety of reports onnmajor issues, events, trends, and personalitiesnin the sphere of religious, ethical,npolitical, and cultural interaction.nYou will read on-the-scene (and sometimesnbehind-the-scenes) accounts of conferences,nconvocations, and occasionalnconfrontations on the interface of religionnand society — giving you the ‘inside information’non controversial subjects andndevelopments.nAbortion • Ttie Arms Race • CapitalnPunishment • Genetic Engineering •nShifting Alhances Between Christians andnJews • Feminism and the Family • ThenMeanings of Virtue • Euthanasia —nthese are Just a few of the topics you cannexpect to find in The Religion & SocietynReport.nnn-•’ ,’!]^n-^^^^nciSsfessswS”nBTSn«St)cieryREPCKrnTHE RETURN OFnTHE FAMILYnSS^S^§-n’Special Reports’ bonus for subscribersnAs an added bonus, you, as a subscriber willnreceive ‘Special Reports’ which will placeninto perspective the range of ideas andnarguments on a specific issue — to assistnyou in making your own informednJudgment.nNow being considered for early issues ofnthe Report: Can the pro-life movementnmake inroads into the political left? Can then”religious new right” maintain its impact innpresidential politics? Who will come out onntop in the ongoing battles over taxexemptionnand religious freedom?nSubscribe to ‘the source’nWith your help, The Rockford Institute’snNew York Center on Religion & Society —nand The Religion & Society Report — cannplay a pivotal part in a great renewal — anrenewal that advances both the integrity ofnreligion and the promise of Americanndemocracy. You are invited to subscribe tonThe Religion & Society Report — theninclusive, timely and vigorously independentn’source’ on the interaction of religion andnsociety.nThe Religion & Society ReportnP.O. Box 800 . Rockford, IL 61105nSend me your freshest issue of The Religionn& Society Report and enroll me as a newnsubscribernD $18 enclosed for one year (12 issues)n— $6 off the regular $24 price. If I’m notntotally satisfied with The Religion &nSociety Report, I understand that I mayncancel my subscription and receive a fullnrefund for any issues not yet mailed.nn Bill me.nNamenAddress.nCitynState. Zip.nDECEMBER 1985 / 31n