The Complete Prose of T. S. Eliot: The Critical EditionVol. 6: The War Years, 1940-1946

Christian Belief. To the Editor of The Times Educational Supplement

The Times Educational Supplement(6 Mar 1943) 115

Sir, – I observe that in a letter which appears in your issue of February 20, entitled “To End the Dual System” (the system of which the Archbishop of Canterbury said on June 3, 1942, “if we wish to avoid totalitarianism we must realize that there is a merit in the very duality of the dual system”), ¹ several eminent persons commit themselves to this assertion: “We hold that the Christian belief common to the Christian Churches heavily outweighs denominational differences.” ²

These words embody a doctrine which is coming to be widely held, a doctrine favoured by all the circumstances of tide, wind, and current, which will carry it to its place among the idées reçuesof the time. ³ For those who already accept it, this doctrine is probably now beyond examination. Those who do not find it self-evident, but regard it as open to discussion, can form some conclusions as to its probable consequences, from a careful study of the Proposed Scheme for Church Union in South India. ⁴

t. s. eliot Shamley Green, Surrey