Article October 17, 1959 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Raymond L. Cox, Art Steele

Raymond L. Cox
in The Salvation Army War Cry
Chicago, Illinois

Some parents...hesitate to exert religious influence on their offspring, preferring to "let the children decide themselves at a mature age" about matters of faith.

Such a man was John Thelwall. On a sultry summer day in 1830 he sat with his neighbor, Samuel Coleridge, the noted English author. The discussion drifted from agriculture to religion, whereupon Thelwall said firmly, "It isn't right for parents to try to influence children's thinking about religion. Let the children make up their own minds about such things after they grow up!"

Send a comment to the editors

This is the end of the issue. Ready to explore further?

Online features Audio