Educational screen & audio-visual guide (c1956-1971])

Religious Understanding progress of the state of Israel. Some of these show aspects of religious life. But, when more specific information is wanted, we need to give special attention to this subject, and we will often be amazed to liscover how plentiful illustrative material really is. When in the United States I had a unique opportimity along these lines. In so many cities I found religious communities with their origins in foreign and distant lands. Often they were ancient. From members of such groups I 2;ot valuable and reliable information. Thus, I gained a new outlook in their worship and customs. Often I was given permission to take photographs, At other times I foimd stocks of pictures for sale ind for lending. Places of worship are visual aids :o knowledge. They may be close 3y, if you will but seek them out. In New York and San Francisco md other cities you can find hinese temples. Here in Holland 'ou can visit the Mosque at The lague. Synagogues and Jewish emples can be found in many )laces. Attendants and Rabbis are dways glad to show you The Scroll )f The Law, and ceremonial obects. Stained glass windows speak to all who can "read" them, and they will tell their stories to all who will practice reading this visual aid to religious inspiration and understanding. Shrines and museums offer visual aids to all who will go to thein. In Canada, for instance, you can visit St. Joseph's oratory in Montreal. In Toronto there is an immense totem pole sacred to the Indians. Here in Holland you can see some fine examples of Buddha images, and view treasures from ancient Egypt in the Lyden museum. In Germany, at the town of Marburg in Hesse, in an old castle atop a mountain is a great collection of rare models of religious life and manners from all over the world. Those who cannot travel afar may make discoveries in their own neighborhoods. Thus, in the Greyhound Bus Station in Syracuse, N. Y., I came upon a machine dispensing coins with the Lord's prayer upon them. In a big department store I saw a gieat display of rosaries, crucifixes, and holy-water founts, and a gilded bracelet emblematic of the Ten Commandments. In the coat lapel of my seat-mate on a train was a symbol of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Thus, look and ye shall see! Some may wish to gather such things into a filmstrip; others into slides; and still others into a collection — for whatever purpose and use they have in mind. If this is too roundabout, a short-cut will be to go to books and magazines (such as Life), and to journals of religion and architecture. A wealth of materials awaits you. When you select and put them together, be attentive to contrast and climax; and as you work at it you will be stimulated and gratified. Or, if you tire of the visual, you can tmn to the auditory. Try Handel's "Largo," or some Christmas carols, or a disc of the liturgy of the Community of Taixe in France. Or, listen to the call ol a muezzin from a minaret high over a Mosque. Thus in all these ways, and many more, visual and audio aids can enrich and broaden your religious understanding. February, 1959 (Pastor Boeke is a Doctor of Theology. In 1957-58 lie traveled and studied in the U. S. Deeply interested in visual education, he studied at Syracuse University, and attended the International Conference on Audio Visual Aids in Christian Education at Penn State University.) 71