The Snohomish Pulpit and the 'Spirit of Indifference'
A local sermon challenges the congregation to stop treating religion as mere entertainment and instead fight for their beliefs in an era of rapid scientific change.
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In a sermon delivered in Snohomish, the speaker exhorts the congregation to embrace the 'Liberal Christian Faith' with the same vigor one would apply to any great struggle. The speaker argues that religious progress—much like the growth of an oak from an acorn—must necessarily evolve to incorporate modern scientific truths, from the Copernican theory to the discoveries of Darwin. He laments that while many congregants claim to be 'liberal,' they are simply indifferent, attending church for amusement rather than conviction. 'Many are liberal because they are nothing else,' the preacher notes. 'Fight for their faith? They wouldn't give a cigar for it.' He urges his listeners to move beyond this 'spirit of indifference' and commit to a life of active devotion, treating their beliefs as a battle for the soul.
“Many are liberal because they are nothing else. Fight for their faith? They wouldn't give a cigar for it.”
This sermon reflects a classic tension in Snohomish’s history—the struggle to reconcile tradition with a rapidly changing scientific and social landscape. Much like today’s polarized public discourse, the speaker laments that people prefer the comfort of 'nothingness' or surface-level engagement over the hard, often uncomfortable work of holding deep, active convictions.
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