(Jewish Dally Bulletin)
Declining intellectuality among the clergy is due to congregations, Rabbi Edward L. Israel said in a sermon at Har Sinai Temple. In connection with his views he discussed two recent novels, “Elmer Gantry,” by Sinclair Lewis, and “Death Comes to the Archbishop,” by Willa Cather.
Congregations admire the intellectual clergyman, but they do not want-to listen to him, Dr. Israel said.
“The intellectual minister,” he continued, “is usually kicked upstairs into a theological school while the encouragement of the public approbation goes to the sensationalist who delights huge congregations with sermons on such subjects as ‘Would You Like Your Mother to Go in Bathing without Stockings?'”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
