Page:The Art of Helping People Out of Trouble (1924).pdf/223

 similar testimony to the dynamic qualities of religion. Again and again it is the decisive factor in enabling an individual to overcome his difficulties. Religion shows itself differently in different persons. To one it appears suddenly as in conversion; to another it comes as the growth of a slowly developing conviction. One man receives it through one form of faith, another through another form. This complicates the problem of using it, for the person who is in need of help may require an interpretation of religion different from that offered by the person who desires to help him. Yet so personal a thing is religion that one can express it only as he perceives it. He can give only his own interpretation of religion. This may, indeed, be the wisest thing to do. Often, however, it will happen that the man in trouble already has an approach to religion, one which perhaps may have been little used but which if developed might mean much to him. The best procedure with such a person is to bring him into touch with some one who has this same approach and who may be able to confirm him in it.

There is a valuable suggestion in the practice of social case workers in non-sectarian organizations. Their effort always is to strengthen what-