Home  >  Features  >  Looking Back

Looking Back: April 1950

Image: archives-pic_cropped.jpg

In the 1950s, the Hydrogen Bomb took over from the Atomic Bomb as the most feared weapon of mass destruction. More powerful than the A-bomb, the H-Bomb was never dropped on any 'target' though before testing went underground, the crew of a Japanese fishing boat that accidentally sailed into testing range, died due to radiation poisoning.

The WCC, horrified by the creation of the H-bomb, issued this statement, condemning the invention, in the strongest possible terms.


The Hydrogen Bomb

World Council of Churches’ Appeal

A grave appeal to the Governments of the Nations for a new effort to avert the danger of world suicide through the use of the Hydrogen Bomb and other weapons of the modern war was made by the executive committee of the World Council of Churches which met in Geneva in February under the chairmanship of the Bishop of Chichester.

The Committee, which acts on behalf of 155 member Churches in 44 countries, issued the following statement :-

“The Hydrogen Bomb is the latest and most terrible step in the crescendo of warfare which has changed war from a fight between men and nations to a mass murder of human life. Man’s rebellion against his Creator has reached such a point that, unless stayed, it will bring a self-destruction upon him. All this is a perversion; it is a sin against God.

“All men have responsibilities before God as they face the grave issues raised by the Hydrogen Bomb and other weapons of modern war. Let each ponder in his conscience, be he statesman, or scientist or ordinary citizen, how far his own action or attitude contributes to the danger f world suicide; and what he must do to prevent it, and to bring the nations to understand and serve another.

“The Governments of the nations have an inescapable responsibility at this hour. The world is divided into hostile camps through suspicion and distrust, and through the failure of the nations to bring their mutual relations within an agreed system of justice and order. As representatives of Christian Churches, we …urge the Governments to enter into negotiations once again, and do everything in their power to bring the present tragic deadlock to an end.

“This is the hour to listen afresh to the Word of God Who is the Lord of history. And this is the hour for earnest prayer to Him. For the fate of mankind is in His hands. Those who trust Him do not need to fear, whatever comes. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. All are to appear before His judgement seat, and to give an account of what they have done, or have refused to do, for their fellow men.”


Previous: In Memory of Sir Harry Lauder

Looking Back Menu

Our cookies

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website.
You can allow or reject non essential cookies or manage them individually.

Reject allAllow all

More options  •  Cookie policy

Our cookies

Allow all

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website. You can allow all or manage them individually.

You can find out more on our cookie page at any time.

EssentialThese cookies are needed for essential functions such as logging in and making payments. Standard cookies can't be switched off and they don't store any of your information.
AnalyticsThese cookies help us collect information such as how many people are using our site or which pages are popular to help us improve customer experience. Switching off these cookies will reduce our ability to gather information to improve the experience.
FunctionalThese cookies are related to features that make your experience better. They enable basic functions such as social media sharing. Switching off these cookies will mean that areas of our website can't work properly.
AdvertisingThese cookies help us to learn what you're interested in so we can show you relevant adverts on other websites and track the effectiveness of our advertising.
PersonalisationThese cookies help us to learn what you're interested in so we can show you relevant content.

Save preferences