One of the great needs of mankind today, perhaps the greatest, is to find a sound basis for mutual understanding between the peoples of the earth. A multiplicity of languages and tongues would seem to make communication difficult, sometimes impossible, and so often this is the cause of misunderstanding. Down the ages attempts have been made, and still are being made, to overcome this barrier to complete understanding between the races, and much has been accomplished in this direction.
The learning of foreign languages has become an important part of normal education in the major nations, and it is becoming progressively easier for individuals to converse with those of other tongues. Statesmen, politicians, educators, economists, religionists are now able to communicate, either directly or through an interpreter, with other peoples, and this surely opens up greater opportunity for clearer understanding and, occasionally, agreement.
There is much to be healed both in international and interracial difficulties— misunderstanding, lawlessness, greed, pride of power, idolatry, as well as fear, disease, low standards of living, ignorance, and so on. As human barriers of communication are broken down, a greater understanding of the dignity of man and of man's essential brotherhood is becoming apparent. It is obvious, however, that communication through human language is not proving adequate to the actual healing of national and racial misunderstanding. There is still much prayerful effort to be made. The solution can come only through a clearer, more universal understanding of the allness of God, Spirit, and the unity of God's idea, man, with his divine source; in other words, through communication based on spiritual understanding.
