Religion: Christmas 1945

(See Cover)

Peace and homecoming, peace and homecoming rang like the clangor of Christmas bells in the heart of nearly every American last week.

For most Americans, on the first Christmas without war since 1938, these two facts transcended all others: peace (at least, the cessation of major war) had come back to earth; millions of U.S. fighting men, now a peaceful army of longed-for occupation, were streaming back to their homes. As families were reunited, often after years of separation, it was small wonder if the Christmas desire to give turned, as a result...