Religion: What Is a Christian? (II)

After six weeks of pondering, Iowa Judge Shannon B. Charlton finally made up his mind on a question before the court: Was Methodist William B. Small of Waterloo unmistakably clear in his instructions when he left the income from $75,000 of his estate for the benefit of "persons who believe in the fundamental principles of the Christian religion"? (TIME, Oct. 22.) Judge Charlton's answer: no.

Among Christians, he said, "there is widespread lack of accord in their characterizations of the man Jesus and in their interpretations and applications of his teachings." Furthermore, in "an organized society of human beings founded upon the principle of separation of church and state," the courts cannot furnish a clarifying definition of Christian fundamentals themselves. Judge Charlton ordered the trustees of William Small's estate to hand over the assets to eight nieces and nephews.