Religion: Prophecy

Dorothy Thompson’s father was a British-born Methodist lay preacher. Had she followed his will, she would have gone into church work. Instead she became a newspaper pundit. No churchgoer today, Miss Thompson, with her soprano invective, is in some ways like an Old Testament prophet whose voice has not yet changed. Last week she uttered some prophecies for 1940. Among them:

“Throughout the Western World there will be a deepened interest in religion and much speculation on the idea of a Christian society. Intellectual activity will be intense in the Allied countries and among the neutrals.

“The Roman Catholic Church will make great gains, particularly in the United States.

“In all churches, political and social questions will take a predominant place.

“Father Coughlin will become quite mild.”