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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Grainne who wrote (69851)	1/1/2000 5:29:00 PM
From: Chris land	Respond to of 108807

Christianity will not be the scapegoat for any societies shortcomings. Have you forgotten that the first schools in America were Christian in nature? Have you forgotten the services offered by Christians to the homeless, the forsaken, the hungry? Why do you fight against Christians? Is it because it's the only religion that affects you conscience? Is there any religion on the face of the earth that offers as much as Christianity? Does the devil allah give a d%$& about your eternal destiny? How about those eastern mystics? Does Confucious offer any consolation? Jesus said, come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. What is so wrong with that? Chris

To: Grainne who wrote (69851)	1/1/2000 8:59:00 PM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 108807

Catching up with the mail can be a bear -- First, I would be careful in confusing "Christianity" with people in positions of Christian authority, many of whom were/are deeply **ed up. BTW, have you ever read " A World Lit Only By Fire," a brief and engaging account of the middle ages by Wm Manchester. I recommend it. No shortage of wagging fingers at all sorts of popes and pretenders. The point you make is a rich basis for historical discussion -- not so much theological discussion. As I have suggested before, why argue endlessly when proof, on both sides, is lacking. I squarely challenge your statement that European culture has been damaging (in an overall sense) in the eyes of the rest of the planet. Feel free to argue this. You might need far less dentistry, but what you had to endure would be painful and sometimes deadly. Wisdom teeth don't know from sugar and flour. By the way, did you know, based on western progress, for the most part, the life expectancy of people in first world countries jumped about 30 years in the 20th century? I think that's a good thing. Neither religion nor government have to be benevolent to retain power, (although maintaining such an illusion is useful). Assuming that people can have common values and act with utter respect toward their neighbors is suspect in my eyes. Most of us act in self interest and "enough" is never "enough." Re separation of church and state -- fine by me. Secular government wants to tell you what to do with your money and other property. Religious authority wants to tell you what to do with what's in your underpants. When you think about it, the Y2K thing to do would be to combine these powers. We could save money, don't you think? And, various religious rites and practices could be incorporated into stuff like registering your car -- Church of the Holy Motor Voter and all that! I am definitely saying that respect for individuality and individual rights can be taken to extremes that are unhealthy. If you are a wolf but insist on acting and looking like a sheep, the other wolves will either abandon you or eat you as there is NOTHING you are doing in the common interest. If a person needs to be REALLY different, he would do well to leave society altogether. The German/Jew thing is way too broad for me to get started on here. Please forgive me. I am not ignoring you. Some other night, OK. I am glad to be a Christian and I am pleased to be a member of this "dominating group." I believe in hierarchies -- it is the natural way. It's good to be king. I don't apologize and I do not wish to concede one inch of my standing in the interest of fairness or equality or anything else. The one foundation of raising my children was -- someone has to be in charge -- I think it's best if it's me. I think I see the world in very broad terms and I think I respect that which is different but I'm not a bit interested in "trading places." On hate crimes, all kinds of people commit them in all kinds of "names". Why do you single out Christianity? **** I would love to talk to you about Greece. But I become exhausted trying to answer the mail. It's early yet. Maybe I'll rally. Mike