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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: one_less who wrote (41136)	12/18/2001 4:31:20 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. There is not a single reference to Christianity in this definition of minister used as a noun, and indeed the definition which concerns sacramental duties appears fifth of five definitions, and that doesn't mention any particular religion or faith. (And keep in mind that the Jews, the Greeks, the Incas, and many other civilizations had altars.). The first definition, interestingly, refers to the use in the Old Testament, written long before there was any such thing as Christianity. Of course, you may consider your own definitions of words to be superior to that of Webster's unabridged dictionary. If so, fine. I don't. minister \Min"is*ter\, n. [OE. ministre, F. ministre, fr. L. minister, orig. a double comparative from the root of minor less, and hence meaning, an inferior, a servant. See 1st Minor, and cf. Master, Minstrel.] 1. A servant; a subordinate; an officer or assistant of inferior rank; hence, an agent, an instrument. Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua. --Ex. xxiv. 13. I chose Camillo for the minister, to poison My friend Polixenes. --Shak. 2. An officer of justice. [Obs.] I cry out the on the ministres, quod he, That shoulde keep and rule this cit['e]. --Chaucer. 3. One to whom the sovereign or executive head of a government intrusts the management of affairs of state, or some department of such affairs. Ministers to kings, whose eyes, ears, and hands they are, must be answerable to God and man. --Bacon. 4. A representative of a government, sent to the court, or seat of government, of a foreign nation to transact diplomatic business. Note: Ambassadors are classed (in the diplomatic sense) in the first rank of public ministers, ministers plenipotentiary in the second. ``The United States diplomatic service employs two classes of ministers, -- ministers plenipotentiary and ministers resident.'' --Abbott. 5. One who serves at the altar; one who performs sacerdotal duties; the pastor of a church duly authorized or licensed to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments. --Addison. Syn: Delegate; official; ambassador; clergyman; parson; priest. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. Edit: Note that although you said the term had Christian "rootings," it was used long before the birth of Christ. So I'm not sure what you mean by rootings, but if you mean the roots of words, wrong.