nlt@duke.UUCP (N. L. Tinkham) (03/28/85)
[*]
It has taken awhile, but I am finally coming to realize that some
of the assumptions I make about the net.religion readers may be in error.
In particular: I have been assuming that most net.religion readers
have enough of a working knowledge of Christianity that they are able
to discern whether a given position is representative of one or more
of the major Christian traditions. And I have been applying this assumption to
Don Black's articles: It is obvious to me that "Identity Christianity"
holds many views which are contrary to those of orthodox Christianity;
I assumed it was obvious to everyone else -- so obvious that it was not
worth stating.
Those of you who have complained about silence: Are you honestly
claiming that "Identity" sounds so much like the teachings of the
major Christian traditions that you cannot distinguish them?
Do you truly believe that it is safe to assume that a Christian is
passionately anti-Semitic until he proves himself otherwise?
For those who need someone to state the painfully obvious, here
it is: The torture and execution of millions of Jews and others
under the Nazis was a horror and an abomination which must never,
ever be repeated. I, too, was stunned to read Byron's article pointing
out that there are groups today which consider this to have been
an acceptable action, and that "Identity" is apparently among them.
Should a group like that ever begin to come to power in this country,
I would use any moral means at my disposal to oppose them.
Is that a clear enough statement?
N. L. Tinkham
duke!nltlaura@utzoo.UUCP (Laura Creighton) (03/29/85)
The problem I have with Christianity is that, although I can tell a lot of orthadox positions from Black's positions, it isn't at all what I care about. By saying ``Black is unorthadox'' I may have protected the sacred/holy/revered/whatever name ``Christianity'' from association with Black's beliefs, but protecting names just isn't all that important to me. I am much more interested in protecting other people from the Identity Christians. What I am sincerely worried about is that the bulk of Christians have some faith in God's/the Religious Leaders/Somebody Other Than Me 's ability to keep horrible things from being done by unorthadox Christians in the name of Christianity. There is a tendancy for all members of any group X to believe that all members of group X are ``just like me''. I wonder how many Christians fall under this category? What I find shocking is this: Lots of Christians were quick to denounce Mormons as not being Christians -- lots of Christians were quick to denounce homosexuals as not being Christians as long as they felt that homosexuality was not a sin). It was clearly believed that to have these certain beliefs associated with Christianity was vile and odious to many Christians. SO WHERE IS THE EQUAL AMOUNT OF CONDEMNATION OF IDENTITY CHRISTIANITY BY CHRISTIANS? I am *still* waiting.... i can't help but think that there are Christians out there who think that homosexuals and Mormons are very dangerous threats and that the Identity Christians are not. I know, this belief is very hard to take seriously, but I cannot account for the silence on this issue at the same time as Mormons and homosexuals are subject to renunciation by Christians. Laura Creighton utzoo!laura
rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Dr. Emmanuel Wu) (04/01/85)
> The problem I have with Christianity is that, although I can tell a > lot of orthadox positions from Black's positions, it isn't at all > what I care about. By saying ``Black is unorthadox'' I may have protected > the sacred/holy/revered/whatever name ``Christianity'' from association > with Black's beliefs, but protecting names just isn't all that important > to me. I am much more interested in protecting other people from the > Identity Christians. > > What I am sincerely worried about is that the bulk of Christians have > some faith in God's/the Religious Leaders/Somebody Other Than Me 's > ability to keep horrible things from being done by unorthadox Christians > in the name of Christianity. > > Lots of Christians were quick to denounce Mormons as not being Christians -- > lots of Christians were quick to denounce homosexuals as not being > Christians as long as they felt that homosexuality was not a sin). > It was clearly believed that to have these certain beliefs associated with > Christianity was vile and odious to many Christians. SO WHERE IS THE EQUAL > AMOUNT OF CONDEMNATION OF IDENTITY CHRISTIANITY BY CHRISTIANS? I am *still* > waiting.... As I was, and still am... (Thanks, Laura.) -- Otology recapitulates phonology. Rich Rosen ihnp4!pyuxd!rlr