[net.religion] Why such violence in attacks on Christianity?

cmh@icase.UUCP (03/29/84)

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(Sorry about the bad submission, this is my first try at network news)

   The attacks upon Christianity which have been appearing frequently
in net.religion, net.flame, and net.misc recently are very confusing to
me.  Why do those who oppose Christianity have to resort to the low
level of attacks and accusations that have characterized most of the
articles?  The tone and content of many articles suggest that the people
writing them are deeply offended by the existence of Christianity.  I
suppose that this should not surprise me as much as it does, since the
basic principles of Biblical Christianity do directly challenge the
lifestyles of many.  Nevertheless, the verbal violence of many articles
goes far below any sort of acceptable or justifiable level.
   I am a Christian.  I truly wish that everyone believed as I do, for
I am convinced that the Bible offers the only consistent explanation of
our existence.  I realize that more people disagree with me than agree.
This does not offend me, nor do I find it necessary to question the
intelligence or sanity of those who disagree.  Is asking the same degree
of consideration of my beliefs as I give to the beliefs of others too
much to ask?  I think not.
   To those who consider me to be emotionally unstable and/or intel-
lectually deficient because I believe that the Bible is the divinely
inspired word of God, I respond that I am neither.  I also ask a simple
question.  If I am wrong, if the Bible is false, if there is no God, no
heaven, no hell, and if belief on Jesus Christ will have no effect upon
my eternal destiny, then what will I have lost by having such a belief?
I truly enjoy living.  I have few concerns and no worries or fears.  I
could not possibly be happier than I am.  I suspect that few people can
honestly say the same things.

			C. Michael Holloway

		UUCP: {ihnp4,decvax!mcnc}!burl!icase!cmh

rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo) (04/03/84)

What harm is there is your believing in Biblical Christianity even if
it is false?  Having little regard for truth.  Happiness is not every-
thing:  even a secular document like the U.S. Constitution recognizes
other values, like liberty.  And the old philosophical trinity of
Beauty, Goodness, & Truth does not guarantee happiness at all.

Finally, be specific:  what "violent attacks" on Christianity?  Some
of the contributors are occasionally contemptuous; most aren't.

I'm tired of the VIOLENT (oops, I'm exaggerating) inaccuracy and
chronic misrepresentation of many of the pious who seem to think
that possession of religous zeal exempts them from the usual stan-
dards of debate.

"Why, my ancestors used to feed people like you to big kitties!"

					Cheers,
					Ron Rizzo