laura@utcsstat.UUCP (06/12/83)
A few days ago I posted an article asking how people would reform a religion. I am still interested, seeing as a religion seems to me an easier thing to reform than (say) a government; it is fair to assume that all serious practitioners of a religion which claims to favour "good" over "evil" should be full of people who wish to do the right thing. So far, I havent had any replies which address the problem, but it is very early. What I have had, though, is four letters from people who think that members of any religion should *not* publicise shortcomings of the actual practice (as opposed to the ideal practice) of that religion anywhere where non-members can get a hold of them. In short, they resented that I let the whole net world onto the secret that there are some bigots in the Catholic Church. I dont think that the ostrich in the sand theory is a very good one. I would doubt the thinking ability of people who denied quite evident but unpleasnt truths. I think that the RC Church has about the worst reputation of any Christian Church except perhaps the Creationists among non-Christians, and the worst reputaion within Christianity but outside of Catholicism. So what is there to lose anyway? what do you think, gang? laura
rh@mit-eddi.UUCP (Randy Haskins) (06/24/83)
Bigots within the Catholic Church? Hah!!! I went to a Baptist school in Florida (read, Southern Baptist: hell-fire and brimstone). A few years after I left, I heard talk that the administration considered admitting some Black students, and that many of the teachers subsequently threatened to quit if this were done. I'm not sure, but I think it wasn't done. In fourth grade, I was paddled. My crime? I said the word 'dang' on the playground (tattling was the vogue there. Probably a better place in God's kingdom for those who bring heathens like me to the 'path of righteousness.' As I tried to explain to the teacher, although the kiddies thought I said the bad word, I had only said 'dang.' She said that I was probably lying, since so many of the (illiterate, brain-washed) kids said they heard me say 'damn.' Even if I was telling the truth, even though I said 'dang,' I must've meant 'damn.' How's that for reasoning? I am still a Christian, because I like the Unitarian religion, and I do believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ. I just wish those Bible-thumpers wouldn't call themselves Christians; it gives us real Christians a bad name. "Onward, Christian soldiers" Randy
mat@hou5e.UUCP (06/25/83)
Well, I recall a news item from a few years ago. Someone in NYC was trying to see if there was a legal way to make the private (ie parochial) schools in that town conform to the same forced bussing for integration rules as the public school system. They found out, to the chagrin of all concerned, that the church-run schools in general had more minority students and a better ``mix'' than almost any of the forcibly integrated public schools. Further, in some church-run schools, the ``native'' denomination is in the minority! I don't know whether or not this includes any of the Catholic schools; I am thinking of Grace Church School in particular. The Law of Christ is LOVE. Love that says that the other fellow is more important than I am. I hope that we learn this -- all of us -- and soon. Our disturbed society is reeling in a deranged world. The last thing we need is more hatred in Jesus name. Mark Terribile