dap1@ihlpf.UUCP (06/01/83)
#N:ihlpf:22600011: 0:3346 ihlpf!dap1 May 31 19:19:00 1983 I submitted something several days ago and have yet to see anything on it. I tried way to be very even handed about it but it seems that the only to get a response is to call someone an idiot on the net. Well, I'm not going to do that but I can only assume that lack of response on this last listing will indicate that none of the Christians have any good answers. Please, prove me wrong! ***** ihlpf:net.religion / dap1 / 7:21 pm May 24, 1983 I think Jeff made some good points but there are a couple more points which I have brought up before and never got any response to. The first is why I, as a nonbeliever, should accept Christian "miracles" over Hindu, Moslem or Moonie "miracles"? You can get the same stories of "miraculous conversions" and "overnight drug withdrawals" from most moonies. What's more, I believe these people are just as sincere as any Christian. Does anybody really believe that the stories these people tell are out and out lies? Why are their stories any less credible than those of Christians? Of course, if you believe that such a miracle has occurred in your life, these questions have no meaning but why should a nonbeliever give your stories any more credence than anybody else's? The second question applies whether you are a believer or nonbeliever and regards the cultural influence on one's choice of religions. Why is it that religions tend to take on regional boundaries? Such a question is easy to answer in terms of tastes for food and clothing. Why do the English prefer tea and Americans prefer Big Macs (Apologies to Wendy's and Burger King fans)? That's an easy one, it's the culture. Why is it that Arabians prefer turbans and Americans prefer baseball hats? Again it's the culture. (These examples are not meant to be sweeping generalizations, true to a man, but general cultural trends) Of course, the question I am leading up to is "Why are most Americans and Europeans Christian while most Iranians are Moslem, Chinese are Buddhist, etc., etc.?" Most Christians will claim that they chose their faith after careful observance of the facts. In fact, they will often claim that such observances literally force them to their conclusions. Is it just coincidence then, that most of the people on this side of the Pacific came up with the "right" conclusions but most of the people on the other side made apparent blunders in their logic? Statements from Christians calling Christianity the "largest religion in the world" tend to reinforce the conclusion that their choices came more from cultural bias than from an objective search for some type of rational truth. In essence, I claim that those Christians who hold such strong convictions might hold very different convictions, and just as fervently, if they had been born in a different culture. I don't believe that God has a place in the answer to this question whether you are a nonbeliever or not. I am not questioning his existence, power to perform miracles, inspiration of the Bible or any other Christian teachings (at least not in this question). The question is, why did most Americans happen to stumble on the "right" answer and most Chinese didn't? The only place God has in this question is if he intentionally caused these religous boundaries. Thanks for any replies, Darrell Plank BTL-IH ----------