[net.origins] \"The only thing we have to fear . . .\"

arndt@lymph.DEC (04/30/85)

Colin Rafferty says, 'creationists belief stems from a fear of the death
of the entire human race'.  As if it were a sign of a weakness, sort of a
philosophical or emotional limp handshake.

I think that he has it backwards!

It is precisely the 'creationist' believer in a God who has given meaning
to the dance who can bridge the existential gap created by the thought of
the collective as well as the individual death of mankind.  My word, what
is the whole message of Christianity?  "Death where is thy sting?  Death is
swallowed up in victory!" Etc, etc, etc.  BECAUSE PAUL WHO WROTE THOSE LINES
WAS HIMSELF, AND RELIED UPON, THE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE RESURECTION OF
JESUS CHRIST WHICH VALIDATED HIS (CHRIST'S) CLAIMS TO BE GOD APPEARING IN
THE FLESH AND HEALING DEATH.

And remember it is not only the creationists who fear the extinction of the
race.  Perhaps you recall the reviewers panning the novel of Nevile Shute,
ON THE BEACH which depicted the wipe out of mankind by nuclear war.  A
topic of current concern, eh?  The Extentialist movement in philosophy
so recently out of fad built it's appeal on just this point.  So much of
modern art, story and song depicts a fear of extinction.  As does much
strutting and posturing and whistling in the dark that goes on along with
the smarmy sentiments about the individual living on in the life of the
race and so having meaning.

It's so 'modern' and 'young' and 'Rosen' to be unafraid, ain't it.
"Look at me with my health, youth, and low credit card balance, I'm not
afraid of death!"

What does Bill say?  "Life's a stage . . . full of sound and fury . . .
a tale told by an idiot . . . is it noblier in the mind to resist or
kill oneself? . . . . "

Or Robert Lewis in THE RAVEN.  Remember he lost his beloved in the prime
of life.  Want to jump off a bridge, read THE RAVEN, really read his
heart's cry some lonely dark evening.  "Will I ever see my Lenore again?
he asks.  And the raven keeps saying 'Nevermore!'.  

Or go to yet another funeral and hear the vacuous sentiments expressed
in a non-Christian (read non-evangelical) service.

Even those empty phrases about 'us' carrying on are torn from view
in modern life and we realize we can loose the whole bannana!  And some
nitwit stands up in the back and says "Fear not, it's natural."  Like
a high fibre breakfast cereal - 'Death is the breakfast of all mankind.'
Like cuts and bruises, polio and C Interuptus are 'natural'.  But are 
they right, moral, the way things 'ought' to be?  To say that's the way
they ARE is no answer.  Unless you love 'em.

Wait mom.  There's nothing on my slide rule about death!  What a relief.
It's not 'real'.  A non question.  

I spell relief (from death) S C I E N C E !

Preachin' ?  You bet.

Keep chargin'

Ken Arndt

ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) (05/01/85)

> Or Robert Lewis in THE RAVEN.  Remember he lost his beloved in the prime
> of life.  Want to jump off a bridge, read THE RAVEN, really read his
> heart's cry some lonely dark evening.  "Will I ever see my Lenore again?
> he asks.  And the raven keeps saying 'Nevermore!'.  

Edgar WHO?