V6M@PSUVM.BITNET (02/05/85)
I admit that my postings sounded abrasive here and in other news groups and
for all of the times I hurt some else's feelings I am sorry.
I don't expect Catholicism to become the law of the land nor do I expect
Fundamentalism to be either. I do feel that there has been a deep religious
crisis in the country in all sects within the last 20 years, and that de facto
the secular ideology has gained the upper hand. I have been told by my
friends that this is changing, with the Charismatic Movement
AND THE "BORN AGAIN MOVEMENT" AS PRIME EXAMPLES.
IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THE TONE OF MY POSTING THAT I AM CONVINCED THAT
A. MY CHURCH IS CORRECT
B. MY POSTINGS ON TOPICS GIVE A VALID SOLUTION AND OR DISCUSSION SINCE I
BASE THEM ON (A.) OR PHYSICAL OBSERVATION AND I USUALLY TRY TO CITE.
UNFORTUNATLY PLEASE DON'T ASSUME THAT I AM ABLE TO LIVE MY LIFE AS RIGOROUSLY
AS SHOULD OR WISH TO.
IT IS ALSO OBVIOUS THAT MOST OTHER POSTERS ON THE NET FEEL THE SAME LEVEL OF
CONVICTION, WHETHER THEY BE CHRISTIAN OR NOT.
IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT POSTING WITHOUT CONVICTION IN YOUR POSITION IS
MEANINGLESS WHETHER IT BE THEISTIC OR ATHEISTIC.
IT SEEMS OBVIOUS ALSO THAT ALL OF US CAN'T BE RIGHT AND THEREFOR,
BEING AS COMMITTED AS WE ARE, POSTERS WILL POINT OUT THE ERRORS OF OTHER
POSTERS, ALL DONE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE **OBJECTORS** REASONING.
NO MATTER HOW RIGHT WE FEEL WE MUST **TRY** (AND OCCASSIONALLY FAIL) TO
REMEMBER THAT THE OTHER GUY IS ACTING IAW HIS/HER CONSCIENCE. EVEN IF
WRONG. WE MUST ALLOW THE OTHER GUY TO BE WRONG.
WHEN CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING DIFFERENCES IN THEIR SECTS WE HAVE BEEN
REMARKABLY PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER. SEE THE DISCUSSION ON THE TRINITY AS A
WONDERFUL EXAMPLE. ALL OF MY ASCERBIC HUMOR WAS NOT AIMED AT OTHER CHRISTIANS
SINCE I FELT WE ALL UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM OF MYSTERY AND FACT AND LOGIC. IT
WAS PARTLY AN ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT INCOMING CRITICISM AND TO ADMIT TO OURSELVE
HUMOROUSLY, THE OBJECTIONS WHICH NON-CHRISTIANS HAVE ON THE TRINITY.
I HAVE NO OBJECTIONS OF HOW WE HAVE TREATED EACH OTHER. WE MAY NEED TO BE
LESS STRIDENT IN OUR DEALINGS WITH NON-CHRISTIANS BUT WE MUST DO THIS
WITHOUT COMPROMISING OUR BASIC BELIEFS.
IF ***ANYBODY*** HAS CLARIFICATIONS THEY WANT ON ROMAN CATHOLICISM THEN
LETS DISCUSS THEM ON THE NET OR MAIL THEM TO ME PRIVATELY AND I WILL
****REASEARCH**** THEM QUOTING HIGHER AUTHORITY. I HAVE NO PERSONAL
AUTHORITY, BUT I HAD SOME ******GREAT****** TEACHERS.
MARCHIONNI V6M@PSUVM THROUGH BITNET