cle@cbnewse.ATT.COM (carole esposito) (10/23/89)
In Resonse to Hans W. Zegerius' article "PUNGENT AND PERTINENT" I can't agree with Kamram Hakim's reaction to it, ie., that >It saddens me to see >that a respected religious leader should write such an article. I hope that I am in full agreement with Mr. Zeregius that multi-religious prayers should not be a part of the school day. I base this believe first on scripture, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6) It is my God-given responsibility to train my child., and secondly, I would not want my child confused by the introduction of many types of religions, and certainly would not want my child to be required to participate (note I say "child.") On the topic of Baha'ism, I know little of it. If it is at all similar to New Age religion (of which I do know) I would run as fast as possible from it. That is neither a statement of attack on Baha'ism or one on New Age. It is simply obeying scripture. John 3:18 states: "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." You see, for Christians, Jesus is mutually exclusive of all other beliefs, ie., one truth, one path, NOT one truth, many paths. About Mr. Hakim's other statement: >I hope that >such articles does not widen the gap of mutual understanding and friendship >between the followers of various religions in the fast shrinking world of >today. For me to say Baha'ism is Pagan does not make a practitioner of Baha'ism my enemy. I can still be (and am) friends with persons of many different beliefs; I simply cannot accept their beliefs because those beliefs do not provide for salvation. It isn't a judgement on the person, merely on the belief, and I didn't make the judgement, God did (again John 3:18). Of course, I don't go around telling my non-Christian friends they're not saved (unless they ask!) I didn't get the impression Mr. Zegerius was attacking Baha'ism or any other religion, simply warning his readers of the danger to the Christian family. That is the job of prophets, to warn us and keep us on the straight and narrow (like Jonah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, et al.). Jesus was never afraid of widening the gap between Himself and the Pharisees--He merely spoke the truth (in love).
hwt@bnr-fos.uucp (Henry Troup) (10/25/89)
[This is a followup to the thread about the Toronto Bd. of Education's experiment in multi-religious prayer. Kamran Hakim considered an article (quoted from a hardcopy publication) by Hans Zegerius' to be anti-Baha'i, as it condemned the multi-religious prayer by saying it was creating a Baha'i mindset. Carole Esposito responded >I didn't get the impression Mr. Zegerius was attacking Baha'ism or any >other religion, simply warning his readers of the danger to the Christian >family. --clh] I have two immediate responses: 1)Mr. Zegerius seem to me to be attacking Baha'i under the pretext of discussing public school prayer 2) The issue of public school prayer is worh discussing, and Mr. Zegerius has muddied the waters most skillfully. Really, the second is the most relevant to this forum. Firstly, let us think on what we mean by 'prayer' and 'public school prayer'. There seems to be little that is of real religious value to lining up every student and coercing them into repeating any set of words together. In fact, many children acquire a justifiable dislike for this kind of religion. I live (as does Mr. Zegerius) in Canada, which does not have constitutional separation of church and state. However, the notion that the state funded schools should force one religion down everyone's throat seems to me quite repugnant. In fact, although less violent, it reminds me of medieval times when Jews were pushed into rivers at sword point, the words of baptism said over them, and then told they were Christians. I do not accept that the truth of Christianity makes all other religions false. I'm aware of the New Testament verses relevant here; but my belief in the infinite mercy of God is unbounded. However, neither am I in favor of the religious mish-mash taught and or used as opening exercises. I remember my grade eight teacher telling her class that Moslems worshipped Muhammed Ali. Let's get 'religion' out of the state schools altogether. The use of one form of opening exercise (e.g. the Lord's Prayer) with the standard provision that 'anyone may leave the room' is an invitation to casual religious prejudice in the school yard. I won't exaggerate that - but it may sometimes be the root of something worse. utgpu!bnr-vpa!bnr-fos!hwt%bmerh490 | BNR is not | All that evil requires hwt@bnr.ca (BITNET/NETNORTH) | responsible for | is that good men do (613) 765-2337 (Voice) | my opinions | nothing.
davem@watmath.waterloo.edu (Dave Mielke) (10/27/89)
In article <Oct.25.05.25.28.1989.24964@athos.rutgers.edu> !hwt@bnr-fos.uucp (Henry Troup) writes: >I do not accept that the truth of Christianity makes all other religions >false. I'm aware of the New Testament verses relevant here; but my belief >in the infinite mercy of God is unbounded. Matthew 4:7 says "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.". Matthew 12:30 says "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.". Romans 6:16 says "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?". Dave Mielke, 613-726-0014 856 Grenon Avenue Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2B 6G3