Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!know!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mls@sfsup.att.com (Mike Siemon) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Jesus' resurrection Message-ID: Date: 29 Oct 90 05:54:00 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 50 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , virtech!tracy@uunet.uu.net (Tracy L. Brooks) writes: > I'm just writing to ask if anyone has read the jokes in > rec.humor about the easter kit or sacreligious jokes? > I can't believe people can be that way. Making jokes about > the Lord! I've gotten flamed a lot of times but I don't care. > They definitely will experience the wrath of God!!! Well, I don't follow rec.humor.*; and I don't propose to start now. There are far too many people who think they are being funny and clever when all that is evident to me is malice. I don't blame you if you find much in these groups offensive. But there is a deeper question lurking here. There's quite a lot of joking around at seminary [I live at one, though my involvement is peripheral -- I'm not a student nor a staff member; I just live here] about God, some of it not obviously "reverent." Part of the mode is an odd (and I think understandable) combination of intimacy with God and humility and distancing from any arrogant claim that *institutional* connection with God is anything to brag about. That said, much of *our* joking would probably be felt as irreverent by the terribly earnest and non-self-conscious evangelical types. There are some definite limits, even if *my* behaviour might not seem limited when observed by a fundamentalist Southern Baptist. I would rather die than say *anything* that (*I* thought) was disrespectful, or mocking, of God. That is, for me, blasphemy is *obviously* sinful -- and at the same time no temptation at all. Does it hurt me if nonbelievers utter nasty things about my God? Well, yes; but how can it be anything *against them* if they have no belief? Any kind of joking (the "easter kit" you mention or any other) or bad-mouthing is misdirected if spoken by those who regard our God as at best a myth. These are mere words, said by those who THINK they have no meaning beyond a certain (supposedly) clever manipulation of standard cultural tokens. If such words are *meant* to wound, then any sin is comprised by that intent, or its consequent hurt. Not by the "content" of the expression. In short, I cannot conceive of a believer blaspheming, and other than "protecting delicate ears" (which hardly seems relevant if we are to be occupied bearing our crosses to our own personal Calvaries), what possible good could it do to "prohibit" nonbelievers -- who have no reason to respect our prejudices -- from exhibiting their disrespect? -- Michael L. Siemon Inflict Thy promises with each m.siemon@ATT.COM Occasion of distress, ...!att!sfsup!mls That from our incoherence we standard disclaimer May learn to put our trust in Thee