Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: art@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Arthur L Miller) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: cults Message-ID: Date: 7 Mar 91 08:37:27 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Northwestern University Lines: 35 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article ph600fev@sdcc14.ucsd.edu (Robert O'Barr) writes: > > I'm sure that according to the Jews in the days of Jesus, he and >his followers would be labeled a "cult" in that they fit each and >every one of these conditions. I agree completely. >Anyways, as christians, we should >respect the beliefs of others (as we expect them to respect our >beliefs) and not go around trying to destroy their beliefs. If they >show an interest in discussing their beliefs, fine, but it is >un-christian to go around destroying the faiths of any whom we >think "unorthadox". I also agree that we should _respect_ the beliefs of others, but I dispute your claim that it is "un-christian" to challenge the faiths of others. On the contrary, Christ himself constantly challenged much of what the religious establishment of the day stood for: burdensome legalism, traditions that took the place of worship, and selfish concern rather than devotion to God. I do NOT believe that we should just look to argue with those of different beliefs. However, we certainly should not accept the views of anyone simply because he calls himself a Christian. If we have solid convictions about what we believe as supported by God's Word, it is probably inevitable that we will be drawn into discussions that challenge others' beliefs. I welcome challenges to my beliefs--it solidifies my convictions. -- Arthur Miller | art@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Northwestern University | "Evolution: A few links & a missing chain." Class of 1991 | -- Dave Eastman