Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: brendan@cs.uq.oz.au (Brendan Mahony) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Gay Ordination in the Presbyterian Church Message-ID: Date: 13 Mar 91 09:07:47 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 37 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Moderator: >While I understand that you don't think God is >specifically imposing AIDS as a punishment, this is an impression that >Christians have given, and we need to be careful in our presentations >to avoid it. How are we to watch the pain in our brothers and sisters, and resist telling them that it is because they will not look at the world that God has created? >On the other hand, I do understand that you intended a somewhat >more subtle point than "AIDS-as-a-punishment-from-God." I think >it's fine for Christians to point out that Christian ethics do >have practical advantages, in that we can identify some dangers >that they protect us from. As long as we don't give the impression >that that's all they are. Actually I don't know what else our morals are if they do not give a practical advantage. Are they just terrible disciplines imposed on us by a mean God who hates to see people have fun? Morals direct us to where true happiness may be found in a world which was created by God according to His Will. If we find better ways we should and do change our ethics. -- Brendan Mahony | brendan@batserver.cs.uq.oz Department of Computer Science | heretic: someone who disgrees with you University of Queensland | about something neither of you knows Australia | anything about. [You ask how we are to watch pain in our brothers and sisters without telling them it's because they blew it. I think once people have AIDS it's a little late to tell them about the advantages of monogamy. That sounds like a more appropriate message for other contexts. In working with people who are suffering, I think we need to be very careful to avoid saying things that might reasonably look like (or be) gloating. --clh]