Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: cc5h+@andrew.cmu.edu (Charles Robert Claydon) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The Ongoing Inquisition Message-ID: Date: 11 May 91 03:08:28 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 47 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu BZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! Sorry! Wrong again...!!!! The inquisition, or any persecution of people based upon faith, creed, value, (or desire of influence, which is probably closer in all cases) is not only not uniquely Catholic, it is not uniquely Christian! It is, in fact, uniquely HUMAN!!! This, once again, seems to be what is called the search for positive evidence, attributing traits to "other groups" which are general human traits, you pick the term, you pick the field of knowledge, it's the same thing... Basically, "inquisitons" of any sort, are common to all groups of all cultures of all time periods. In other words, they are common to people. Well, not to any people, but people in power... Sure, some "Christians" (more likely people identifying themselves as such to gain power...but that's another story) have used Christianity to do this. But this is hardly unique to Christianity. Lest we forget, Romans and Jews did this, and Christians were some of the ones singled out...more recently, Communists and Fascists did this with anyone _they_ didn't agree with. The basic principle is that sometimes people in power are so desperate to maintain that power that they do anything, even kill whole groups of people who threaten it, to maintain (or increase) that power. It basically says nothing more than that people tend to be Machiavellian with power--oooh! Big revelation there (can you say "sin" boys and girls? Very good, I knew you could!!! :-) Well, why do people attribute this trait to Christianity? Well, people who are looking to defame Christians pin this label, along with others, on Christians (OOOHHH, can you say "stereotype", boys and girls? It is another trait rather common to people). Well, before I flame Lonnie too bad, I should point out that I like the point that Christians shouldn't take part in this... just because people do it, _definately_ doesn't make it right (I think Christ was pretty clear about it). And I also agree that when we do it, it tends to defame Christ and Christianity, mainly because people have somehow associated this trait to Christians, and seem to be on the lookout for it more in Christians. Why? I don't know. It certainly isn't more true of "Christians" (in the cultural sense of the word) than other groups (ie: people have a sinful lust and greed for power). But, if we can avoid it, I, for one, think it can point out how, in Christ, we can overcome the ways of the world, and stick out and show that we can overcome and live for a higher cause than worldly gain... Rob