From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad:tektronix!tekmdp!dadla!dadla-b!hutch
Newsgroups: net.religion
Title: Re: The-week-in-review
Article-I.D.: dadla-b.402
Posted: Tue Mar 29 11:34:12 1983
Received: Thu Mar 31 03:41:54 1983
References: qubix.181

REgarding Larry Bickford's article on the week in review.

Larry, I found one tiny problem with your logical analysis.  You assert that
all religions are mutually exclusive, this is patently and totally untrue.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, in their normative (common) forms are
all exclusive of other religions, with the primary basis in Christianity
being that other religions are idolatry, mistaken, or unnecessary.  That
is all there is to that claim.

You cannot assume that religions are isomorphic.  The assertion that the
Tao is exclusive of other religions is false.  The assertion that the
philosophies of Zen are exclusive of other religions is false.  The assertion
that the Greek pagan religion is exclusive of other religions is ridiculous.

In fact, the major religions do tend to try and present themselves as the
"best" way, and Christianity is the only one I know of that succeeds in
making the claim that it is the ONLY way, since even Islam has to allow the
Jews their own religion (as per my last discussion with a person of that
faith, who may have been either misinformed or of an unusual sect).

Other than the misapplication of logic, Larry, I liked your article, even
if it will get you so deluged with mail that you won't be able to read it all.

Steve Hutchison