Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxn.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!mcnc!decvax!harpo!ihnp4!ihuxn!jho
From: jho@ihuxn.UUCP (Yosi Hoshen)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: A M.P. Courier's Dramatic Story of Soviet Arrest
Message-ID: <678@ihuxn.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 11-May-84 20:37:05 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxn.678
Posted: Fri May 11 20:37:05 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 13-May-84 08:41:22 EDT
References: <9050@mgweed.UUCP> <1074@ihuxr.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 34

Don Stanwyck writes:

>WARNING!  This set of articles contain accounts of "Christians"
>	deliberately breaking import/export laws, bragging
>	about it, and generally seeking support for their
>	illegal activities simply because the country whose
>	laws are being broken is perceived to be "anti-religion".
>
>Not all Christians, or those who call themselves such, support in
>any way the actions of these law-breaking people.  I, for one,
>find it to be in great distaste because of its blatent disregard
>for the teachings of the Bible (see Romans 12, other places) where
>the Bible teaches subjection to government authority, regardless
>of the government.

Some people tend to forget what is the nature of the USSR.  The USSR
is not only "anti-religion", it is currently the worst oppressor
of freedom.  The USSR has signed UN and Helsinki treaties/declaration
on Human Rights, which include clauses guarantying the freedom of
religion.  These treaties uphold the rights of individuals for religious 
worship. The right of worship includes free access to religious
material.  The Soviets continuously violate these treaties by restricting
access to religious materials.  I feel that the smuggling described in
Steve Collins' article are not only morally justified, but should be
viewed as commendable actions.
(I think the USSR has laws protecting religious freedom. 
The USSR may be violating its own laws by oppressing religion).
-- 

Yosi Hoshen
Bell Laboratories
Naperville, Illinois
(312)-979-7321
Mail: ihnp4!ihuxn!jho