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From: brunson@usfbobo.UUCP (%David Brunson)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Absurdity and Unbelief
Message-ID: <144@usfbobo.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Jul-84 20:59:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: usfbobo.144
Posted: Mon Jul  9 20:59:28 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Jul-84 08:06:34 EDT
Organization: Univ. of South Florida, Tampa
Lines: 51

[]

You know how modern comics mock Gospel Preachers?

My brother does a great Carl Sagan.  Once while visiting home
a while back, he had me in stitches as he expounded on
mathematical equations which supposedly demonstrate the
probability of life on other planets.

There used to be a show from California called "Couples"
(I think that was the name -- I only saw it a few times).
Anyway it features some guy with a psychology degree who
"counsels" couples either lawfully married or living as
such.  My brother and I were absolutely holding our
sides with pain for the entire half hour one time when the
guest counselees were lesbians!  It was unbelievable!
The "counselor" asked "probing" questions ("You take the
*male* role in this relationship, is that right?  How does
it make you feel when *she* doesn't respond ... " etc.),
and very patiently and reassuringly pointed out the counselees'
problems in "relating to one another" while they nodded
understandingly, as though grateful for his help, and
appreciative of his great insight.

I have been similarly entertained by "Lou Grant", "Trapper
John", the Buckley-Galbraith debates (Galbraith and the Harvard
audience supplied the humor), National Geographic Specials,
a psych intro course I almost took, "60 minutes", "Time
Magazine", and so on.

Recently in this newsgroup someone wrote a series of articles
with a title something like, "Can a Thinking Man Believe the Bible?"
What an odd question!  Can someone who does not believe the
Bible be said to *think*?

It sometimes seems as though Bible believers are on the 
defensive against the great onslaught of unbelief that
characterizes this age.  I don't know why.  The secularists
are unparalleled for absurdity and provide far more material
for mockery than Ernest Angeley or Jerry Falwell ever have.
Maybe the seeming timidity of believers has something to do
with the Christian tradition of *Apologetics*.

Am I the only one who looks at it like this?

--------------

"The righteous are an abomination        David Brunson
to the unrighteous;  and the un-         duke!ucf-cs!usfbobo!brunson
righteous are an abomination to
the righteous"  [Solomon]