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From: dubois@uwmacc.UUCP (Paul DuBois)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Playboy and contemplation
Message-ID: <275@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 10-Sep-84 12:44:08 EDT
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.275
Posted: Mon Sep 10 12:44:08 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 12-Sep-84 00:57:26 EDT
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
Lines: 55


> >[Me]
> >I don't think that I can agree much with the part about Jeff
> >doing what his critics are thinking, either.  I was not one of
> >them, but I do think that reading Playboy is unlikely to bring one
> >closer to God.  And I haven't the slightest inclination or
> >desire to read it.  Yes, really.

> [Dick Dunn]
> Unless you are one of Jeff's critics, you can't speak for them.  Since you
> just disavowed being one, you don't know (nor do I).
> 
> I do not know whether reading Playboy is likely to bring one closer to God,
> nor would I much care.  I am quite sure that if one must act only in ways
> which unquestionably bring one closer to God, one will spend a great deal
> more time in contemplating action than in acting.  Who knows, reading

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I may not sin against Thee."
Psalm 119:11.  In other words, scripture provides the guideline.
One doesn't need to think about it all the time.  I do not need to
consider whether to be lie, for instance.  Nor whether to swear,
or commit adultery or be lustful.  Some things must be subjected
to contemplation, and often, perhaps.  I don't wish to denigrate
the value of contemplation.  But one has to move beyond it sometime,
and that is quite possible when one has a framework within which
to move.  Dick, you and I do not share the same framework, but
what framework we have frees us from the burden of constant
contemplation.

> Playboy might have all manner of side effects of varying values (insights,
> humor, disturbance,...)

...degradation of women, trivialization of sexual relations...

> If you haven't had the slightest inclination or desire to read it, may I
> jump to the conclusion that you don't read it?  Based upon that tentative

Sure.  You'd be right.

> conclusion, let me then ask how you could possibly judge whether it is
> worth reading--let alone judge another person for reading it or not?

Because I used to.  Say, in high school.  And found it boring and
useless even then, when I wasn't a Christian!  However, I will
add, somewhat hesitantly, that I am currently reading a book
called "The Fate of the Universe", which is published by Playboy
Press.

And was I judging Jeff?
-- 
Paul DuBois		{allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!dubois

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage forever: for they
are the rejoicing of my heart.
					Psalm 119:111