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From: rob@hhb.UUCP (Robert R Stegmann)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: More on Nichols (reply to DuBois)
Message-ID: <196@hhb.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Oct-84 12:08:30 EST
Article-I.D.: hhb.196
Posted: Tue Oct 30 12:08:30 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Nov-84 04:05:56 EST
Organization: HHB-Softron, Mahwah, NJ
Lines: 66

[...]

In response to Ken Nichols' contention that one must "...[admit] you are
a sinner by birth and by choice, and that you can do nothing to get
rid of your sin.", I wrote,
"American law presumes innocence until guilt is proven, not the contrary.
Perhaps Chilean `law' is a superior system?".

To which Paul DuBois replied:
> God knows you inside and out, and so does not have to presume
> innocence; He knows better.  The American legal system does not
> know you inside and out.

The larger issue here is that, while God forbears to judge me until
after I die, there are those in America who presume to usurp the
prerogative of our temporal authorities and judge me while I live.

The reason that Mr. Nichols' remarks merit any rebuttal at all,
is that his opinions are of a simplicity and visceral directness
that would appeal to those who have little regard for human life,
and a desire to belong to some organization sharing their views.

The dangers of tacit approval, in the form of silent acceptance
by the majority, of the rantings of a vociferous minority who
maintain that they have a monopoly on moral truths has been
demonstrated at least twice in recent history.  As strongly as Mr.
Nichols feels it is his responsibility to save Man from Hell's
fires, I feel compelled to divert Man from fiery destruction here
on Earth.

Unlike Mr. Nichols, I feel that the quality of one's existence
on Earth is of importance.  Shall God damn men for misbehaving
here if an Earthly life is of such negligible significance?
I feel, too, that our morality is of worth.  Of what importance
are sin, guilt, repentance, and God's forgiveness via Jesus'
death if we are incapable of making moral calls?
If morality is absolute, then there can be no mistaking
immorality, even when it is perpetrated by a diety.
The whole New Testament attests to a change in God's
relationship with Man.  The vengeful God of the Old Testament
is no more, and it is the Compassionate God of the New Testament
who should be celebrated by modern Christians.

An idea from Dante's Inferno comes to mind.
I recall reading a more modern version coauthored by
Larry Niven and someone else.
The contention therein was that all Men in Hell could leave
it and return to God's presence if only they would surrender
their belief that they were evil and deserved to be
wherever they happened to be in Hell.
The characters held their Evil to them as
their most prized possessions, as though they might lose
their identities if they relinquished it.
They refused to recognize Evil as a shackle,
and it bound them though in no way locked.

I do not believe God condemns Men to Hell.
I have seen Men condemn themselves,
via thinking akin to Mr. Nichols'.


rob

{allegra,ihnp4,decvax}!philabs!hhb!rob

I in no way represent my employer in this matter.