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From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Supreme Court officializes US idolatry
Message-ID: <1355@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 25-Nov-84 22:10:08 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.1355
Posted: Sun Nov 25 22:10:08 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 03:03:46 EST
References: <1747@ucf-cs.UUCP>
Reply-To: mangoe@maryland.UUCP (Charley Wingate)
Organization: U of Maryland, Computer Science Dept., College Park, MD
Lines: 35

In article <1747@ucf-cs.UUCP> yiri@ucf-cs.UUCP (Yirmiyahu BenDavid) writes:

>The concept of idolatry in both Judaism and Christianity is derived 
>from the Judaic definition of the Jewish scriptures. This definition 
>encompasses the ASSOCIATION of an image or images, whether carved, 
>sculpted, painted or drawn, with the object of worship, including
>peripheral entities such as angels. 
>
>This definition encompasses such idolatry as images of Jesus, Mary,
>saints, apostles, angels, etc. whether as sculpted into idols in the
>traditional sense painted in pictures, stained glass windows, etc.
>It also includes idols of 'the baby Jesus'.
>
>Thus, the Supreme Court has, by officially authorizing nativity scenes
>be included and funded by Federal monies, put the official stamp of the
>United States on idolatry. While such idolatry has always been present
>among the people, it was not officially United States policy before. We
>can now state that the United States has officially become a pagan and
>idolatrous nation (if the tree hadn't been enough). Its parallels with 
>the Roman Empire become more and more evident with each passing day.

I agree with Yiri almost totally on this one, and I am really annoyed that
this stupid issue has reared its ugly head again.  There's no reason in the
world why the U.S. should in any way be associated with a nativity scene
being set up with its express approval.  For some reason the Reagan 
government thinks it needs to ram this down everyone's throat.  It really
bugs me that they keep trying to promote this "we are anointed by God"
attitude; it sounds like Divine Right of Kings and it sounds blasphemous.

I'm afraid I can't get too excited about Christmas stamps, though, unless
you want to get rid of any commemoration of anything even remotely religious
(such as the Truro synagogue stamp).  What I really wish they would do is
put out a passover stamp in the spring.

Charley Wingate   umcp-cs!mangoe