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From: tim@cmu-cs-k.ARPA (Tim Maroney)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Wingate on different kinds of evil
Message-ID: <249@cmu-cs-k.ARPA>
Date: Sat, 16-Feb-85 16:10:26 EST
Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-k.249
Posted: Sat Feb 16 16:10:26 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Feb-85 06:11:41 EST
References: <3246@umcp-cs.UUCP> <299@psivax.UUCP> <463@pyuxd.UUCP>
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 45

> In article <463@pyuxd.UUCP> rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen) writes:
>
>>They share more than a "label".  When part of the belief system itself
>>GLORIFIES the rightness of the believers and their RIGHT to "correct"
>>the behavior of others around them, that's more than just sharing a
>>label.  And that's my point.
>
>Rich, if you think that every sect and denomination of christianity believes
>in a right to force everyone into line with their particular morality, then
>you either don't what you're talking about or you don't care.  Quote me some
>NT scripture to justify your point.
>
>Charley Wingate   umcp-cs!mangoe

Yes, Charles, virtually all Christian sects DO believe that.  The only
exceptions are those churches that believe in universal salvation.  I would
expect you, a Christian, to be aware of the doctrine in the Gospels that God
has the right to force everyone to follow his particular opinion on morals,
and even to torture those who refuse.  Virtually all Christian churches
believe in this right.

When it comes down to the rights of HUMANS to do this, nothing in the New
Testament comments either way.  At all.  Can you cite any scripture which
shows clearly that people do NOT have the right to impose Christian morality
on unbelievers?  Since the Old Testament is crammed full of "good" people
serving God by killing and persecuting unbelievers, and the New Testament
contains no scriptures that contradict this, and Christians don't have the
moderating rabbinical interpretations of the OT, then, yes, it is safe to
say that imposing your beliefs on others is a inherent part of Christianity.
Allow me to point out that until this century (that's nineteen centuries if
you're counting) almost all Christian countries had laws against
non-Christians holding public office; Christian sexual morality was written
into law; particularly deviant heretics were put in jail or executed by
Catholics and Protestants alike; and so on.  Christianity is and always has
been a religion that practices the harrassment of unbelievers; and if you
disagree with these historical facts, it is you who are ignorant or
uncaring, not Rich.
-=-
Tim Maroney, Carnegie-Mellon University Computation Center
ARPA:	Tim.Maroney@CMU-CS-K	uucp:	seismo!cmu-cs-k!tim
CompuServe:	74176,1360	audio:	shout "Hey, Tim!"

"Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are
but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains."
Liber AL, II:9.