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From: black@nisysg.DEC
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Faux pas; Identity
Message-ID: <715@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 25-Feb-85 11:19:49 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.715
Posted: Mon Feb 25 11:19:49 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 09:41:58 EST
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Gentlepeople:

     Allow me first of all to offer my deepest apologies to those of you who
may have been offended by my use of the word "Gentlemen" at the opening of my
last submission.  You wouldn't believe the flak I've received about it.  
Please understand that it was not meant as a snub to the ladies of the group.
Please also understand that there are also some of us who, while being ded-
icated to the concept of the equality of the sexes, firmly believe that the 
philosophies of Unisex and/or Homosexuality are distasteful at best.

     I would like to make the observation that "Conservative" views on almost
any subject, and religion in particular, are very unpopular these days.  The
old beliefs and values that served well for millenia have in general been
thrown to the winds because "they don't fit in today's modern world."  "We
don't need to follow Scripture on that subject.  That only applied back then."
People tend to follow the crowd, and pick up the currently popular fads.
"Try it, you'll like it."

     I submit that most of the problems in today's modern world are caused
by the discarding of the old traditions, beliefs, and liturgies by the world's
major religions.  I believe that a general return to the Old Ways would
bring a substantial improvement to the quality of life for the world.  I 
personnally have found that my understanding of the world around me, and
my sense of purpose in life, has improved greatly since I discovered a
Conservative belief about religion.

     I also do believe that this return to the Old Ways should absolutely
include a tolerance for the beliefs and opinions of everyone else.  We were
all created as individuals, and as such we are entitled to our own personal
views.  We are also entitled to allow those beliefs, opinions, and views
dictate how we conduct our lives and affairs as an individual.  And if
some of us join together as a group with common beliefs, then that group
has the equal right to exist, even if its beliefs and philosophies conflict
with those of another group or individual.

     I have found that many people consider the Christian Identity movement
to be very bigoted, almost Neo-Nazi.  Nationalistic it may be, but definitely
NOT socialist.  And I haven't yet found any of our clergy advocating the
opening of "refugee" camps or the displacement of other religious or ethnic
groups.  On the other hand, there are undeniably several movements whose 
only goal is to destroy religion and enslave anyone who espouses it.  

     I will end this submission with a question for thought:

     What if the United States really was founded with a religious purpose,
and what if our prosperity as a Nation really is linked to our willingness
to follow religious laws?

     (OK, I admit the next question obviously is, whose do we follow?  Answer:
That's up to the individual.)


In Hoc Signo, 

Don Black

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