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From: ethan@utastro.UUCP (Ethan Vishniac)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Tax relief for Churches--ARRRRGHH
Message-ID: <32@utastro.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Oct-85 09:58:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: utastro.32
Posted: Wed Oct  9 09:58:32 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 19:32:14 EDT
References: <40@drutx.UUCP> <12090@rochester.UUCP> <129@ucdavis.UUCP>
Organization: U. Texas, Astronomy, Austin, TX
Lines: 29

> Belief in
> Satan exists among Satanists and Christians, but not among other non- Judeo
> based religions (Moslems and Bahai'is and Mormons all believe Satan exists).

Actually, although Satan certainly exists in Jewish belief, his status is
rather uncertain.  As an evil angel (the way he figures in the Book of Job)
he is not at all equivalent to the Christian devil.  The Christian belief
does appear to have derived from popular superstition among Jews.

> Wicca, whose history may date back to thousands of years before Christ
> on an island just off Greece (But I can't spell the name - Mycenea ?)
> originally started as a monotheistic, matriarchal religion based on a
> deity called the Great Goddess or Great Mother.

Although these people were rather conspicuous followers of the Mother, it`s
not at all clear they invented the idea.  Moreover, I for one am glad that
their rituals have gone out of style.

The thing that really burns me about this nonsense is that I find myself
agreeing with the Reagan administration, (who incidentally are against
revoking anybody`s tax exemption).  It`s embarassing to be on the same
side of an issue as Ronny and I wish he`d change what little mind he
has. 
-- 
"Superior firepower is an      Ethan Vishniac
 important asset when          {charm,ut-sally,ut-ngp,noao}!utastro!ethan
 entering into                 ethan@astro.UTEXAS.EDU
    negotiations"              Department of Astronomy
                               University of Texas