Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!topaz!ll-xn!mit-amt!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!wanginst!apollo!nazgul
From: nazgul@apollo.uucp (Kee Hinckley)
Newsgroups: net.religion,talk.religion
Subject: Re: Banning books, religion etc...
Message-ID: <2fef4b79.46@apollo.uucp>
Date: Fri, 5-Sep-86 20:55:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: apollo.2fef4b79.46
Posted: Fri Sep  5 20:55:09 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Sep-86 06:10:59 EDT
References: <1637@ames.UUCP> <180@BMS-AT.UUCP>
Reply-To: nazgul@apollo.UUCP (Kee Hinckley)
Distribution: net
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, MA
Lines: 45
Xref: linus net.religion:10746 talk.religion:65

In article <180@BMS-AT.UUCP> stuart@BMS-AT.UUCP writes:
> 
> A christian does (should?) not accept Humanism because it tries to
> improve the human race without God.  Trying to run our lives without
> consulting the manufacturer or His intructions is how we got
> into such a mess in the first place!

Perhaps you can answer a question which has always puzzled me.  Assuming
that you do not take everything in the bible literally (which would be
difficult, since some of it seems contradictory), why must you assume
that evolution is not part of God's plan.  Whether he created us ten
seconds ago or ten million years ago isn't really relevant.  What is
apparent is that evolution *seems* reasonable.  Could it not be, therefore,
that evolution (or the appearence of evolution) is part of God's plan
as well?  Or do you consider it a trick?

> An existentialist does (should?) not accept Humanism because he knows
> that any supposed 'improvement' is illusory.

Unless you presuppose to know everything that God has in mind, how can
you argue that God did not intend you as a person, and us as a race,
to improve.  I don't see why evolution as the medium for that improvement
is contradictory to christian teachings.

> I avoided the pictures (hoping to have a happy
> marriage someday) 

This implies that you feel that viewing a picture might morally corrupt
or otherwise permanently effect your life.  Do you really feel that
you have so little control over your life that what you see could damage
it?

Please don't take this as flame-baiting.  I'm honestly quite curious.

                                             -kee

--

        ...{mit-erl,mit-eddie,yale,uw-beaver,decvax!wanginst}!apollo!nazgul
               Apollo Computer, Chelmsford MA.  (617) 256-6600 x7587
                   or 499B Boston Rd, Groton MA. (617) 448-2863

I'm not sure which upsets me more; that people are so unwilling to accept
responsibility for their own actions, or that they are so eager to regulate
everyone else's.