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From: arndt@indian.dec.com
Newsgroups: net.religion.christian,talk.religion.misc
Subject: Reply to Marty Smith
Message-ID: <5507@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Tue, 23-Sep-86 23:51:45 EDT
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Posted: Tue Sep 23 23:51:45 1986
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Marty, Marty:

I LOVED your perverse explanation of the 'Christian' use of cursing!!
Truly an inspiration to us all.  If only some of the other theologically
constipated netters could loosen up like you.

I'm sure you have a great future either as a Unitarian minister or a used
car salesman.  (Perhaps BOTH - a full seven days of 'charging')

Marty takes 'God damm it' to new (not really, only on the net) heights!
In sum:
              o it acknowledges God exists
              o presumes he has power
              o presuems he is listening

                   Ergo, actually an act of worship!

Even in the mouth of an unbeliever it is a 'tribute' to a believer's faith.

Why oh why do you have to be in California?  Think of the theological
discussions we could have!  You are creative, intelligent and slightly bent.
Count me as one of your 'fans'.

So nice try.  But in reality the Apostle Paul nails guys like you way back in
the first century.  "Should we sin that grace may more abound" is the way he
puts it.  Of course his answer is NO!  Because, you see, even further back
Moses passed on the word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God
in vain."

The entire sin of man may be summed up in the idea that he presumes the 
perogitives of God!  Per my original posting's definition of blasphemy.
Man has a wide legitimate range of 'improvement' and 'movement' designed
and ordained by God.  'Fulfillment' IS finding one's place!!  And staying
there.  That's were it all comes together for one.  

You try to say presuming the perogitives is 'getting closer to God'.  Worship!
Rather it's foolishness.  Dangerous and evil.  Like jumping off the theological
garage roof with a hanky held by the ends.  

Let me give you an example of what I mean - I know you realy are only trying
to pull my chain.  Remember the Greek myth of the guy who asked for eternal 
life and forgot to ask for eternal youth???  He just got older and older and
could never die!  Horror.  Must have driven his kids (all generations) into
the Poor House paying for all that Dad Kennel space.  Just so when Christians
pray and close the prayer, as we have been instructed to do for this very 
reason, "If it be thy will".  Because it could be a horror if we actually got
everything we ask for.  So we acknowledge God's attributes/perogitives in
dealing with our requests.

Care to try your hand on the Trinity?  I'm not trying to get you to blaspheme 
but you have perhaps a talent for viewing things from a different angle and
I don't beleive you believe what you are saying.

Thanks for the fun.

Keep chargin'

Ken Arndt