Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site iuvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!inuxc!iuvax!saj From: saj@iuvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Vomiting on net.religion - (nf) Message-ID: <147@iuvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Feb-84 15:28:59 EST Article-I.D.: iuvax.147 Posted: Wed Feb 15 15:28:59 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 17-Feb-84 02:16:54 EST Sender: saj@iuvax.UUCP Organization: Indiana U, Bloomington Lines: 32 #R:ssc-vax:-69700:iuvax:1700001:000:1493 iuvax!dsaker Feb 2 16:35:00 1984 In the main I heartily agree with Laura Creighton's reply. However, there are a few points I would like to make. Proving the existence of a historical Jesus is only the first step ( and an extremely tiny one ) towards proving Christianity's claims as to his divine status. As for the morally repugnant nature of Christianity, RIGHT ON. When you view the suffering (mental and physical) in the world , it is hard to understand how anyone could regard favourably the supposed Originator of this state of affairs. Sure, if we could only be reassured that in the end all would be compensated for, that we would all meet in Heaven smiling joyously, then we could start to talk of His divine love. But we cannot begin to imagine how such compensation could be, and the grim tales in the Bible inspire us with little hope. The "not my will but Thy will be done" attitude makes me sick. How anyone who is human could even attempt to cast aside his own judgements, loves and values, I do not understand. I am giving a purely personal response here, but it seems to me a moral obligation to look out at the world, to feel the aching need of an Answer, to live with that distress, and never to betray one's own loves and values to avoid that distress. Let us affirm what we value and hold dear; let us feel our needs and make our demands for justice; and never, never betray these things in order to ease our days or to assuage the wrath of some outraged deity. Daryel Akerlind iuvax!dsaker