Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site fisher.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!princeton!astrovax!fisher!david From: david@fisher.UUCP (David Rubin) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Understanding the Bible Message-ID: <272@fisher.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Aug-84 10:50:34 EDT Article-I.D.: fisher.272 Posted: Tue Aug 14 10:50:34 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 15-Aug-84 00:47:31 EDT References: <1130@ihuxq.UUCP> <934@akgua.UUCP> Organization: Princeton Univ. Statistics Lines: 19 Christian belief may not be a sufficient condition for the burning of heretics, and other acts of intolerance, but in the US and Canada it is a necessary condition. "Mandates" of some sort are required for all heinous crimes, and all criminals claim one of two justifications: (1) "It is the natural order of things." (2) "God commanded it." Examples of the first include Nazis and sane murderers. Examples of the second include most Popes (note that I did not say all) and insane murderers. Not all Christians are religiously intolerant (in fact, the vast majority aren't), but nearly all religiously intolerant Americans are Christians. (Apologies to Dean Acheson) David Rubin {allegra|astrovax|princeton}!fisher!david