From: Steve Petermann (steve@spetermann.org)
Date: Fri Sep 19 2003 - 09:54:47 EDT
Dave wrote:
> I am guessing that the major reason why "intelligentsia" reject
> Christianity is that it is not PC.
Well lets look at some anecdotal data. I visit various churches in the
Dallas area. Almost without fail all those churches(Methodist,
Presbyterian, Catholic, etc.) have what they call "seekers groups." These
people are among what I all the intelligentsia, educated, thoughtful,
critically thinking individuals. They are not interested in being PC. They
are interested in a well reasoned faith. They are reading Borg, Spong,
Barbour, Peacocke, etc. Why would they do that if they aren't questioning?
> Need I remind you that
> Muslim prayers were learned and practiced in public schools, as were
> Hindu prayers and meditations earlier. But there is supposed to be no
> Christian prayers at any campus doings.
I agree with you that this compartmentalization of the secular and religious
is problematic for society. I just don't know how it can be fixed. What do
you mean by campus doings? How would you handle the prayers? Rotate between
Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc. religious prayers or meditations?
Steve Petermann
----- Original Message -----
From: "D. F. Siemens, Jr." <dfsiemensjr@juno.com>
To: <steve@spetermann.org>
Cc: <bnelson301@yahoo.com>; <asa@lists.calvin.edu>
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2003 9:56 PM
Subject: Re: Fragility and tendentiousness
>
> On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 21:08:32 -0500 "Steve Petermann"
> <steve@spetermann.org> writes:
> Dr. Nelson wrote
> > Second, I think that it is not due to "rational"
> > reasons why people leave.
> > <<<<<<<<<<
> >
> >
> > That may be true of many, but the thinking people I see at the UU
> > church
> > have left for that very reason. If religions are not compelling to
> > the
> > intelligentsia there is a problem. Some will say that the
> > intelligentsia
> > are not important but to the contrary those are the teachers and
> > professors
> > who are shaping young minds. While it takes time for the "beliefs"
> > of the
> > intelligentsia to pervade popular culture, it eventually does. Just
> > look at
> > postmodernism.
> >
> > Steve Petermann
> >
> I don't see the "intelligentsia" responding to logic to any extent.
> Postmodernism is hardly a rational position. Indeed, it is inconsistent
> in the hands of its proponents. I forget the persons involved, but one
> infamous postmodernist was criticized briefly and responded with a
> lengthy objection. If things mean only what is read into them, then the
> critique was irrelevant. But the objection shows that everyone _must_
> accept postmodernism as TRUE. In other words, postmodernism is _stercus
> tauri_.
>
> I am guessing that the major reason why "intelligentsia" reject
> Christianity is that it is not PC. It makes exclusivist claims and
> exclusivism is the current unpardonable sin. Need I remind you that
> Muslim prayers were learned and practiced in public schools, as were
> Hindu prayers and meditations earlier. But there is supposed to be no
> Christian prayers at any campus doings. Separation of church and state?
> Dave
> >
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