From: George Murphy (gmurphy@raex.com)
Date: Tue Jul 22 2003 - 15:16:43 EDT
RFaussette@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 7/22/03 8:21:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time, gmurphy@raex.com
> writes:
>
> > But if that's all Christianity
> > is then its fundamental claims are false.
> >
>
> I didn't say that's all Christianity is - you did. Think real hard. If there
> are no metaphysics, the Law still maintains your family, tribe or nation.
> That's the biology. If there are metaphysics, then the same Law gets you into
> heaven. So, eureka, in each case the behaviors are precisely the same, the ones
> that guarantee survival, and the ones that save your soul. So, instead of
> intellectualizing about things neither you nor I can have proof for, or twisting
> the religion out of shape to conform to the post modern liberal mindset, obey
> the Law as people have been doing for thousands of years and the rest takes care
> of itself, biologically and metaphysically. Either way, you win.
>
> rich faussette
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> In a message dated 7/22/03 8:21:51 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> gmurphy@raex.com writes:
>
> But if that's all Christianity
> is then its fundamental claims are false.
>
> I didn't say that's all Christianity is - you did.
False. Please note the word "if."
& if (as we seem to agree) that _isn't_ all Christianity is then the arguments
you present are not compelling. (Note that I do not say "are /ipso facto/ false.")
Christianity did indeed develop from the kind of social & religious context you
describe. But Christianity did in fact _develop_ & is not identical with that social &
religious context, so that not everything from that context is necessary - & in some
cases even possible - for adequate Christian faith today.
Please note again that I am not arguing here for acceptance of homosexual
activity, but only that the arguments you present against it do not settle the matter
for Christian theology & ethics.
> Think real hard. If
> there are no metaphysics, the Law still maintains your family, tribe
> or nation. That's the biology. If there are metaphysics, then the same
> Law gets you into heaven.
The law never gets anyone into heaven. See Romans 3:20.
> So, eureka, in each case the behaviors are
> precisely the same, the ones that guarantee survival, and the ones
> that save your soul. So, instead of intellectualizing about things
> neither you nor I can have proof for, or twisting the religion out of
> shape to conform to the post modern liberal mindset, obey the Law as
> people have been doing for thousands of years and the rest takes care
> of itself, biologically and metaphysically. Either way, you win.
Christianity is about saving whole people, not simply "souls," & my interest in
conforming to the post modern liberal mindset is precisely zero.
Shalom,
George
George L. Murphy
gmurphy@raex.com
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
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