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Perhaps the central point of this dialogue is the silliness of using religious strife when evaluating constitutional provisions on religion. People disagree on school vouchers, the ten commandments, etc. The claim that one side of the disagreement is causing religious strife is implicitly based on claims that the other side is right.
Mark A. Graber
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 8/4/2005 10:46:32 AM >>> Bobby: I don't carry a brief for Roy Moore. I think this country is a religiously pluralistic country--not a Christian country, but also not a secular country. Thus, I believe that everyone should pay his or her fair share of taxes (including educational taxes) and everyone should receive his or her fair share of benefits (including education benefits). Food stamps should cover Kosher food, educational benefits should be extended to all children regardless of where they go to school, and public fora should be open to all speakers including religious speakers.
As far as the doctrine of salvation by faith in Christ goes, I am not ashamed of the Gospel nor do I believe it is intolerant or the cause of justifiable religious strife. You are free to believe or to disbelieve that salvation is through Christ and Christ alone. But I will not renounce the central teaching of my faith just to make others feel better about their faith.
The doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ is a doctrine of love and forgiveness. It is not an intolerant doctrine. It is open to everyone.
Suppose you fell off a ship at sea and were drowning and I threw you a lifeline. And you said, "I don't like this lifeline because it's orange and I prefer yellow ones." And I said "it's the only one I have." And you said "I prefer to drown."
You certainly have that choice. And I respect it. But please don't say that I am a strife-causer because I offered you the only lifeline I had.
Cheers, Rick
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Rick Duncan Welpton Professor of Law University of Nebraska College of Law Lincoln, NE 68583-0902 "When the Round Table is broken every man must follow either Galahad or Mordred: middle things are gone." C.S.Lewis, Grand Miracle "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, ! briefed, debriefed, or numbered." --The Prisoner
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