excellant analogy ben. It seems to me that your faith depends on many
factors that are not even in your control. How many people in china are
going to be brought up as jews? So if your jewish, should you condemn them
for not being the same religion as you?
-george
>From: "Braver, Ben" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: CF-Community <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: RE: Belief-O-Matic
>Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 10:57:46 -0500
>
>Jeffrey,
>
>You said "Only one belief system can be right. The only recourse is to
>condemn anyone who has beliefs different than your own."
>
>I would like to respectfully disagree, sir. IMHO (batteries not included,
>some assembly required, YMMV), the Creator would accept any and all forms
>of
>well-meant non-harmful worship. I believe that my faith is right for ME,
>and benefits me. I do NOT assume that my faith would be a positive thing
>for you. BUT I do not necessarily believe that your faith is "wrong" nor
>will I condemn it. In fact, it may be PERFECT for you and your life. Well
>and good.
>
>As a metaphor, I suggest Braver's 31 Flavors School of Theology, based on
>frozen desserts.
>
>Most ice creams start with the same base ingredients. There are variants
>like sorbet, frozen yogurt, etc., but let's not digress too much. Some
>flavors are "pure" like Vanilla, Chocolate, etc. Then you have textured
>ones, like Chocolate Chip, or really chewy ones with almonds etc. Then
>there are the blends, like Mocha Fudge Almond or (mmm) Peanut Butter
>Chocolate.
>
>I happen to really like the latter two flavors. I will NOT criticize you
>for liking Strawberry. Nor will I shove my PBC cone in your face. I may
>say "I really like this flavor, would you like to taste it?".
>
>What would REALLY upset me is if you told me I was "wrong" for liking these
>flavors, or that I couldn't eat them, or that I had to have a bite of
>Strawberry even if I didn't like it. (Metaphor for the school prayer
>posting "in Jesus' name".)
>
>Or, even worse, if you tried to burn my home, rape my wife, drive me from
>my
>land, because I did not share your beliefs (can you say "former Yugoslavia"
>for example?) [NOTE: I do NOT mean you "personally" sir!!]
>
>We even explained to our kids when they were little that Daddy believes in
>praying directly to God, and Mommy believes in praying to God through
>Jesus,
>but it's the same God. Somehow, it worked. They were educated as Reform
>Jews, with Mommy's help (she even learned some Hebrew so we could both help
>them with their homework, and she felt it was not inappropriate since they
>were learning about God). The kids honor and respect Mom's strong
>Christian
>beliefs, and do not see this as a conflict.
>
>Have a terrific day, amigo.
>
>Ben
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeffry Houser [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
>Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 9:54 AM
>To: CF-Community
>Subject: Re: Belief-O-Matic
>
>
>
> >>Is it me or does the Unitarian doctrine sound like it
> >>could be summed up in one word - "Whatever".
> >
> >
> >It's you. I think I could sum it up better as "Do no harm" or "Think
>about
> >how you can be part of the good that exists in the world." I know a lot
>of
> >Unitarians and each one of them is kind, generous, and rational. It's a
>big
> >craze among college professors. My mother recently joined the Unitarians
> >(converted isn't a good word for it since they do not believe that
> >religions are necessarily mutually exclusive).
> >
> >
> >And although I do not count myself among their numbers (despite my
>rating
> >on the test) I admit that I was disturbed that a self-proclaimed
>religious
> >person would mock another religion like you just did.
>
> I hate to butt in here, but if one religion accepts another it gives
>credence to the belief system that is not their own, thus negating the
>whole purpose of religion in the first-place. Only one belief system can
>be right. The only recourse is to condemn anyone who has beliefs different
>than your own.
> Granted, in the business world it's easier to avoid the topic altogether
>than start holy wars and offend potential/existing customers and employees.
>
> > Obviously
> >Unitarianism isn't strict enough for you and doesn't dictate enough
>rules
> >for your taste, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have a system of
> >beliefs. In fact, its system of belief dictates that the thing that you
> >just did that disturbed me is a bad thing.
> >
> >
> >Or in other words, if you don't want people to hold your beliefs against
> >you, don't hold theirs against them.
> >
> >
> >This rational flame was underwritten by the Unitarian Church. Or
>something.
>
> Whatever! :smile:
>
>
>
>Jeffry Houser | mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>AIM: Reboog711 | ICQ: 5246969 | Phone: 860-229-2781
>--
>Instant ColdFusion 5.0 | ISBN: 0-07-213238-8
>Due out June 2001
>--
>DotComIt, LLC
>database driven web data using ColdFusion, Lotus Notes/Domino
>--
>Half of the Alternative Folk Duo called Far Cry Fly
>http://www.farcryfly.com | http://www.mp3.com/FarCryFly
>--
>You sass that hoopy Douglas Adams? Now there's a frood who
>knew where his towel was.
>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at
http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at
http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm
Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
