Hi Selma, Indeed it is a pleasure to have an intellectual discussion on Goanet. Unlike some, you know your stuff. As our posts suggest, we both agree to some of the points Dinesh was trying to make. Watching Goenkar D Souza debate and beat Hitchens (now widely accepted result), was like watching African-American Arthur Ashe with his break-through wins of tennis grand slams and other championships against larger white Caucasians - i.e. beating them at their own game.
It was Santosh who attributed the West influence on Christianity with his usual derogatory comment. I was merely elaborating on the "Good Samaritan" question from Peter D Souza. I agree with you that the 'actions of the West' was / is a contribution of many influences. However if that 'combination of influences' should take credit for the positive actions of the West, should not that 'combination of influences' also take responsibility for the failures of the West - that you so well outline below? Or are you trying to state all the positives are due to the contributions of non-Christians groups; and / but the negative actions are solely the responsibility of the Christians? In one of my earlier post, I wrote from my readings of Roman History, that the Catholic Church in 100 AD was structured to be based on Jewish theology further advanced by Christ and his Apostles (including Paul), Greek philosophy and Roman organizational skills. I will leave it for you and others to micro-analyze the sources of good and evil. I have more mundane, useful and practical aspects of this world to be concerned about. And, after-all why do I have to research what has already been researched? If atheist and others want to spend another five thousand years to re-invent what has been discovered, be my guest and all power to you. Wake me when you have found the answers. In the interim, the atheists should please not confuse us with contradictions with or without "whiskey in hand." :=)) Yet I get the feeling that what some are doing is similar to blaming all the well-documented ills of America both domestic and international (both now and in the past) to the founders of the American Constitution. Think about this comparison! If not, try to blame all the ills of India and her Prime Ministers on Mahatma Gandhi or the Gita or the Hindu religion. Of course it is ridiculous and would suggest the whiskey / martini is taking its toll.:=)) Kind Regards, GL ---------------- Carvalho responded: After a long time I am enjoying a discussion on Goanet. Gilbert, that is exactly the point Dinesh was trying to make. However, Christianity (particularly of the Western variety) can hardly claim moral superiority with the Crusades, the Inquisition, Apartheid, colonisation, two World Wars, genocides of native populations, slavery, Hiroshima, the list is endless, falling square into their own backyard. Now, what has been a civilising force in the West, is the confluence of cultures, including ....................... Christianity can take credit in part of course but like everyone else it must stand in line to share this credit and not try to assign it to their imaginary friend Jesus. --- Gilbert Lawrence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: The disparity in donation rates among various cultural groups (across the globe), would reinforce the point that Dinesh was making. The dominant surrounding attitudes influence human behavior of theists (any religion) or atheists living in that society.
