From: "Carvalho" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
--- On Tue, 9/2/08, Fr. Ivo C da Souza <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
***Well done, Dr.Gilbert Lawrence. Our duty is to enlighten
those who are in
error.
If Da Vinci Code is a fiction, let people know why it is a
fiction and not
history.
Being a scientist and oncologist, you have proved your
knowledge of
Christianity.
-------------------------------------------------
Forgive me for being in a really vile mood this morning but I've just read
that 10 more churches have been burnt in India. Now, somehow this bears a
striking resemblance to Nero.
***It is not a compliment to you, Selma, that you are moody this morning.
But what you wrote is correct: burning of churches in Kandhmal is a
dastardly act. The Christians have been held responsible for the death of
Swamiji Laksamananda Saraswati. History repeats itself: When in 64 CE. the
Great Fire ravaged Rome for six days, Nero had blamed the Christians as
scapegoats.
While Christians in India are burning, you and Gilbert Lawrence are
writing about Dan Brown, DA Vince Code and miracles in some obscure place
in Europe. I cannot fathom the minds of religious people, but their
priorities seem a bit skewed to me.
***We have been writing on these topics since long. We are not forgetting
our brethren of India, nor failing to experience pain for the destruction of
poor India and of poor Kandhmal and Orissa... Christians have been
persecuted for the good done to the world. Jesus was also persecuted, yet he
shed light.
Now forgive me again for being even more impertinent, but being a
"scientist and an oncologist" does not qualify Gilbert to have any more
"knowledge of Christianity", than that raving, lunatic lady I met on the
number 22 bus...
***I cannot judge the knowledge of that lady-traveller, whom you are judging
as "raving, lunatic"... I praised Dr.Gilbert, who is a scientist and
oncologist, for having written on the historicity of Gospels. I am judging
his "knowledge of Christianity" from his postings. It was a praiseworthy
effort to refute the "fiction" in the Da Vinci Code. He is qualified to
write on Gospels, not because he is an oncologist, but because of his
personal study. There is no conflict between Science and Bible.
... It's too much to hear about miracles and being saved, when our people
are being burned and raped.
**It is precisely with faith in the saving God that the people suffered
persecution courageously... It is horrible what is happening in our
democratic country: terrible violation of human rights. Inspite of all the
persecution on the part of vested interests, the Church will continue to do
good in India and throughout the world...
Thanks for your emotional outbursts! We do respect your feelings. We do
share them.
Regards.
Fr.Ivo