Text 45048, 70 rader
Skriven 2006-12-26 23:42:00 av bob klahn (1:275/311)
     Kommentar till en text av ROSS CASSELL
Ärende: Generic Christianity
============================
 RC>>> A nativity scene visible to the public no more crams
 RC>>> Christianity down the throats of others than the view of
 RC>>> their same churches from the street with their spires and
 RC>>> crosses.

 bk>>  As long as it's on private property it's also legal. So what's
 bk>>  your problem with it?

 RC> It doesnt offend me, nativity scenes and the ilk can be
 RC> displayed anywhere.

 The only way it would be appropriate to put nativity scenes on
 public property would be if every system of religious belief was
 represented, thereby making it instructive about religion,
 rather than preaching it. And that would take so much property
 and trouble as to be an excessive burden.

 Remember, that Rabbi in Seattle did not want symbols of
 Christmas removed, he wanted a Jewish symbol added. He got hate
 mail for that.

 Face it, religion is a hot button issue in this country. And the
 government can't be trusted to level the field for all faiths if
 it is showing even a bit of support for one over any of the
 others.

 RC>>> If in Salt Lake City Utah, would the view of the tabernacle
 RC>>> complex compel you to become a Mormon?

 bk>>  If it's on public property, or paid for with public funds, it
 bk>>  would compel me to become an advocate for tearing it down or
 bk>>  making the Mormon church pay for it.

 RC> While I can buy into your argument that public funds
 RC> shouldnt be put towards paying for this stuff, what about
 RC> private funds being used, even if on public property?

 A church building? Not a chance.

 RC>>> This notion of fear you express is unfounded and irrational.

 bk>>  No, it's quite well founded and rational. I was born in 1947.
 bk>>  From my recollections of the early to mid '50s, in the public
 bk>>  schools, we had protestant bible readings and protestant
 bk>>  prayers. That *IS* cramming Protestantism down the throats of
 bk>>  Catholic children.

 RC> Cant do anything about the past nor should we try to exact
 RC> revenge over it.

 Nor should we allow it to happen again, to anyone. What I
 experienced in the '50s is mild compared to what Jews
 experienced then, and what Muslims experience today.

 I do not believe govt support of Christianity will remain
 unbiased and generic. If Christianity ever does, again, become
 entwined in govt in this country again, the next step will be
 the battle to see which Christianity becomes entwined. And it
 won't likely be Catholocism.

 I am firmly convinced, whenever govt and religion unite, both
 are corrupted.


BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

... Whenever you mix government and religion it's bad for both.
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