From: pab1@quads.uchicago.edu (paul andrew braier)
Subject: Re: Knowing Hashem
Reply-To: pab1@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 16:35:53 GMT

Bill Carlson wrote a follow-up to my follow-up on his story about the
field of diamonds. Frankly, it left me very confused. Either it was 
very hastily written, or Mr. Carlson is undergoing a serious change in
opinion. My story should be considered an attack on evangelism and
missionary work. Mr. Carlson's story, on the other hand, is rather
broader in scope. I will quote from his story:

     Before these three men of Israel had even
     begun their journey; a group of evil men, robbers, had set out on
     the same road themselves [...] Now this wicked band of
     goyim/gentiles were more ignorant than most folks, not so much as
     even knowing their right hand from their left!

Mr. Carlson calls the evil men 'goyim/gentiles'. He must intend them
to represent the Romans and/or early Christians. The Romans were indeed
evil people, and their colonial activities and lootings certainly were
robbery. Mr. Carlson's mention of their ignorance must refer to the
gentiles' lack of understanding of Judaism. That these 'folks' didn't
know the difference between right and left could also mean that they
represent Messianic 'Jews', who don't know Judaism from Christianity.

     [...] before some from their company
     had taken the old man aside, and beat and murdered him [...]

I deleted the description of the old man. He is supposed to be Jesus. It
is true that the Romans killed him.

     On their way, ahead of them, they encountered many from the House
     of Israel.  Some they tormented, others they raped, and still
     others they slew by the edge of their sword.  A few they bound
     hand an foot, and threw them across the back of their horses, and
     sped on swiftly to their treasure.

Christian brutality toward the Jews is quite well documented. I don't
need to go into the gory details of the Inquisition, the Crusades,
pogroms and other Christian acts.  The captives obviously are a reference
to the forced conversions, that is, the result of 'missionary' work.

     Then they commanded the
     Children of Israel they'd forced to come with them, to fill their
     sacks full.  This they did; yet in order to carry their new found
     burden, they slew those captives they had taken and forced with
     them that they'd come across on the road [...]

Perhaps this is a reference to the Holocaust in which even those apostate
Jews who accepted Christianity were killed. Perhaps it is a reference to
the numerous pogroms in which thousands of Jews were not even given the
chance of survival. Perhaps the Iquisition. Most likely, all of these
and more.

     {Little
     did they know, that this heap of "diamonds" was really nothing
     more than cheap cut glass -worthless!}

This is apparently _Mr._Carlson's_ view of Christianity. My story was only
an attack on missionaries and their poison. I suppose that its easier
to assault an institution from the inside. It was never my intent to attack
Christianity as a whole, just one activity practiced by a few of its
more fanatic adherents.

     Yet the lone man approached by the three men of Israel,
     in the beginning of this story on the road; -my friend, it is YOU!

I believe that Mr. Carlson is right here, too. The difference is that I
will not allow myself to be bound and gagged like the poor Jew in my story
was, or the captives in Mr. Carlson's story were. I fight back. I will not
be sodomized by missionaries. I know and understand the difference between
left and right, unlike the Christians in his allegory. Fortunately, most
Jews ('Rabbinic Jews' in this newsgroup) are equally adamant.


Paul A. Braier

-----------------------
Paul A. Braier
pab1@quads.uchicago.edu