From: leet@ims.com (Lee Thomas)
Subject: Re: Religion is great!
Organization: Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 17:07:19 GMT

>>>>> On 16 Nov 92  09:28:56, David.Rice@ofa123.fidonet.org said:

David> Who: ata@hfsi.uucp (John Ata - FSO)
David> ID: 1992Nov11.030810.1913@hfsi.uucp
David>  
 
DR> "Is it moral to go on TV and fake hundreds of thousands
DR> into believing you can heal sick people, with the result
DR> that the "healed" died later because they did not seek REAL
DR> help? How do Christians justify that death? Were they doing
DR> God's work, thus one or two deaths are acceptable? The ring-
DR> leaders of Christianity are oh so willing to have their
DR> followers pay the price, in blood, for the leader's sick,
DR> flawed brand of morality.

It will be interesting indeed when the TV evangelists stand before
their Lord and must answer for their actions while on Earth.  Just
thinking about it makes my ears tingle.  See 2 Peter chapter 2.
 
JA-FSO> "If they are causing the death of people who could have
JA-FSO> sought medical advice, then it would not seem to me to
JA-FSO> be moral. But you talked about intent. What would be
JA-FSO> the intent be of such a preacher?
David>  
David> Hi! Read "Don't Call me Brother."
David>  
David> The intent is to con people into handing over large sums of money.
David> With it goes sex with whores, power over others, political power
David> in society, estates to live on, drugs to snort, strings to pull.
David> This has always been the intent of the rulers of all religions;

E.g., Buddha?

David> even though there are sometimes a few genuine followers, one will
David> never find genuine leaders in any religion. It is POWER they seek,
David> not some "spirituality."
David>  
David> If you could show some evidence that I am wrong, I will honestly
David> look it over. But I won't hold my breath waiting for it (SMILE!).

Jesus had several chances to stage a mass uprising against Rome, and
refused them.  His followers were ready to fight, but he stopped them.
What did He mean by "Render unto Caesar ..." anyway?

David> Don't get me wrong. Religion is GREAT. I can't think of any better
David> way to control the ignorant, hungry masses. Use religion to keep
David> them stupid, ignorant, and in poverty, while the Ruling Class
David> lives off of them like parasites. Religion keeps the poor from
David> eatting the rich. Since I am one of the rich, I owe a great
David> deal to all religions.

It might be helpful if you stopped reading Karl Marx for a while, and
picked up a biography of Martin Luther instead.  Focus especially on
the sale of indulgences, and why Luther opposed that practice ...

Then, find out why the U.S.'s Founding Fathers were so big on debate,
education, and the Protestant work ethic, and see if stupidity,
ignorance and poverty are always the aim of religious people.  The
Founding Fathers had some interesting things to say about religion.

The bottom line in all this is that Christianity is *not* a religion
as such (being some sort of proscribed set of rituals) but rather a
relationship with God Himself.  Whenever and wherever Christianity has
degraded into a religion, David, your criticisms are deadly accurate.
However, that's not the whole story.
--
Lee Thomas,  leet@ims.com      | "But they that will be rich fall into
Integrated Measurement Systems |  temptation and a snare, and into many foolish
9525 SW Gemini Dr.             |  and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
Beaverton, Or 97005            |  destruction and perdition." - 1 Timothy 6:9 
(503) 626-7117, ext. 1558      |                                         THUMP!
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