From: bradletm@ntmtv.UUCP (Tim Bradley)
Subject: Re: stupid Christians (was re: hair)
Originator: bradletm@rastaban
Organization: Northern Telecom Incorporated
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 00:14:26 GMT

From article <BuAn1p.Ioy@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG>, by gordon@zorch.SF-Bay.ORG (Gordon Vickers):
> In article <d9mn!9j.rohwerwd@netcom.com> rohwerwd@netcom.com (W. David Rohwer) writes:
>>     I agree.  But, I also suspect that he has been noticing stupid
>>Christians following their so-called perfect bible.
>>
>      I know some stupid Christians, and I know many gifted ones but I don't
>   know any that incourage their women to grow hair in their arm pits. That
>   is not to say there may not be some around, heck, beliefs are so varied,
>   I wouldn't doubt that some such sects may exist. 
>      Some sects don't even require that a minister be ordained or even
>   college educated. Don't forget too, that most anyone can start their
>   own Christian (or non-Christian) church with few restrictions.
>      There are some odd ball churches out their and some may even be stupid,
>   but I really don't believe anyone knowelegable on how varied the beliefs
>   are could make the generalization that all Christians are stupid.
>      For many of the same reasons, one cannot generalize that all Christians
>   consider the Bible "perfect" .   I believe it does, in a way have a few
>   imperfections, but those mentioned most often by non-Christians tend
>   to be passages taken out of context, or at least, interpeted without
>   understanding related passages, writing styles and customs of the time
>   the particular 'book' was written, and many other factors that one MUST
>   consider before they can grasp what is really being said.
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Gordon Vickers, member Luthern Church of Our Savior, Cupertino, Ca.
> gordon@kpy.com
> I can respect a man of (any) religion more than the one with none.

	There are no "rules" to being a Christian.  Not all Christians
must behave the same way and believe the same things.  That is the
beauty of it...it totally depends on the individual and the strengths of
his personal faith.  As far as legalities go, the U.S. government cannot
interfere in the selection process that churches use to determine their
ministers.  In fact, I am a minister of the Universal Life Church and
can legally marry, bury, and baptise people.  I've been a minister for
almost six years now.

	I've also gotten my Doctrate of Metaphysics from the Universal
Life Church.   I plan to gain the title of Bishop sometime this year.

	And how did I do this you ask?  First I sent in my two
bucks...hey I'm a minister.  Then I sent in my ten bucks...hey, I've got
a Doctrate of Metaphysics...Now I'm considering sending in five more
bucks to get the legal certificate that proclaims me as a Bishop of the
Universal Life Church.  I love seperation of church and state.

	If you'd like to know more about the Universal Life Church and
how to become an ordained minister, just write me a note.

	And for those of you who are offended by this, I'm sorry.  This
country allows anyone to believe in anything that they want to (or don't
want to, for that matter) as long as it is not being force-fed to people.
Religion is personal and my personal beliefs shouldn't interfere with
you having your personal beliefs.

	One more thing that I'd like to mention...Have you ever been in
a group of people and one person says something about God just to piss
off the "Jesus freaks" (for instance, "God is an asshole").  It's
amazing to me how many people in the group move away from you as if you
are going to be struck by lightning.  Do they actually think that their
God is so cruel that he would hurt or kill someone for something they
said?  I've done this and had friends say, "Dude, I wouldn't even joke
about that.  It'll catch up to you someday."  I just don't understand
it.  I mean, hey, if God can't take a little harassment, who can?


						- Tim