From: altheimm@nextnet.csus.edu (Murray Altheim)
Subject: Re: Fundies: expensive
Organization: California State University Sacramento
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 01:14:11 GMT

In article <11190033@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM> reykja@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Reykja Sigurdsson) writes:
>>   What to call this 'movement'?  For lack of a better name, 'The New 
>> Enlightenment'.  
>> PAt Buchanan has put it right.  We are living in an age of cultural 
>> warfare.  I think it's time to fight back by cutting them off at tyhe 
>> roots.
> 
>          And how do you suggest that we might go about doing so? I 
>would certainly be interested in hearing. ;-) 
>
>
>-reykjavik
>
>                       The seeking of wisdom is the highest virtue-
>                                           --Odin--

I sometimes think that the only way the system will fall (apart from 
economically) is a complete failure of the philosophical/religious
foundation.  This is already occurring.

Anyone who has studied even a little Christology knows that even the
Catholic and Protestant scholars themselves admit that the current
common belief of most Christians is in error to the reality of the
life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.  The distortions of the church
are now coming to light.

For example, it is now well accepted that Jesus did not believe he was
divine, nor the "one and true son of God". The term "Christ" was not used
by him nor applied to him during his lifetime, and was a later, Greek
title. After analysing the gospels, most of what is red in a red-lined
bible is now really black.  We have almost NO basis for "knowing" the 
words of Jesus.  Similarly with the miracles.  Some of the miracle stories
are not only implausible but impossible given the actual environment of 
Palastine at the time.  For example, Jesus sends an exorcized demon into
a herd of pigs, who then run into a lake. Well, none of the sects of Jews
apparently kept pigs back then.  There are many contradictions and discrep-
ancies that cannot be explained away by mistakes in translation or copying
nor even by overzealous Christian writers.  The core teaching is in 
question.

And BTW, don't flame ME if you disagree.  Flame the Christian scholars
(and these are both in and out of the church) who I learned this from. I
tend to side with the more liberal scholars like Marcello Craveri, but even
moderates agree that there are some VERY SERIOUS problems for the church
with regards to the core Christian teachings. I've been reading as much
of the current scholarship as possible for the past three years. If you
want a book list, fine. The questions remain.

It will be awhile before the true impact of current scholarship hits home,
but it will eventually.  I think one of the reasons for the rise of the
extremist Christian right wing is their fear of their own future, and
their unwillingness to come to grips with the flaws in their own dogma.

Personally, I'm more interested in investigating the teachings of Jesus
from what little we CAN be certain of than in denigrating the Christian
church.  I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, and respect many of the 
people who tried to instill in me their beliefs and values.  I hope for
their sake they can come to grips with their own history and resolve some
sort of "way" for the future that achieves a healthier society than the
ostensibly "Christian" one we are now enduring.

Blessings,

Murray

-- 
Murray M. Altheim      "Ils ont l'orteil de Bouc, & d'un Chevreil l'oreille,
Instructional Consultant    La corne d'un Chamois, & la face vermeille
CSU, Sacramento          Comme un rouge Croissant: & dancent toute nuict
altheimm@csus.edu       Dedans un carrefour, ou pres d'une eau qui bruict."
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