From: leet@ims.com (Lee Thomas)
Subject: Re: Cultural Appropriation and the New Age
Organization: Integrated Measurement Systems, Inc.
	<1992Dec28.201303.15610@cs.tulane.edu> <C0338B.CFD@inews.Intel.COM>
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 18:40:22 GMT

>>>>> On 30 Dec 92 17:57:47 GMT, mdouglas@cadev6.intel.com (Maria Douglas ) said:

Maria> I believe that the New Age movement is the natural result of our
Maria> cultural "melting pot."  Our country was founded on Deism and
Maria> Freemasonry, not Christianity per se.  Deism (if I'm not mistaken)
Maria> is *similar* to New Age beliefs in that it encompasses all religions
Maria> and strives to *extract* a universal deity (a *little* like the
Maria> oversoul in Transcendentalism), a single spirit, as it were.
Maria> Benjamin Franklin was a Deist and a Freemason, and so was Thomas
Maria> Jefferson.  (I studied Deism in one of my Early American Literature
Maria> classes a few years ago, since it had such a profound effect on
Maria> our founding fathers.)

Our country was most definitely founded on Christianity <per se>, as a
thorough examination of the correspondence of the Founding Fathers
will overwhelmingly demonstrate.  See, for more detail than you can
stomach, David Barton's _The Myth of Separation_ (Wallbuilder Press,
1992, ISBN 0-925279-18-8).  As to Franklin's Deism, he himself
(according to Franklin's own correspondence), defined it 
as the adherence to no particular Christian denomination, *not* the
belief in the clockmaker God.  For Jefferson's deism, see below.
 Freemasonry as practiced by George Washington required merely a
belief in God and a concern for the poor (as evidenced by Freemason
literature of the late 1700's), *not* the mystical secret society
developed in the middle 1800's by importing from Europe.

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great
nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on
religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!  For this very reason
peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and
freedom to worship here." - Patrick Henry

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more
convincing proofs I see of this truth - _that God Governs in the
affairs of men_.  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without
his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?"
- Benjamin Franklin, addressing George Washington as President of the
Constitutional Convention

"That the charge of deism ... is false, scandalous and malicious -
That there is not a single passage in the _Notes on Virginia_, or any
other of Mr. Jefferson's writings, repugnant to Christianity; but on
the contrary, in every respect, favourable to it." - Tunis Wortman, _A
Solemn Address to the Christians and Patriots upon the Approaching
Election of a President of the United States_.

Maria> Well, that's my $.02.  (And, yes, I've *studied* the Bible, and
Maria> if the New Testament is not taken out of context with the Old Testa-
Maria> ment and the Jewish culture of Jesus' time, it's message is VERY
Maria> clear.  Hmmmmm...culture impacting religious beliefs?  AMAZING!)

It is quite unfortunate that an in-depth discussion of this topic would
almost certainly result in a flame war, which is, of course, Usenet
culture impacting the free exercise of Christian religious beliefs
(i.e., the proclamation of the Good News).
--
Lee Thomas,  leet@ims.com      | "Indeed I tremble for my country when I
Integrated Measurement Systems |  reflect that God is just; that his justice
9525 SW Gemini Dr.             |  cannot sleep forever - Thomas Jefferson
Beaverton, Or 97005            | 
(503) 626-7117, ext. 1558      | 
Xref: sparky sci.anthropology:1651 sci.archaeology:3076