From: hulsey@dbsun.uucp (hulsey)
Subject: Re: Judgmentalism (was Re: Whose Truth?)
Organization: BioMerieux-Vitek, St. Louis Mo.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 23:16:07 GMT

KKRUEGER@Zeus.unomaha.edu (Kurt R. Krueger) writes:
>>hulsey@dbsun.uucp writes:
>>
>>  However, the effect of modern scientific inquiry has been to question
>>our societal preconceptions.  We need tangible reasons to believe that
>>certain actions are truly bad for us.  Christianity has failed to provide
>>satisfactory reasons.  People ask, "Why is lust a sin?".  "I'm not hurting
>>anyone as long as I don't act."  Christianity says, "Jesus said it was a
>>sin."  People ask, "Why did Jesus say that?"  Christianity says. "His
>>reasons are too wondrous for us to comprehend."  People walk away, shaking
>>their heads and mumbling to themselves.
>
>Christianity provides reasons, and a lot of good, logical ones.  I think
>you have just been talking to some know-nothings.

These "know-nothings" go to one of the largest Fundamentalist churches
in the country, one whose pastor is a friend of Jerry Falwell's.  Here
are some actual statements said by preachers at this church (paraprased).

"People who are too intelligent cannot know Jesus, because they believe
themselves to be too close to God."

"The Earth was created ~5700 years ago.  Fossils and other things that
lead people to believe the Earth is much older were put there by God to
test people's faith.  The truly faithful would realize that God was just
trying to throw the unfaithful off."

"Aerodynamicists do not know why bumblebees fly.  Their flight when
science says they cannot fly is one of God's miracles."

"Every era of history has had its sign that Jesus is is the Son of God.
Scientists cannot explain the Shroud of Turin.  This is the Sign for
our time."  (The Shroud was later carbon dated to the 11th century. 
A relic, but not Jesus's burial shroud.)

It seems to me that Fundamentalists do not want people to think for
themselves.  Instead of giving logical reasons for their beliefs, they
defer to the wisdom of God.  Many times, a logical reason would be a
more convincing answer, but they don't even want to answer the question.
They question your true faith when you dare to question their
statements.  They will think for you.

>                                                  Scientific inquiry into
>morality has been disastrous for society.  This is because the morality often
>winds up being based on desire instead of truth.

Do you mean that the result of the research is what the researcher wants
instead of the truth?  Not a flame, I'm just not sure what you meant.

>> I agree that there are certain Christian moral values that are, in fact,
>> supported by scientific evidence.  However, others, such as the
>> proscription of birth control, are questioned.
>
>There is no proscription of birth control in the Christian faith.  All the
>Protestant, married Christians I've known (and they're conservative) have
>used it.  The only proscription is in the Catholic dogma, and this may
>change someday.  The guiding concept behind the Catholics' belief is that sex
>is primarily intended for procreation.  I am a Protestant, and a fairly con-
>servative one at that, and I see nothing wrong with the concept of birth
>control whatsoever.

Some Protestant groups also proscibe birth control.  Randall Terry does
not believe in it.  I was told that he was on Phil Donahue.  When asked
about it, he said that he and his wife would have as many childen as God
wanted them to have.  He hasn't stated that he would like to restrict
access to birth control, but it makes people wonder of he has a hidden
agenda.  After Roe v. Wade falls, is Griswold v. Connecticut next?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
hulsey%dbsun.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Jim Hulsey)   TBDBITL '84 ('85 Rose Bowl)
An Ohioan living in Misery (Missouri, same difference)

Watch what you say!                Won't you sign up your name
They'll be calling you a radical   So you can be their dependable
A liberal, fanatical criminal      Respectable, presentable vegetable
--  Supertramp "The Logical Song"
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