From: holzman@fnalno.fnal.gov (Daniel B. Holzman)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Liberal/New Age Religion (Was: Santeria and animal-sacrifice)
Date: 13 Nov 92 07:19:56 GMT
Organization: Fermi National Accelerator Lab

In article <Nov.11.03.00.10.1992.15097@geneva.rutgers.edu>, 
eje@irenaeus.mlo.dec.com (Eric James Ewanco) writes:

> I find it a laughable assertion that fundamentalists want to take over and
> establish a fundamentalist nation.  

To make this staement, you must ignore the blatant calls to theocracy made my
such Fundamentalist Christian luminaries as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell. 
Robertson once stated on the 700 Club that only Christians should be allowed to
hold public office, and that the Constitution is a wonderful document for
Chrsitans to rule "their" nation by, but non-Christians using it mess things
up.  George Bush said on record that Athiests cannot be good citizens.

> All fundamentalists want to do is stem
> the massive lossage of morality this country is undergoing.  

Read this as stop people from not following *their* morality, as Mr. Ewanco
goes on to illustrate:

> They do not want
> homosexuality to be exalted as acceptable.  They want proscriptions against
> abortion restored.  

Well, these certainly aren't the moral dictates of Wicca that Fundamentalists 
are trying to restore!

> Plus the fact that already this society is becoming increasingly hostile to
> Christian morality.  Abstinence is not just not taught, it is forbidden.
                                                                ^^^^^^^^^
Come again?

> Christians are forbidden to meet in public areas.  

Last I heard, if anyone can meet in a given place, Christians can as well.

> Christian symbols are removed from public view (even if on private property).

I saw no shortage of Creches and Christmas trees on people's front lawns last 
Yule.  I've yet to see a Church take down its cross.

> Homosexuals are given rights to prosletyze that no Christians are ever given.

Details, please?
 
> The question is not religion, but morality.  The traditional American standard
> of morality is being etched away -- or I should say, is collapsing rapidly.
> Most fundamentalists would be quite happy with a return to the morals this
> nation has had for the first 180 years of its existence.

You mean the one which had abortion legal until the late 1800's?

> Oh, there is no question that the New Age isn't "New".  It's all paganism and
> witchcraft from ancient times.  Yes, it predates Christianity.  Unfortunately,
> societies based on these religions tended to be much nastier than anything
> we've seen today.

Of course, this assumes that Neopaganism is the same as Paleopaganism.

> If you think that the Catholic Church has done society a bad turn, then just
> take a look at the societies of the Babylonians, Assyrians, Muslims, Druids,
> Aztecs, Romans, Nazis, Hindus, and Communists.
> 
> Paganism does society far more harm than Christianity.

It would seem that all the groups you have named have done harm.

-- 
Daniel B. Holzman                    | Eight Words the Witch's Rede Fufill:
HOLZMAN@FNAL.BITNET                  | An It Harm None, Do What You Will
HOLZMAN@FNALC.FNAL.GOV.INTERNET      |
                                     | All Acts of Love and Pleasure are
Love doesn't subtract,               | Her Rituals
   it multiplies    - Heinlein       |
                                     | Speak the Word.
Disclaimer:  Fermilab's far too large to have an opinion, let alone mine.