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From: jqb@netcom.com (Jim Balter)
Subject: Re: The function of religion is not to help you understand reality...
Message-ID: <jqbCzuIsF.M5o@netcom.com>
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References: <39h61v$j7q@golem.wcc.govt.nz> <javilkCz32AD.8GH@netcom.com> <Pine.DYN.3.91.941112224618.26175B-100000@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> <3auhek$2ah@hobbes.cc.uga.edu>
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 1994 23:05:03 GMT
Lines: 33

In article <3auhek$2ah@hobbes.cc.uga.edu>,
Adam Brockman <brockman@sunchem.uucp> wrote:
>I agree very much with what you are saying here, except that you seem so
>driven to define religion as some political outward expression of christian
>spirituality.  I don't think that it really should be that way.. From
>a christian point of view, god gave us free will.  That means that 
>the christian faithfull have an independent mandate to care for the needy
>et cetera.  That does not mean that they have a mandate to force the non
>faithfull to give away their recources to the needy, submit to christian 
>social moral imperatives, or economic imperatives.  There are some laws that
>follow "The Rule of Law", ie they are so mutually beneficial that they are
>outside of religious beliefs, and instead are natural consequences of natural
>law (such as murder being illegal, thou shalt not murder).      What you seem to be getting at, forgive me if I have mis-interpreted
>you, is that to be a real christian, you cannot force you social morality on
>others, but must force your economic morals on others.
>
>I'd say that "give unto Ceaser that which is Ceaser's" gives a pretty clear
>illustration that your Christian beliefs should be near independent of 
>your political ones. Your political duty is thus somewhat removed from your
>more inward religious duty.  That's not to say that voting for Hitler or
>Stalin is acceptable, or that you don't have to be kind to your neighbors.  It a
>means that you can't condemn other christians, even if they are annoying
>fundy types.  (though they annoy me too I admit).  
>
>
>Adam Brockman

Please please please restrict religious debates to appropriate groups.
comp.ai.philosophy certainly is not one.


-- 
<J Q B>
