Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site pucc-h Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!CS-Mordred!Pucc-H:aeq From: aeq@pucc-h (Jeff Sargent) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Atheos non saltum Message-ID: <605@pucc-h> Date: Tue, 20-Mar-84 20:06:42 EST Article-I.D.: pucc-h.605 Posted: Tue Mar 20 20:06:42 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 22-Mar-84 00:53:54 EST References: <991@ihuxr.UUCP> Organization: Purdue University Computing Center Lines: 31 I recognize that Lew Mammel, Jr.'s article under this name was submitted with tongue at least probing the teeth, but I still feel I should respond. > The atheist is restrained from following the siren call of immortality > by the bonds of rationalism. "Bonds" is the correct word. One is indeed bound if one restrains himself to rationalism only. And "rationalism" (as distinct from "rationality"), meaning a deification of the mind (particularly one's own), is certainly going to oppose something which considers the mind important but not primary. > Or perhaps we could say that the atheist stands his ground against > the spectre of death, rather than leaping into the abyss of the irrational. I think it's almost the other way around. The Christian is the one who knows that he need not fear mere physical death, and thus has a supply of courage and strength (which the atheist denies himself) wherewith to face death. And I repeat what I've said before: Christianity is not irrational--the correct word(s) might be supra-rational or trans-rational. A relationship with Christ is an excellent way to cure actual irrationality. > Leaping into the abyss of metaphor ... I do appreciate your giving the article the light touch. Sorry I wasn't able to reciprocate extemporaneously. -- -- Jeff Sargent {allegra|ihnp4|decvax|harpo|seismo|ucbvax}!pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq Have you hugged your junk mail today?