Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site ulysses.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!ulysses!smb From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin) Newsgroups: net.religion,net.politics Subject: Re: The Falwellite Frenzy Message-ID: <806@ulysses.UUCP> Date: Thu, 22-Mar-84 09:59:31 EST Article-I.D.: ulysses.806 Posted: Thu Mar 22 09:59:31 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 23-Mar-84 08:04:35 EST References: <2056@cbscc.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 14 My objection to the Moral Majority is that they (a) claim a monopoly on Revealed Truth, and (b) use their interpretation of this as the basis for political action. Point (a) is consistent with the behavior of many religions; while I don't particularly care for it, it's certainly a reasonable exercise of freedom of religion. And almost any political viewpoint can be defended as well. But when the two are combined, you have an attempt to set public policy on religious grounds -- and that's one of the evil effects of a state-sponsored religion. Not only that, but the policies are set beyond the bounds of rational debate, because the proponents claim them to be a matter of revealed truth. So -- support any political position you want, including one based on your religious beliefs. But find some justification that a non-believer can accept.