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.