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From: mrh@cybvax0.UUCP (Mike Huybensz)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: School Prayer Amendment - reply to ??
Message-ID: <160@cybvax0.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Oct-84 23:00:09 EDT
Article-I.D.: cybvax0.160
Posted: Wed Oct  3 23:00:09 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Oct-84 01:48:53 EDT
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Organization: Cybermation, Inc., Cambridge, MA
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> [Larry Bickford]
> > Mr. BenDavid writes
> > >>
> > >>Christianity from time to time has the doctrine of forced con-
> > >>version (Spanish Inquisition, Crusades, Naziism, etc.)....
> 
> Pardon me for exploding a few myths, but Hitler found the basis for his
> actions in a rather well-referenced (but little-read) book -
> 		THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES

I'm not going to waste space making the obvious argument that the ideas of
evolution have to be misused to "support" the ideas of Hitler and others.
I'll recommend reading "The Mismeasure of Man" by Stephan J. Gould.

The point (as I see it) is that ideas  (such as Christianity and evolution)
have characteristic patterns of abuse.  Larry has accurately pointed out
some characteristic abuses of evolutionary ideas, and I would oppose those
abuses, such as teaching that evolution supports racism.  Especially  if the
government is attempting to perpetrate those abuses.  If the government teaches
(in the public schools or elsewhere) that evolution means racism is right, then
I will oppose that teaching.  I also oppose the government perpetrating typical
religious (including Christian) abuses.  Such as institutionalizing religion.
(School prayer is a fine example of this.)

That is why I oppose school prayer, but not teaching of evolution.

public schools.
-- 

Mike Huybensz				...mit-eddie!cybvax0!mrh