Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxd!rlr
From: rlr@pyuxd.UUCP (Rich Rosen)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.jewish
Subject: re: Supreme Court officializes US idolatry
Message-ID: <295@pyuxd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Nov-84 12:45:15 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxd.295
Posted: Wed Nov 28 12:45:15 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 29-Nov-84 05:24:26 EST
References: <224@usfbobo.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 51

>[Yirmiyahu Ben-David]
>Thus, the Supreme Court has, by officially authorizing nativity scenes
>be included and funded by Federal monies, put the official stamp of the
>United States on idolatry. While such idolatry has always been present
>among the people, it was not officially United States policy before. We
>can now state that the United States has officially become a pagan and
>idolatrous nation (if the tree hadn't been enough).

> 1. Against murder
> 2. Against stealing
> 3. Against sexual immorality
> 4. Against eating part of a living animal
> 5. For setting up a system of Justice
> 6. Against idolatry
> 7. Against blasphemy
> 
> So we can now check off number 6.  Those who are concerned about such
> things should note that numbers 1, 3, 7, and increasingly 5, are
> also in grave danger.  [BRUNSON]

What is this list?  A list of absolute good/evil dichotomies for which the
good side is listed, or a list of things Brunson doesn't like?  Obviously
it's nothing but the latter.  Frankly, murder and stealing I consider wrong
because they harm other human beings.  Sexual immorality?  Meaning any
sexual behavior different from yours?  (Giving Brunson's ramblings on the
net, if they serve as examples of his sexual behavior, by adhering to his
standards the human race have died out years ago.  Figure it out.)  Sorry,
I see no reason for worrying about people's private lives and attempting
to control their "immorality".  Eating part of a living animal?  People do
it in Japan.  What's it to you if people choose to eat food in this manner?
(Granted, the process can be considered inhumane treatment to animals, but
is it a major moral issue?  You have a strange and sick [and arbitrary] set
of priorities.)  Justice?  I thought God administers justice.  What business
is it of ours to do so?  (Unless justice is what we make it and nothing more.)
Idolatry?  Who cares what or how people worship, as long as 1) everyone remains
free to choose, 2) the government does not support/condone a particular system
above (or below) others, and 3) that the belief system does not include
imposing one's will on other people.  Blasphemy?  You want to get rid of it?
I think we'd be better off REQUIRING it!  Without blasphemy and sacrilege,
without that questioning of what certain people think is "obviously" right,
people whose defense against such questioning is "Shut up or we'll kill you!",
a civilization is as good as dead.

Now, I'd like to hear Mr. Brunson's reasons for supporting the particular
points on his list, and his reasons for believing that certain ideals (held for
what reason?) are being eradicated.  Of course, if they are based on his
"learned value orientation" rather than logic and reason, we can just throw
them right out.
-- 
Occam's Razor:  I liked it so much, I bought the company!
						Rich Rosen    pyuxd!rlr