Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site bunker.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!decvax!ittvax!bunker!garys From: garys@bunker.UUCP (Gary M. Samuelson) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Hopeful News Message-ID: <631@bunker.UUCP> Date: Wed, 12-Dec-84 11:00:24 EST Article-I.D.: bunker.631 Posted: Wed Dec 12 11:00:24 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 13-Dec-84 05:31:10 EST References: <149@ihu1m.UUCP> Organization: Bunker Ramo, Trumbull Ct Lines: 71 > Christianity is a religion for the weak. The fact that they are running > scared... Really? I hadn't noticed. > ...seems to me to be an indication that something strong has come > onto the stage. Namely, the enemies of Christianity, which Rev. Bloesch > says includes paganism and nature-mysticism. > I find this a very hopeful > statement. Perhaps Christianity will soon find itself in the place it > belongs, a second-rate cult whose members are reviled and persecuted by > the main of society. Here is someone honest enough to admit that he favors persecution of Christians. > Don't you find it strange, that the saints of > Christianity have always been those who do nothing but stir up trouble > and attack society's values? Which "saints of Christianity" do you have in mind? How did or do they stir up trouble? Often, just by asserting that there is such a thing as right and wrong. > That their teachings mainly appealed to > the weak, sick, and the slaves of society? I suppose, in the same way that medicine appeals to the physically sick, Christianity can be said to appeal to the spiritually sick. > What does that make us if we > embrace these teachings? I can't resist giving the obvious answer: Christianity appeals to the weak, sick, and slaves of society because it promises to make them strong, well, and free. And there are many who say that it does so. > "If one wants to be, in one's own person, 'chosen of God' - or a 'temple > of God', or a 'judge of angels' - then every OTHER principle of selection, > for example on the basis of integrity, intellect, manliness and pride, > beauty and liberality of heart, is simply 'world' - EVIL AS SUCH.... > Moral: every word in the mouth of the 'first Christian' is a lie, every > act he performs an instinctive falsehood - all his values, all his aims > are harmful, but WHOMEVER he hates, WHATEVER he hates, HAS VALUE.... > The Christian, the priestly Christian especially, is a CRITERION OF VALUES." > [emphasis in the original] > > - Friedrich Nietzsche > Chapter 46 > The Anti-Christ > > "Submitted for your approval..." > -- Approval withheld. Why do you quote Nietzsche as if his work is definitive (i.e., defines Christianity) ? I think Christianity (the biblical kind) favors things like integrity, intellect, beauty, and liberality of heart (references on request). I haven't a clue what "manliness" means in this context -- should women also strive for "manliness" ? "Pride" also has different meanings -- which one do you think Nietzsche means? If he means the opposite of humility, then Christianity would disapprove of it; if he means self-respect, that is another question. > replies to: Russell Spence > ihnp4!ihlpm!russ > AT&T Technologies > Naperville, IL Gary Samuelson