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From: scs@wucs.UUCP (Steve Swope)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Byron Howes discusses gnosticism in relation to the Damager-God
Message-ID: <1170@wucs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Sep-85 21:10:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: wucs.1170
Posted: Wed Sep 18 21:10:29 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 04:26:16 EDT
References: <8508172148.AA02946@sdcc6.ARPA> <308@pyuxn.UUCP> <2195@sdcc6.UUCP> <346@pyuxn.UUCP>
Organization: Washington U. in St. Louis, CS Dept.
Lines: 24
Xref: watmath net.religion:7691 net.religion.christian:1333

In article <346@pyuxn.UUCP>, pez@pyuxn.UUCP (Paul Zimmerman) writes:
> Perhaps, as Byron says, there is an ultimate God who is very different
> from the heinous evil Damager-God who wreaks havoc in all our lives. But,
> sadly, it is that Damager-God we must face every day.

If this is the case, it is simply another way of saying that Satan and God
are not the same. It seems the main problem is agreeing on what names we're
going to use for what beings.

> As Byron says, we would
> have no direct contact with the ultimate deity he describes. Anyway, if He
> was truly good, wouldn't He take steps to eradicate the pig monster God
> who maltreats this planet and its people?
 
I disagree about our ability to contact the ultimate deity (which I refer to
as God).  I believe that humans can and do communicate with God through
prayer.  I also believe that God has taken steps to eradicate Satan (or the
damager-god, if you prefer).  Christ's death on the cross insures the ultimate
defeat of Satan.  Our choice is accept or reject the salvation offered.

				Steve Swope (aka scs@wucs.UUCP)

"Brigadier, A straight line may be the shortest path between
 two points, but it is by no means the most interesting!"