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From: rb@ccivax.UUCP (rex ballard)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.flame
Subject: Re: Stick it in yer ear.
Message-ID: <280@ccivax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Sep-85 20:49:55 EDT
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Posted: Wed Sep 25 20:49:55 1985
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>      The underlieing reason why Oded et alia want my head is because of my
> religious beliefs.  I happen to believe in Christian Identity.  Pure and 
> simple.  


Although I agree with you on many points, your views are a little extreme.
As you clearly point out, there is a very good chance that more of us are
Jews than those who claim to be Jews.  Perhaps you are descended from
Isaac yourself.

I believe there is room for SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES in american life.  Can
you, or any christian you know boil the teachings of Christ down to one
or two pages?  This has been done by a few catholics who were looking for
a way to expose alchoholics and drug addicts to christian principles
while attempting to overcome some very strong resentments against the
'HYPE' christianity.  The result was 12 steps and 12 traditions, the
cornerstone of AA, NA, OA, AMEND, and a few others.  In fact, those groups
combined outnumber any other sect.  The most interesting thing is that
teenager attendence is growing at phenomenal rates.

There is a strong spiritual hunger in young people today.  They have
been taught by 'Secular Humanism' that people are responsible for
destiny.  Fortunately, after an episode with an uncontrollable
situation, they learn that they MUST RELY on a HIGHER POWER.  The one
the found in church was 'The Boogie Man' who would strike them down
with lightning if they didn't tithe, do everything the
minester/preacher/pastor told them..., God would 'punish them'.
After comparing their best effort at self-determination with the
lives of those who 'used to be even worse', and seeing the progress
of others, they figure 'I Can't, God can, I'll let him', then they
'clear away the wreckage of the past', and 'continue to seek progress
(not perfection) on a daily basis' and share this experience with others.

The message of Christ was that God wanted to do good things for people,
not 'Smite them'.  He explained that the greatest sins were 'what
came out of people's mouths' as a result of anger, fear, or obsessive
want.  He chastised the pharisees for 'playing god' and using 'The 
KOSHER laws' as a club, even to the detrement of the 10 commandments.

You say you are a Christian.  I believe you think you are.  You have
tried to obey laws which were abused from the time of Exodus.  Moses
and the Judges made many 'rulings' to prevent retaliatory acts which
would lead to the breaking of God's commandments.  Even today, many
'rulings' are made to reduce the possibility of greater crimes.  Because
of your desire to please God, you avoid many of the 'tough spots' that
might otherwise have weakened your faith.

Catholics were prevented from reading the four Gospels in their
entirety out of the fear that the message of freedom would cause
total anarchy and persecution of the church.  The King James bible
had many 'carefully worded phrases' which, though 'properly translated',
seriously distort the true meanings of many phrases (the 'Tithe' paid
to the King of Salem was actually a 'maximum tax').

Many Churches still rely on 'verse quoting' to strengthen personal
or political views (how many oft quoted phrases from the letters of
Paul are prefaced with words to the effect of 'This is just my personal
opinion, for what that's worth') as 'God's Own Word'.  Even Mormon
Prophesies contain such 'disclaimers'.

Unfortunately, Christians are a little lax about the '12 traditions'.
The actions of Faulwell, Robertson,... do affect churches which do
not share their opinions, just as 'Liberation Theology' affected the
migration of Christianity into totalitarian climates (since NERO).


Disclaimer: I do not speak for any of the groups mentioned above,
Claim no membership in any of them (except 2), violate my own anonymity
because - 1) I hope that sharing may help someone who is having problems
of this sort. 2) I can't post news as GUEST on this machine.