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April 21, 2005

Bill Cope gets a letter

Read this.

I love his subtitle, Advice for the smug. Her letter is pretty damn smug. I'm not going to comment on Bill's view of religion but her smugness reminds me of something my wife and I talk about.

Some Christians seem so certain of their beliefs that anyone that disagrees isn't just wrong but doomed. I'm a Methodist and chose to be a Methodist because I think they have things more right than others. Do I think they're perfect? No. Do I think that Baptists have it wrong? Yes. Do I think that their wrongness is substantial enough to doom them to an eternity in hell? Of course not.

Certainly the differences aren't substantial enough for me to be smug in my righteousness.

I guess this is the moral relativism the new Pope warned about. Such warnings just seem to me to be more smugness from someone that's too certain he's right.

Posted by Paul Witt at April 21, 2005 01:52 PM

Comments

Better a relativist than a self righteous fundie.

I also chose Methodism because I think they got most of it right about being "Christ-like." Not that there aren't lots of wing nuts in the congregation but the bylaws in the Book of Discipline are pretty good. I suppose many of my Baptist and evangelical friends are convinced I'm doomed to Hell but I figure if they're going to Heaven then Hell might not be such a bad option. :-)

Posted by: gonzone at April 21, 2005 03:05 PM

You have a pretty sour outlook on just about everything gonzone. Liberals have to be the most miserable people on the earth. Always bitching, moaning and complaining. From what I understand Jesus exhibited none of those characteristics. I am a Southern Baptist and I disagree with a lot of preachers on various things. I do not however call the fundamentalist names. Some preachers believe that if you don't accept Jesus as your saviour you are doomed for hell. I believe that if you have the light shine on you then you don't accept Christ you have problems. If a person in Mongolia has never heard the name Jesus I do not believe that God would send them to hell. It wouldn't be fair. And God is fair as Satan is proof.

Posted by: Ron at April 22, 2005 03:13 PM

sour = reality based.

I have personally had nutty Southern Baptists tell me I'm going to hell because I don't exactly agree with their religiosity.

You have a pretty naive outlook on just about everything Ron.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 25, 2005 09:34 AM

I'm happy Ron. Most liberals I know are much happier and well adjusted persons than their riht wing counterparts. Ever hear of the classic "angry white male" that looooves Rush? That phrase didn't get around by being untrue. I'd say on balance you're projecting about the misery index and the bitching and moaning and complaining. Example: judicial nominations. Who's the monaing crybabies?

Posted by: gonzone at April 25, 2005 09:37 AM

Those angry white men elected a bunch of republicans and set you up as theopposition party. I have seen other white angry men. Burning cars and rioting in Seattle, this happens everytime their is a world bank meeting or a summit. They are always left wing radicals.

Posted by: Ron at April 25, 2005 11:13 AM