[IP] more on Talking Points: The So-Called War on Christmas - New York Times
Begin forwarded message:
From: "John S. Quarterman" <jsq@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: December 17, 2005 12:19:16 PM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: "John S. Quarterman" <jsq@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: ip@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] more on Talking Points: The So-Called War on
Christmas - New York Times
From: Bob Frankston <Bob2-19-0501@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: December 16, 2005 7:19:58 PM EST
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx, ip@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [IP] Talking Points: The So-Called War on Christmas -
New York Times
...
There seems to be a tendency for those who hold to "values" to fear
threats from others as if the values were so fragile that they
couldn't survive on their own.
And there's a tendency for other people to fall for the reactionary
framing
of discourse in which only they have values. I think separation of
church
and state is an instance of a value of tolerance, and I think it's a
good one.
I also think reactionaries aren't the only people who value family.
http://select.nytimes.com/2005/12/14/opinion/
14talkingpoints.main.html?pagewanted=all
...
...Religious conservatives are using Christmas for a political
purpose: as a cudgel to push the prayers and displays of their own
form of Christianity into public spaces, including public schools,
and to make America more like a theocracy.
It seems to me that Christians should support the values of their
founder,
and I don't see anywhere in the Bible where Jesus promoted
commercialism.
As far as church and state, what about:
"Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's
and unto God the things that are God's."
This whole made-up War on Christianity "controversy" isn't about
religion.
It's about political power and money. The actual Christians who fall
for
it are having their fears exploited so they can be used as pawns in the
real game.
Real Christians should want separation of church and state, since it
protects them from people who will push their version of the religion
on everybody else.
-jsq
PS: I recommend this book:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345391691/102-2315090-2885712?
v=glance&n=283155
The Battle for God, by Karen Armstrong
It's about what is popularly called fundamentalism, which above I have
called reactionaries. She looks at this phenomenon in three religions:
Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. One of her points is that
fundamentalists seldom actually go back to fundamentals. Usually they
invent radical new doctrines in reaction to changes in society and then
pass them off as conservative. And they play on the fears of their base
to do so.
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