book: separation of church and state

[Will Linden]

On Sat, 14 Jun 1997, Steven D. Jamar wrote:

> But Will, surely you cannot be arguing that the origins of such symbols in
> antiquity eliminates the current connection of them to Christianity and
> Christmas!
  Are YOU arguing that the use of iconography by the December Department
Store Sale makes it any more "Christian" than the use of Washington and
Lincoln as ad pitchmen every February is an indication of patriotic
fervor?
  Do you claim that candy canes are "Christian", which is another
complaint I am not making up.
>
> Every religious tradition which has moved beyond the confines of its origin
> has adapted to and incorporated aspects of local culture.
   .... but this is treated as legitimate for everyone EXCEPT
Christianity, in which case it is "stealing".
>
> As to the awfulness of Christians - what makes you think Christians are, as
> a group, awful?  Or that the adoption and adaptation of pagan symbols would
> prove that Christians are either nefarious or awful?  What a bizarre chain
> of logic!
  What made you think it was MY chain of logic? How about addressing your
tut-tutting to the people who think it?
> Or perhaps it is just that you
>consider that the expression of
> any point of view different from yours to be an attack by a person who
> holds you and Christians in ill will - the old, ugly "for me or against me"
> thinking.
  "Attack? It must be all in your mind!"
  Accusations of "stealing" are not derogatory?

> with neo-pagans and others rejecting various attributes of Christian
> doctrine and practice, including often the patriarchical aspects and
> exclusive claims to a lock on the truth which are so common among Christian
> sects.  But it is still a stretch from this to characterizing Christians as
> nefarious and awful, as you did.
   If you refuse to believe that attacks are attacks, I am writing to
Humpty-Dumpty. Take a look at alt.pagan.

Will Linden  wlinden at panix.com
http://www.panix.com/~wlinden/
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