Always toes wherever you step

[Michael deHaven Newsom]

Well said!!!


Michael deHaven Newsom

David Guinn wrote:

>
>
> Minority religions and minority cultures have, with good reason,
> complained about the tendency of the dominant American culture to
> co-opt or take over elements of their culture.  The many sports
> mascots (Indians, Redskins, etc) and the Winnebago disputes are only
> the most trivial examples of this.
>
> Personally, I find it very understandable that members of a minority
> religion would be concerned when the dominate tradition (with a strong
> history of anti-Semitism) lays claim to possession of their tradition
> as well.
>
> There are similarities between the texts of the Old Testament and the
> Hebrew Scriptures - but in some ways those similarities mask the
> profound differences in how they are understood and interpreted.
> While Christians and Jews may come up with the some conclusions about
> issues of justice and charity, the logic - the way of thinking the
> problem through is often so different that one would never know that
> they may have started from the same text.
>
> While in an idealistic sense, I agree that Christians need to
> recognize their debts to Judaism, I don't think we can ignore the
> tendency of American society to oppress difference and diversity.
>
> David
>
> David E. Guinn, JD, PhD
> The Park Ridge Center
> 211 E. Ontario Street, Suite 800
> Chicago, IL 60611
> (312) 266-2222  ext. 244
> email: deg at prchfe.org
> web page:  www.prchfe.org
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gibbens, Daniel G [mailto:dgibbens at OU.EDU]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2000 11:22 AM
> To: RELIGIONLAW at listserv.ucla.edu
> Subject: Re: Always toes wherever you step
>
> Albeit unnecessary, I'd like to add a "well said" to the following.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael McConnell [mailto:Mcconnellm at LAW.UTAH.EDU]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2000 10:08 AM
>
> I have no particular brief for the term "Judeo-Christian." But the
> tenor of some of the remarks suggests that the very idea of
> emphasizing the common elements of the Jewish and Christian religions
> is offensive. To that I take exception. The Christian religion grew
> out of the Jewish religion. There are important similarities, as well
> as important differences.  When emphasizing the differences, we use a
> particular language, and when emphasizing the similarities we use a
> particular language. I see no reason anyone should be offended by
> either.