[Dialogue] Seious Objections

[Karl Hess]

Margaret,

Included in the idea of Christian context as I used it is the idea 
that God is distinct from christianity.  Augustine said that there 
are as many wolves in the church as there are sheep outside it, 
distinguishing between God's perspective and ours.

Wm. Placher's "Domestication of Transcendence" is a good introduction 
to the transformation of theology by modernity.  Luther and Calvin 
may have known something after all.  Is it possible?

Cheers,

Karl

>Karl,
>
>I don't think a "Christian context" has anything in particular to do 
>with my basic objection, which is to equating idolatry with paganism.
>
>I went to the suggested website and enjoyed the great quotes and 
>excerpts, but they were about idolatry--period.  I have no argument 
>with your general definition of  idolatry in Christian theology.
>
>In your illustration from the Egyptian sociologist, I am not sure 
>whether you are describing a veneer of formal religion
>over ancient religions or a veneer of ancient religion over formal 
>religions.  In either case I don't think this rises to the level of 
>idolatry.
>
>That 70% of Republicans say we should fight for our country whether 
>it is right or wrong comes to me as a clear illustration of 
>idolatry, making the nation god or the final reality before which 
>one stands.  I do not see any relationship of that stance to 
>paganism. (In fact, I suspect most pagans would be apalled to think 
>such a stance had anything to do with their belief "system".)  As 
>long as you are not equating Muslim or Buddhist or, or, or, with 
>idolatry, I can't discern any reason to equate paganism with 
>idolatry. If, on the other hand, all belief systems other than 
>Christianity are to be equated with idolatry, I would suggest that 
>christianity itself has become the god before which the knee is 
>being bent, an idolatry supreme.
>
>Margaret
>