[Dialogue] The End of My Serious Objection

[aiseayew]

Dear Karl,

I am sorry that you apparently cannot hear or respond to my concern.  I 
accept that.  It never occurred to me (another illusion burst) that even the 
attempt to dialogue with a respect for paganism would be a threat to anyone 
in this group.  I deeply appreciate the responses of those who could hear 
and even pursued new connections.  Respect provides an interesting 
counter-balance to condescension.

Be well, Margaret

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Karl Hess" <khess at apk.net>
To: "Colleague Dialogue" <Dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2005 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Seious Objections


> 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
>>
>
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