Re: Richard Dawkins
- From: "robin" <rs2405@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 7 Apr 2006 12:55:43 -0700
Thank you guscubed, but remember I also come from a tradition that is
based on (often quite violent) dreams and fairy tales. It's just that I
strongly object to the closed mindedness of my own evangelical
tradition at times. All too often Christians have been bullies.
I also think Kermit's critique was well put. Sometimes it is hard to
reconcile opposite, or at least contradictory thruths. Kermit stated
that he (or she) did not feel that the path of willing victims was a
moral path. Nor did Spinoza. And, I think, being a willing victim, if
that is what Jesus taught and did, there is a danger of acquiescence to
evil.
Dr. King preached non-violence. He said "There are some who still find
the Cross [of Christ] a stumbling block, others consider it
foolishness, but I am more concerned than ever before that it is the
power of God unto [social and individual] salvation. ... More than ever
before I am convinced of the reality of a personal God." See 1
Corinthians 1:23.
He believed "Man cannot save himself, for man is not the measure of
all things and humanity is not God. Bound by the chains of his own sin
and finiteness, man needs a Saviour."
Sin is sin, wrong is wrong, and salvation is still to be found only in
Christ Jesus. Is there anything more traditional than that for a
preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ? There can be no doubt that
King upheld to the very end the Christian system of "absolute moral
values," as well as the affirmation that "God has placed within the
very structure of this universe certain principles that are fixed and
immutable." [Strength to Love]
In his "Give us the Ballot" speech, King declares that personhood and
power of God, that he is not some Aristotelian "unmoved mover" but that
He cares about justice and truth, that his arm is not shortened. This
God is no deistic abstraction, but a living force, a Father, a Judge, a
Saviour.
"There is something in our faith that says to us, 'Never despair; never
give up; never feel that the cause of righteousness and justice is
doomed.' There is something in our Christian faith, at the center of
it, which says to us that Good Friday may occupy the throne for a day,
but ultimately it must give way to the triumphant beat of the drums of
Easter."
Dr. King declared: "Love is the only force capable of transforming an
enemy into friend."
But how hard that is to put into practice, let alone try to always
believe.
King said, "Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses
life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illumines it."
"The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we
live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power."
.
- References:
- Richard Dawkins
- From: robin
- Re: Richard Dawkins
- From: guscubed
- Richard Dawkins
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