[HPFGU-OTChatter] American's religion (Was: Re: Question about New Testament (with OT))

[Przemyslaw Plaskowicki]

Grey Wolf wrote (2003-08-09 22:37):

I agree with Grey Wolf.

>--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Cindy C." <cindysphynx at c...> 
>wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Personally, I am a Southern Baptist who believes sex outside of 
>>marriage is a sin for everyone and that gay sex is a sin as well.  
>>
To which joywitch_m_curmudgeon responded (2003-08-09 22:59):

>I guess I feel a little offended.  As a bisexual woman who has had 
>sex with both men and women and has never been married, I am a little 
>disturbed to find out that you consider me to be a sinner.  I know 
>you don't have any problem being friends with me, because we've 
>shared several yummy plates of sushi together, but it does it mean 
>that you disapprove of me, or value me less, or feel sorry for me?  
>Or are you saying that we are both sinners, since the amount of sushi 
>we ate probably rated the sin of gluttony, so sinning is no big deal?
>
>One time when I was in Mexico, a woman at the place where I was 
>staying asked me about my religion.  I told her I was Jewish, and she 
>became very apologetic.  Very nice, but very apologetic.  She told me 
>that she was very sorry, but that unless I converted to Christianity 
>I would burn in hell for all eternity.  She then proceeded to get her 
>10 year old son to read the Bible out loud to me, which I didn't mind 
>at the time because I needed to practice my Spanish and he read very 
>well.  But I did feel her attitude was pretty offensive -- why should 
>her beliefs affect my afterlife?
>
>  
>
Being an atheist in Poland, where 92% of people are Roman Catholics (at 
least technically, since I myself was baptised and propably would count 
as Catholic) I only once met such behavior, when some Jehova's Witness 
heard that don't belive in God, said: "You'd better not be born at all".

Incidentally, Poles seems to be completely indifferent to religion when 
it comes to politics. We have an atheist president (and Catholic First 
Lady) since 1995, atheist Prime Minister (previous Prime Minister was a 
protestant), half of people supports abortion and death penalty (despite 
clear statements against both by Polish Pope John Paul II). To oaths if 
one wish so, may (or may not) add words "so help me God"; there are even 
two versions of Scouting Oath. Crosses are commonly hanged in classrooms 
and parliament (no objections were raised by ruling left-winged 
majority) (but not in courtrooms), and Catholic priests teach voluntary 
religion lessons at state schools.
All politicians carefully avoid using God in their speeches. This on one 
hand make Poland kind of mix of religion-state and secular state , and 
on the other created in people "Don't ask, don't tell" approach to 
religious matters.
(Preamble to Constitution says: "We, the Polish Nation - all citizens of 
the Republic,\Both those who believe in God as the source of truth, 
justice, good and beauty,\As well as those not sharing such faith but 
respecting those universal values as arising from other sources, 
(...)for our culture rooted in the Christian heritage of the Nation and 
in universal human values,(...)Recognizing our responsibility before God 
or our own consciences,")

Why am I writing all that my country propaganda? It is to show how 
strange seems to me existence of God in US citizens public life. Pledge 
of Alliegiance, Dubya's speeches, creation "science", book burning &c, 
is unthinkable to me, even though I live in a country where in 100 
persons only 8 are not Roman Catholics, and only 2 are not Christians 
(perfect birthplace for a religious state, isn't it?). I mean, US is 
viewed as a "land of the free", but sometimes I think it is just as 
religious as Iran or Afghanistan. Why is it that in my country, 
everything is being crafted so not to offend tinest minorities of 
atheists and other religions, while in much more cultural mixed US (when 
political correctness and zero tolerance often reach absurdal heights) 
politicians, judges, and other public figures often speaks about God, 
and use him/her to support their own view of right and wrong.

Grey Wolf also asked:

>Przemyslaw Plaskowicki (Pshemekan) (Interesting name, by the way - is 
>it Russian?) wrote: 
>
Close enough, it's Polish -- Przemyslaw it's old slavic name meaning 
"famous for his wisdom" (and Pshemekan is a home made version of my name 
in Vulcan language.)

Regards,


-- 
Pshemekan