[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Harry Potter and God

[No Limberger]

>Geoff wrote:
>The great problem which lies here is that if a person who
>is not a Christian believer comes across the sort of
>situation outlined above (which, incidentally, strikes me
>as more Jehovah's Witness than Christian) it produces a
>very distorted view of what our faith is all about. Christians,
>after coming to faith, are still fallible mortals who do
>things wrong, get the wrong end of the stick and focus on
>things which are not part of the true belief which Jesus
>taught.

No.Limberger respnods:
Here again, we touch on something that I have addressed
in previous postings: there is no single, approved standard
for defining precisely what Christianity is.  Each denomination
or sect has its own interpretations of the bible and dogmas
built around those interpretations.  While the report
did not specify which Christian sect the individuals who killed
their child out of medical neglect were part of, I find it interesting
that an attempt is being made to differentiate their sect from
Christianity (quote: "strikes me as more Jehovah's Witness
than Christian").  This exemplifies the fact that many Christians
do not regard the members of some Christian denominations
as being Christian in the first place.  No doubt they have the
same exact view.  Assuming that you are a member of
the "Church of England", it would have been more accurate
to state that their actions were not consistent with the dogmas
of the "Church of England" since there is no one qualified to
dictate precisely what is and what is not Christian.

And, yes, each of us is human and capable of making mistakes.
When religious beliefs have such a strong influence over an
individual's decision that harm is caused to other human
beings, then, imo, there is something wrong with those
religious beliefs.  Because religions are often incapable of
having precise definitions for all of their followers to practice,
variances can and do lead to extreme beliefs and practices.
The problem is that those with extreme beliefs & practices view
themselves as being in the right and I would not be surprised
if the parents who permitted their 15-month old daughter to
die from lack of medical attention continue to believe that
there actions were perfectly right.  The fact that this does not
paint a positive picture of Christianity is the fault of
Christianity itself, whose writings are sufficiently vague to
permit such beliefs in the first place.  Given a choice between
choosing between medical professionals or religious followers
for the treatment of a medical issue, I will always choose
medical professionals.  Given that there is no single version
of what is "the true belief which Jesus taught", such a
statement can never be taken seriously.

-- 
"Why don't you dance with me, I'm not no limberger!"


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