[HPforGrownups] Sympathy for the ... Christians (was Books burnt in Germa...

[tobeybickle at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 15579

In a message dated 3/30/01 12:42:40 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
Aberforths_Goat at Yahoo.com writes:


> Alex wrote,
> 
> > > Burning books seems like an enormous waste of money and I hope this
> > > was not done or condoned by any churches or there will be accusations
> > > of hypocrisy again.
> >
> > It's not the money aspect I'm worried about.  I forgot who said it, but
> > someone said something very similar to "the next step to burning books is
> > burning people."  *That*'s the part I'm worried about.
> 
> This is may be drifting OT (if so, my apologies!), but I think one thing
> should be mentioned here: burning books may be the first step down the slope
> toward burning people. However, what's so great about *not* burning books?
> What if *that* were a step down the slope toward not giving a damn about
> noxious cultural influences? And if you'll grant that there *are* such
> things as radically evil books (Mein Kampf, for instance), would it not be
> appropriate to take a radical stand against them?
> 
> Most Christians share a committment to a particular understanding of
> spirituality. Part of that understanding is our belief in a concrete and
> active spiritual reality--including devils and demons. It follows that we
> are genuinely concerned that dabbling with unknown spiritual quantities is
> destructive to the dabbler's spritual well-being.
> 
> Of course, as a certified, 83% obsessed Harry Potter fan, I obviously think
> these particular Christians are straining gnats, swallowing camels and
> depriving themselves of a very enriching experience--but I still respect
> their willingness to take a stand about spirituality.
> 
> Then again, I also respect the Afghan statue bombers for the same
> reason--although I have even less capacity to relate to their world view ...
> (In their case, the cultural vandalism is coupled with an active contempt of
> human rights, which makes their behavior nearly as sickening as things we
> Christians have done over the centuries ... )
> 
> Baaaaaa!
> 
> Aberforth's Goat (a.k.a. Mike Gray, who often feels himself an odd man out
> on both sides of the Christian divide. <bleat!>)
> _______________________
> 

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. You can't combat evil by 
ignoring it, and burning Mein Kampf wouldn't have stop Hitler. Willful 
ignorance proves nothing. If you truely want to help against something you 
believe is wrong, you have to understand it first. And no amount of 
spirtitual conviction on your part allows you to dictate morality for others.


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