Posted by Lou Pilder on October 15, 2013, at 8:45:25
In reply to I believe. » Lou Pilder, posted by SLS on October 15, 2013, at 8:25:47
> I am acutely aware of this exchange, as I read the thread as it unfolded. I have always known that this post is the one you most often allude to in your petitions to administration.
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> > http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20080404/msgs/832720.html
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> "What is Christianity? The only religion that offers a pathway for you to return back to God. Now if you don't believe we came from God in the first place, this isn't going to mean much to you."
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> In my estimation, the author of the above passage was probably more interested in saving you than in killing you. I do not see anti-semitism. I see pro-christianity. I refuse to get into a discussion here of how Western religions have used words to facilitate genocide.
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> How would you feel if the author of the verbiage you find objectionable had said instead, "What is Christianity? I believe it is the only religion that offers a pathway for you to return back to God."?
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> Would the words "I believe" have made this a civil statement?
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> Personally, I would have preferred that the post be rephrased to include "I believe", as this would have been more adherent to the posting preferences for the Faith forum as described by the administrator of this website. It wasn't. The original wording is not at all antisemitic. How an antisemite might use them is.
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> Remember. Circumcision...
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>
> - Scott> Scott,
The rule here is to not put down those of other faiths. The rule is explained that when the use of an imperative is used, like {only}, then the imperative precludes all those that are not in the {only}. So readers see what is what it is. It says what it says. The statement means that Jews, Islamic people , Hindus and all those of other religions that are not in Christiandom, are not on the pathway that returns one to God.
The statement could be interpreted as an insult to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and the rest that are not in the {only}. This could arouse anti-Semitic feelings because it can be seen as conducive to the civic harmony and welfare of this community as well as supportive and will be good for this community as a whole. I do not think that having Jews and others depicted as such here as being good at all. But by the nature that it stands, readers could think that Judaism is a lesser religion that Christianity, which fits the generally accepted meaning of being put down.
So here we have a statement that puts down Jews, at least, which is agreed to be an anti-Semitic statement and it is allowed to stand.
Lou
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:1050116
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20130903/msgs/1052310.html