[Vision2020] Slavery, Wayne, & keely answers doug

[Michael]

Thanks for the comments Wayne; it has been a while since I have received
such an enjoyable email--seriously.  Just a few thoughts:

 

Wayne Writes:

However, you make the claim that:

 

"First, the 'not so bad' seems to be a misquote from the Wilson/Wilkins
position. I think their position would be better stated as 'not so bad as we
have been told by those who won the war'."

 

Such a characterization of Wilson's views is not only fraudulently
inaccurate, but deceptively oversimplified.  Here are just two quotes of
many from Southern Slavery: As It Was that are counter-examples to your
above claim:

 

"...slavery was a harmonious institution, one characterized by racial
affection and patriarchal benevolence."

 

"...slave life was to them a life of plenty, of simple pleasures."

 

Regardless of the truth or falsity of these statements, the Christ
Church/Wilson position embodying the statements given the ordinary usage of
the words therein, can not be honestly by any stretch of the imagination
described as: 

 

"...not so bad as we have been told by those who won the war"

 

 

Me:

I have never seen a copy of Southern Slavery: As It Was, so I can't say with
any amount of certainty whether or not my interpretation of "not so bad" is
perfectly consistent with its contents.  I was not thinking of this booklet
when I wrote my comments. I was rather thinking of bits and pieces of
conversations, tapes of lectures, live talks, blips in sermons, and the like
for the last 9 years.  Although my knowledge of what a Wilson/Wilkins
position might be on this issue might be 'rough and ready,' it is at the
same time immune to misreading a couple statements; the overall tone, ethos,
and trajectory would be in my bones.  One of the most influential
experiences I had on this issue was a series of lectures given by Wilkins
about 8 years ago in Portland; I recall some from the hosting church
community of these lectures as very critically minded, and slow to accept
some of Wilkin's views.  Since then, I think they have grown very fond of
him. In any case, as an innocent bystander/observer,  I am fairly certain
that the general flavor of how the position has been discussed around here
for the last decade is more consistent with "not so bad as we have been told
by those who won the war." If this is not the position of the Slavery As It
Was, then I would be inclined to think, on the face of it, that this booklet
misrepresents the broad discussion on these matters among us associated with
Christ Church. But I don't know.  If anyone has a copy of this booklet to
spare, my PO Box is 8282; I hear it has gone up in value over the last
couple years.  In sum, I was merely attempting to express my own perception
of the last 9 years; I was not attempting to represent the contents of the
Slavery booklet. 

 

 

Wayne Writes:

I am afraid that in making such a statement you have irrevocably destroyed
your thinly disguised pose as a humble person on an open-minded spiritual
quest for all who have followed this thread.  You have now revealed to those
who did not know it before that you are a committed Christ Church
Apologist/Advocate.

 

Me:

I am very sorry if I gave the impression that I was on some sort of
open-minded spiritual quest.  I did not intend to give that impression.
However, I thought I have been clear that I love Jesus and wish to defend
Classical Orthodox Christianity, which includes Moses, the giraffes that
made it on the ark, persecuted Christians of the 3rd century, Augustine,
medieval popes, Martin Luther, and C.S. Lewis.  I don't know why anyone
would want to be an "Apologist/Advocate" for some local "church."  

 

 

Wayne Writes:

But henceforth whenever you tell a lie, do not be surprised if you are
called on it, and do be surprised, depending on the size/nature of the lie,
that apt remarks about your integrity will be made.  [Your pose is also a
form of dishonesty.]  Further, do not be surprised that many will consider
that you are not a sincere Christian if you continue to lie and to pose as
something you are not.  

 

Hence, I think it best if you drop your pose from now on.  No one will now
be fooled and it adds unnecessary words and distractive baggage to your
defense of Christ Church dogma.

 

Me:

I agree that lying is bad.  But I'm afraid you are stuck with my pose; this
is just me being me.  I've tried to change many times, but it just keeps on
coming back.  

 

I look forward to your further comments on the nature of induction; this was
a fun subject to teach at the University for me.

 

Yours,

Michael Metzler

 

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