[Vision2020] Say What? Everyone Deserves Death

[Chasuk]

On Tue, May 20, 2008 at 1:40 AM, Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:

> Again, I will state, this kind of thinking (Everyone deserves death) is
> characteristic of the extremist dangerous beliefs of cults, that
> use tactics to control people by making them feel inherently and inescapably
> "bad," then offer them only one option to redeem their flawed moral fate...
> Our way or damnation!

I'm sorry, Ted, but this is simply wrong.  It might be nice to be able
to consign this unattractive thinking to the "extremist dangerous
beliefs of cults," but it wouldn't be true.  This is not only what
most Christians who have ever lived have believed, but it is what most
of them believe now, at the core of their beliefs.

Most Christians still believe in Original Sin.  But maybe you are not
making a contrary claim and I am just misinterpreting.  Are you
instead merely expressing your personal distaste of this belief?

I agree that this belief is ridiculous, though not extremist, because
extremist implies that it lies at the fringes, when it does not.

It might be that modern pastors candy-coat it to make it more
palatable to their congregation, I don't know.  I'm sure there are
some pastors who have discarded this ugly, crippling belief
altogether.  But it is still the majority belief within Christendom.

You speak of Original Sin as a doctrine entertained by "some
religions," when it has its roots in, and is virtually unique to,
Christianity.  It isn't part of Islam, Buddhism, or any other extant
major religion.

Interestingly (and to demonstrate the extent to which Original Sin
still holds sway), the official Vatican astronomer recently stated:
""In my opinion this possibility (of life on other planets) exists";
"intelligent beings, created by God may exist in outer space" and
"some aliens could even be free from original sin" concluding "there
could be (other beings) who remained in full friendship with their
creator."

Chas