tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11093162.post5346952405003129389..comments2024-03-23T19:16:01.555-07:00Comments on Can it happen here?: American Christianitiesjaninsanfranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07548452260456734928noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11093162.post-42172151650831217102012-04-09T12:49:22.461-07:002012-04-09T12:49:22.461-07:00Jan, if you haven't read it already, you might...Jan, if you haven't read it already, you might want to check out Mark Auslander's "The Accidental Slaveowner." Not that you're about to run out of reading matter!Jane Meyerdingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11093162.post-18551340367460270472012-04-09T12:08:09.838-07:002012-04-09T12:08:09.838-07:00Paula: our species has always practiced infanticid...Paula: our species has always practiced infanticide fairly widely. It does seem a moral advance that we now have the medical tools to end pregnancies before birth, rather than ending the lives of offspring. You might get a lot out of reading Steven Pinker's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Better-Angels-Our-Nature/dp/0670022950" rel="nofollow">The Better Angels of Our Nature</a> on this and many other matters. I found it challenging, annoying, and worthwhile.<br /><br />Rain: yup, there are a lot of Christianists out there, ready to try to enforce their beliefs on the rest of us. <br /><br />Didn't know that commenters are subjected to captcha -- sorry. Google is upgrading Blogger and, at least for some time period, I find I've lost control of some aspects of this blog -- for example, updating the blog list. They say they are fixing us. We'll see.janinsanfranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07548452260456734928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11093162.post-74825437854525731912012-04-09T11:25:33.646-07:002012-04-09T11:25:33.646-07:00In general (and this is a generality) most who cal...In general (and this is a generality) most who call themselves Christians today absolutely do not follow the dictates of Christ. They have a new religion and just don't know it. Christ would be crucified all over again if he came around teaching what he did. <br /><br />To separate that kind of mentality (think the kids of Billy Graham), I like the word christiansts. It fits them better and I know there are those who do follow Christ's teachings. They probably are not any more pleased with the bulk of what passes for Christianity than I am as more of an agnostic or pagan.<br /><br />I really hate captcha. Do they have to make them so hard to discern which letters? I am trying again and again...Rain Trueaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11093162.post-64031876567305546992012-04-09T09:07:19.107-07:002012-04-09T09:07:19.107-07:00I think I need to read this book. Frankly, I suspe...I think I need to read this book. Frankly, I suspect that most people in this country don't really think too much or too deeply about their religion and just blindly follow. I know people who change churches more often than the weather for reasons that astound me.Kay Dennisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02646717192332313215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11093162.post-72335008976142753442012-04-09T06:13:10.570-07:002012-04-09T06:13:10.570-07:00thanks for this, Jan. I'd like to hear more ab...thanks for this, Jan. I'd like to hear more about his explanation of moral law, and where abortion fits in. If we look at other species, there's plenty of evidence mammals separate out newborns with birth defects, leaving them to die in favor of pouring resources into those who can flourish. I don't see how abortion is more or less than the same practice, done earlier and with the tools of modern medicine. It's nature's way of keeping the species going the best way it can. True, humans bring other factors into the decision, but basically, it's the same practice. <br />Guess I'll have to read the book.paulanoreply@blogger.com