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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 10:31 PM
Subject: Re: [CTRL] to anyone Re: Pompous
Papal Pederasty
Speaking as a *Protestant* Episcopalian, I resemble
that remark :-)
that's what i was brought
up as- but in an area where the wee free church is popular, which
accounts for my resentment of holier-than-thou posturing rather than
having faith itself. the good thing about the episcopalian church was that it
sort of sat between the protestants and the catholics (such as they were in
that town). the protestants thought the episcs were too liberal and southern
and flowery and the catholics liked them for exact same reason (with
reservations about the liberalism of course). in a modern secular world that
makes for a good spirit interdenominationally- but this middle ground, a
gentler more embracing church becomes somewhat insipid it seems, same as in
politics. the dilution of intolerance blunts the edge of the
relationship between the church and god and the individual. both the hardcore
prods and roman catholics (and whatever religion) have a closer relationship
with their faith simply because there is no doubt, or doubt is a battle
against the devil- to be won and the faith reaffirmed. it is better for the
soul to fear god, the comfort of the strict but loving pater. you know where
you are with these levels of faith. but when you take a pragmatic view of your
faith and abstract it a little too much, well things get a little weak and you
end up with a social scene as part of a community, rather than a community
structured by the faith and it's relgion.
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