--- Victor Rangel-Ribeiro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
I disagree when you go on to say
> that
> "christianity" condemns those who don't believe in
> it
> to eternal hellfire. That is what I heard preached
> when I was a young man; but the Catholic Church has
> changed since then, and no longer holds to this
> view.
> Please take this into account when next you post.
> Regards,
> Victor
---------------------------------
Dear Victor,
We must stop wasting our time on Bhandari here. He
knows two cents worth of something and presumes to
know a whole lot. Inorder to understand anything about
Christianity and the Abrahamic monotheistic religions,
one must be acquainted with the history of Europe and
the Middle East.
To the West of Jerusalem were the Francs and the Goths
who were convinced by Popes ranging from Urbane to
Innocent, to slaughter the pagans. To the East of
Jerusalem were the Abbasids, the Assassins, the Seljuk
Turks, the Persians and later the Mongols who were
just as determined to kill off the infidels.
Sandwiched in between and the target of every drunken,
killing spree and debauchery were the Jews.
The three religions were not just religions, they were
political forces that dominated Europe and the Middle
East. In this atmosphere it became imperative that
entire countries were converted one way or another,
every informant, assassin, tax payer, foot-soldier and
general mattered in the war. And what was inevitably
promised in return for services ranging from
information, treachery, spying, diplomatic missions to
assassinations, was "eternal salvation" for such acts.
Christianity has come a long way from that standpoint
and yes, while the doctrine of the Catholic Church is
still anchored on the notion of eternal salvation, in
real terms we confine this to mean leading our own
personal lives so as to attain personal salvation.
Bhandari should seriously take up reading history
instead of attending fire and brimstone Church
services of the Deep South.
Selma
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