By the way, I don't agree with much of what Keller writes especially his defense of Christianity. However, his ideas are familiar and not offensive. That might partial be because many of the people who I grew up with have similar attitudes toward religion.
On Jan 6, 3:20 pm, "Jason (Memphis)" <[email protected]> wrote: > I started reading "The Reason for God" for Noah's discussion on > Sunday. The author (whether he knows it or not) was very influenced > by the central Pennsylvania culture and the Pennsylvania Lutheran > religion. The author has almost the same background as I do, that is, > raised in a Pennsylvania Lutheran church (I attend a Pennsylvania > Lutheran church as a child) and educated at Bucknell University in > central Pennsylvania. I was educated in another central Pennsylvania > college (Juniata College) but almost went to Bucknell University. > Another person that fits this profile is Judge Jones III who ruled on > the Dover Trial. Judge Jones grew up in Pennsylvania near where I > grow up, attends a Pennsylvania Lutheran church and was educated at > Dickinson College in central Pennsylvania. > > General themes in that area from what I remember are as follows: > > 1.Social conservatism with a focus on community and family > responsibility (probably stemming from the farming and coal mining > communities). > > 2. Strong Christian roots that focus on social justice and serving > the oppressed/poor. Abortion, homosexuality, etc are secondary or > periphery issues. > > 3. Defense of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Religion > should be voluntary--at least in theory. > > 4. Disdain for conspicuous consumption especially in front of the less > fortunate, which is probably rooted in the influence of the > Pennsylvania Quakers and Pennsylvania Amish but is often reinforced by > the Lutheran and other churches. > > 5. To be Jesus-like is to humbly serve the less fortunate. > > Those are over simplifications but I think that those themes are > generally true for that area of the country. > > Jason --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/memphisfreethoughtalliance?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
