Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] [RELIGION] creation myths

["Christian M. Cepel" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

You know Mike, I've come to expect more of you.  A lot of your arguments 
are well reasoned and make me think.

This post I think however is beneath you both with consideration of 
intellect and of reasoning and rhetoric.

You already know that there is a percentage of the population, we'll not 
say what percentage, except to say that it is significant enough to be 
discussed, that believes by Faith that The Holy Bible and its "myths" 
and stories and parables and historical accounts to be to one degree or 
another absolutely true.

You know this.

You know that people take it seriously.

You know that people do not share your belief that it's in any way a 
myth.  I for one do not, and am offended when you call it such, though I 
do not protest, as you have your beliefs and you are entitled to them 
just as equally as I am, and I don't have any way of knowing if you 
present your position in the manner in which you have, to cause offense 
and mockery, or because that is how you think of your position.

I do believe you've exhibited great contempt for those who not believe 
as you do.  I feel I am safe in saying this because I think your posts 
hold evident this supposition.

So, with that having been said...
a) we know your beliefs, and to a degree your contempt for my/our beliefs.
b) you know our beliefs, and at least philosophically/academically our 
reasons for our beliefs.

Therefore, your protests of 'ignorance' of the fact that I/we don't 
consider these to be myths, and that I/we don't feel it is at all 100% 
obvious that they are 100% myth, are a falsehood.

This leaves two possible motivations for this falsehood that I can think of.
1. a desire to display your contempt through mockery.
2. propagation of the belief you have that since you and your circles 
feel a certain way that those who are intellectual (pseudo-intellectual) 
and academically (some people consider this a pejorative term) minded 
have these beliefs and share them with the majority of the population.

The first is offensive, and really, beneath you.

The second is just nonsense.  Recent polls that have been quoted by 
conservative talk show hosts (assuming that if the were falsehoods, 
there would be a great backlash from others who DO listen to the shows) 
state that ~85% of Americans claim to be Christians.

Granted, there are varying degrees of belief within that ~85%, as to the 
myth/non-myth status of the Creation story, but even if it were 5% of 
that group that believed things were exactly as written, it would still 
be a huge and significant portion of the population who does not agree 
with the second assertion.  Statistically 100% of that 5% of ~85% could 
not be absolute morons with no academic, intellectual, scientific, and 
rhetorical talents as you seem to imply of those who believe differently 
than you do.

Your question of "Why take it seriously at all?" is an attempt at the 
rhetorical.  It's a failed attempt.  You know very well that people do, 
and mostly WHY.


Mike Miller wrote:
> On Thu, 1 Dec 2005, Christian M. Cepel wrote:
>
> > Lest we forget the Children of Abraham, the Jews.  Same God, same 
> > "creation myth". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham
>
>
>
> Do the quotes mean that you think it is not a myth?  What is special 
> about the Biblical story of creation that makes it less of a myth than 
> the thousands of other stories of creation?  It's 100% obvious that it's 
> 100% myth -- it's just a story for goodness sake!  Why take it seriously 
> at all?
>
> Mike
>
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--
  //Christian

Christian Marcus Cepel            | And the wrens have returned &
EMAIL:PROTECTED icq:12384980  | are nesting; In the hollow of
371 Crown Point, Columbia, MO     | that oak where his heart once
65203-2202 573.999.2370           | had been; And he lifts up his
Computer Support Specialist, Sr.  | arms in a blessing; For being
University of Missouri - Columbia | born again.    --Rich Mullins

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