[at-l] God is Dead, was Problems in Erwin

[nealb@midlandstech.com (William Neal)]

The idea that God is Dead goes way back beyond the 70s.  Sometimes it refers
to the idea that God does not exist, and sometimes it refers to the fact
that some people just go through the motions when it comes to their religion
-- as if God did not exist.  Many churches have begun (again) to emphasize
being alive in your religion. For example, don't just tithe of your money,
tithe of your time.  Don't just give to a homeless shelter, work with the
homeless.  Don't just say you're a Christian (or whatever), know why and be
a Christian.  

The negative reaction to the sign may actually be more "bigoted" than the
sign.  Not that it could not have been meant the other way.  But there use
to be a lot of signs in restaurants down here in the South that said "We
reserve the right to refuse service to anyone."  It usually meant blacks,
but I know of one restaurant that had that sign up that served blacks and
had blacks working for it.  But the restaurant had trouble with a rowdy
element, and wanted to make it plain that they would not put up with a whole
variety of behavior.

It's always good to give a 2nd "THINK" or even a 3rd one.  To paraphrase
POGO, "We have met the Bigot, and he is us."  MEA CULPA.

-----Original Message-----
From: Papa Bear [mailto:papa_bear_nyc@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 3:16 PM
To: Ron Winchester; Mara Factor; AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [at-l] God is Dead, was Problems in Erwin


I think the sign is rather more innocuous than it might appear.  In the 70s
there was a popular philosophy built around the slogan and book "God is
Dead".  Some of you probably remember this.  It wasn't something that got
very far.  I haven't seen references to it in the last decade or so.

If I had seen that sign, I would have been amused.  It's actually a good
comeback to the sentiments expressed in that book.  A bit dated now, and
presumptuous to be sure, but I would say in no way extremist.  My guess is
that most truly extremist sects would never had heard of this
book/philosophy.

Just my opinion.
Pb

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Winchester" <winchester@unnet.com>
To: "Mara Factor" <m_factor@hotmail.com>; <AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2002 12:51 PM
Subject: Re: [at-l] Problems in Erwin (was Yankees, yokels and racists on
the AT)


> > Anyway, the sign read "OUR GOD IS ALIVE  SORRY ABOUT
> > YOURS".
>
> This is the type of extremism that leads people to other types of
extremism,
> such as flying airplanes into tall buildings.
>
> Ron
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT-L mailing list
> AT-L@mailman.backcountry.net
> http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/at-l


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