Evil for Henry
Ben,
After listening to him closely, Jesus' contemporaries decided that the
appropriate response to his teachings was death by torture. Honestly, now,
wouldn't you endorse the crucifixion of Jimmy Swaggart? and if faced with
the opportunity to spare the lives of Rev. Swaggart or a common thief, would
you have trouble making up your mind?
I don't recall suggesting anything Jesus is reported to have said was
"undeniably" beautiful, true, or good, and I believe I've been diligent in
bringing into the discussion powerful (though, again, not incontrovertible)
arguments to the effect that they are ugly, false, and bad. I haven't seen
any response from Henry to suggest which of these contra-Christian arguments
he agrees with, or how he disposes of the ones he finds lacking, or what
others he may consider decisive, so it's impossible for discussion to proceed
on the particulars.
I imagine a self-reliant person would find much to question in even the
barest Christian ethic. A Darwinist would find much to praise in Nietzsche's
critique.
I'd love it, though, if you'd weigh the two quotes that ommenced this
thread: Hitler's call to invest blood today for land tomorrow, and Jesus'
no-shilly-shallying call to love the enemy, and tell me which you find the
greater evil.