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The Sum of All Differences?
Mark gets a very earnest no-prize for bringing us this essay on what the author considers the fundamental differences between Catholics and Protestants. It unintentionally provides a graphic demonstration that Christianity's monomaniacal focus on doctrine is alive and well. All other religions believe it's important for the poor to be fed. Only Christians are concerned that it be done for the right reasons.
That's one of the problems I see with the article...I think that 99% of the people--Christians, whatever the variety--actually involved "on the front lines" of aiding the poor don't sweat the reasons for "love thy neighbor", they just get out and do it.
Sweating the details is up to the philosophers, the theologians...not the 'workers in the vineyard'.
Posted by: Mark on March 29, 2008 08:20 AMI'd agree with that sentiment to some extent. However, if you got many of them away and in the right context, a good majority would happily argue this.
Now, those that get paid by their church...
Posted by: ronaprhys on March 31, 2008 08:33 PMConsidering some of the twentieth century's greatest horrors came about from feeding the poor for the wrong reasons, such as leading them to support communist or fascist leaders, there might actually be something to questioning the reasons charity is given.
Hezbollah builds houses for Lebanese Muslims, for free... but installs in them secret ammo depots and even demolition charges, for when it wants to force Israel to blow up innocent civilians, or make it look like they've done so.
Posted by: Tatterdemalian on March 31, 2008 10:53 PMGood point...
Posted by: Mark on April 2, 2008 07:50 AM