Dear Editor:
After reading Valerie Hendrix’s letter, I think a few things should be noted about “real messages.”
First, I should say that I take her to be speaking about falsehood versus truth. There’s a lot to talk about concerning that, since this argument, by its very nature, deals with unobservable things. As a result of that, it cannot be successfully argued that anyone’s particular view is true or false.
That is not to say there is any truth of the matter, just that one may not possibly know it. Yes, I know that we have a Bible, but we may not know that the metaphysical events (those are the ones usually designated as the crux of Scripture, though I disagree) were accurate and, were the events told from another perspective (e.g., Hindu, Zoroastrian, etc.) they’d be regarded as bunk.
I know that statement likely pisses a lot of people off. So I ask forgiveness if it is blasphemy to suggest you take a course in practical reasoning (I strongly recommend Mr. Tudico), rather than regurgitate the things you’ve been fed.
That being said, I think it is rather irresponsible to expect some campus ministry leader to teach things which those truly interested may find within Scripture all by themselves, especially when they view them as a text by which they should live their own lives.
Doing so is tantamount to putting your life into someone else’s hands and giving them free reign without the engagement of the principles by which they will rule you.
I believe thinking people owe it to themselves, and to others, to intellectually engage the principles by which they will live their lives before they begin, especially when those principles will govern how they will behave toward and concerning others who may or may not share their beliefs.
Besides that, I often hear believers criticize those who do not believe as they do and give examples of what others have told them rather than studying themselves.
Does this not also apply to those who actually believe? Should they retreat to someone else’s ideas about the teachings of the religion they claim to follow?
There are ample resources available for those that would study the Scriptural teachings of Christianity for themselves. I recommend: www.e-sword.net. It boasts many free resources including Bibles, concordances, Bible dictionaries, and etc.
-Charles Jones

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