Drew Forrest (”Will the self-righteous inherit the earth?,” April 26) used some strong qualifications in his attempts to discredit my letter (April 20). He edited it in such a way that it would suit his reply a week later. That’s his prerogative as an editor, but even he would have to admit that it does not exactly level the playing fields of religious discourse.
I do not want this to be a to-ing and fro-ing of doctrinal interpretations of God’s word. But when it comes to Christ’s divinity even Forrest would have to concede that Jesus himself says in John 10:30 that: ”the Father and I are one”. Case closed.
Some important issues are at stake here that could explain the unease with which non-Christians react to ”pious queer bashers” like myself. Let me mention a handful.
Certainty versus doubt. In a fast-changing world with wildly varying viewpoints on anything from religion to politics, nothing seems to be of lasting value. There is no absolute truth, is the general perception. Yet evangelical Christians believe there is just that: an everlasting, unchanging truth.
Belief in an afterlife, with heaven and hell. Once we realise that we all will have eternal life, it becomes of paramount importance where we will spend it.
Religion versus rationality. This contradiction only exists in the eyes of the non-believers. On a spiritual level it could make perfect sense to be ”stubbornly irrational” scientifically, yet faithfully rational spiritually. And as for keeping evidence at bay by creationists: some very uncomfortable evidence against evolution is being discarded to keep Darwin’s theory afloat.
Human rights right human wrongs. The fact that some very liberal, yet ungodly ideas have been able to sneak into our lauded new Constitution has put some traditional religious beliefs in a whole new light. Not only Christians are struggling with this.
Where I agree with Forrest is that the reason for ”the stridently bigoted” to be irrational in matters of faith is bound up with personal identity and life purpose. This includes speaking up and being intolerant to ungodly ideas and behaviour.
Finally, for reassurance sake, Drew: if Howick were to have its very own Hammer of Moffies, it would have to be one of those inflatable ones: threatening in size, but ultimately harmless.