on fri 5 dec sam rosenthal <sam.rosenthal@ucop.edu> wrote: > the bible's not universally accepted as absolute truth, but it doesn't > take > universal acceptance for a few pernicious verses to do their damage -- > a > coupla hundred million believers has been sufficient -- homosexuality, > abortion, evolution, slavery, what's yer pleasure? . . . quote yer > > verse & > grab yer ammo does anyone remember a series of books called 'the bagthorpe saga' by helen cresswell? they were about an unbelievable talented and eccentric family vaguely like the glass family. anyway, in one book, the annoyingly devout and vegetarian relatives come to visit. the aunt has a habit of quoting bible verses to tight-lippedly (?) critisise everything the bagthorpes do. but this time mr. bagthorphe is prepared. he reads up on bible verses to defend everything he knows she's going to complain about, from wine-drinking to meat-eating to having the dog in the dining room while they eat. eventually it ends up that they have a big show-down trying to out quote each other; each one coming up with completely opposing views, both legitamitely backed up by bible verses. it just drives home the point that you can't separate two lines out of the bible and treat them like some kind of prime directive. why am i saying this? you're intelligent people, you know this already. just don't strike down upon me with great vengeance and furious anger, kay? -- :helena http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/4801/