Friday, March 2, 2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 5
Letters to the Editor Christianity remains relevant
For someone claiming to be a "born-and-raised Christian," Sheri Martin displayed a startling lack of knowledge about that religion in her column yesterday ("Christianity fails to stay relevant in modern times"). Perhaps it will earn her brownie points in her religious studies class, but it will only dismay thinking adherents to any religion, all of whom will be alarmed at the misconceptions and jargon-laden stereotypes. Martin presents us "frost."
Martin identifies the Christian God as male, ignoring the fact that Christian theology identifies God as a sexless spirit. Yes, the Bible refers to God using the masculine pronoun, but the Old Testament also uses a plural pronoun. Martin has mistaken the limits of grammar — genders of pronouns — for the nature of God. No Christian theology with which I'm familiar countenances such anthropomorphizing of its deity.
Further, she confuses societal conditions of Bible times with theology. An accurate portrayal of a society does not equate to approval of that society — if it did, journalism would be the tawdiest of fields. Reporting the conditions in German death camps following the Holocaust would be considered approval of those conditions, following Martin's "logic," for she condemns the Bible for presenting such historical realities as "the great physical burden of delivering multiple children."
Finally, to argue that the Bible porterxes sex as "dirty" requires that one completely eliminate the Song of Songs — and that's just a start.
Martin's presentation of Christianity reveals a sociopolitical bias doubtless shaped by the classes in which she learned to describe religious beliefs in absurd terms such as "the absolutist madonna-nawher dichotomy." The college experience includes questioning beliefs—one's own as well as others—but ignorance in questioning is just as nefarious as falling to question.
Aaron D. Profitt
Overland Park senior
Sheri Martin's view of modern-day Christianity is greatly distorted. She says she was raised in a Christian home, but it seems doubtful that she ever truly embraced her so-called Christian faith. Many of her arguments and points are based on misquotations and ignorance. Christianity is as relevant to today's society as it was during the last two millennia.
Her first point states that "religions echo society and culture." American society and culture were founded based on a deep Christian faith, not the other way around. Many of the
founding fathers were devout believers. Many societies around the world have developed based on religious beliefs. Also, early Christianity did not suppress just female deities but all deities other than the one God.
The Bible's morals are not inconsistent, as Martin claims. Sex is not taught as dirty but as something for a husband and wife to enjoy together. Women who have sex are not dirty. Only adulterers, prostitutes and those who frequent them are sinful. Also, the sin was not placed on mankind through Eve. The Bible clearly states that it was through Adam.
Martin's "feminist, independent thinking" is warped. Christianity teaches kindness and unselfish love. Is she saying these wonderful things are outdated? I hope not. Without them, the world is a very sad place.
Lee Sigley Wichita junior
Sheri Martin's comments are not surprising. In this age, most people believe that morals are outdated. I think Martin has trouble with the Judeo-Christian tradition because of its unwavering stance on the truth. If I dissected everything Martin said, this letter would fill up the newspaper so I will comment on one thing Martin brings up repeatedly.
Martin is ignorant when it comes to the Bible. For her to state that the Bible teaches that sex and women
who have sex are dirty is absurd. Scripture teaches that sex is an awesome gift of God. However, God meant for sex to be shared by a man and woman in marriage. Sex outside of these boundaries presents a huge potential for danger. To many people's surprise, God blesses sex — if it is in the appropriate context.
Mike Hoffman Chicago senior
Viewing execution is appalling
Let the healing begin, eh? The Kansan's position that the families of certain victims deserve to see executions is appalling ("Victims have right to view execution." Tuesday).
No evidence supports the notion that capital punishment offers therapy, allows closure or engenders forgiveness by the victims' associates.
Some may believe the demands of victims' families justify capital punishment. It is more likely that viewing an execution will delay recovery.
There may have been a stage in society's development when frequent demands for payment for a person's murder or longstanding family feuds meant that the death penalty, by the state, represented cultural progress. That time is long gone.
It is time to end the inhumane, outdated death penalty.
Douglas C. Underwood Lawrence resident
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