XPost: alt.books.cs-lewis   
   From: toomuchspam@spammer.org   
      
   Bree wrote:   
      
   > What is your cultural background?   
      
   Agnostic/Protestant-ish. I nearly had a Catholic upbringing and am kinda   
   glad I didn't (tho it doesn't seem to have done Paul McCartney much harm,   
   I spose).   
      
   >>according to their ability. Christians who sincerely believe that   
   >>homosexuality is sinful*, that women's place is subordinate*, that   
   >>heresy is of the devil*, etc are similarly justified in THEIR   
   >>punishment -- and more -- of homosexuals, "uppity" women, heretics,   
   >>etc.   
   >>   
   >>*All these can be -- and have been -- justified from scripture.   
   >   
   > Looking at the scriptures (and perhaps statements of the mainstream   
   > leaders) seems the most objective way.   
   >   
   > Lewis said something about having been very reluctant to accept the   
   > doctrine of Hell because it was very "dangerous".   
      
   Yes. I'd guess every Christian who has behaved "badly" (in our opinion)   
   has had a sincere belief in Hell.   
      
   > Iirc  in HISTORY OF   
   > ENGLISH LITERATURE IN THE 17TH CENTURY he connected it with the   
   > Christian persecutions of heretics etc: such things could be justified   
   > by a sincere belief that heresy was a contagion that could send many   
   > innocent people to hell for eternity if not stamped out quickly. So   
   > there's a point of doctrine that encourages persecution.   
   >   
   > The Vedic religions (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism) have a doctrine of   
   > 'universal salvation'. Eventually, after enough rebirths, everyone   
   > will get to the right state (or non-state, as the case may be :).  So   
   > there's not so much motive to persecute. Any damage heresy can do,   
   > will be temporary.   
      
   And any damage earthly injustice can do will also be temporary. The caste   
   system can be justified by reference to reincarnation.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)