Ursula: Most Christians would agree with what I've written. Only a small minority believes Christianity is pacifistic and that by reading passages in a Fundamentalist (Literalist) manner that was never intended by the author. Your "flight of fancy" assertion assumes (whether or not you know it) that this minority of Christians has the right interpretation and the majority is engaged in a false interpretation. Lawrence -----Original Message----- From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ursula Stange Sent: Sunday, January 21, 2007 7:12 AM To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: The de-islamization of Europe A fine flight of fancy, Lawrence. I suppose if you're going to both believe in war and in Christ's teaching, you'd have to be this creative. Ursula impressed in North Bay Lawrence Helm wrote: > > Insofar as your Biblical Analysis is concerned, you seem to take a > Literalist or Fundamentalist approach in order to be dismissive of > Christianity. The slapping of the cheek was considered an insult, not > a personal attack. To understand what is being taught by Jesus, you > need to understand the customs and history - or have someone explain > it to you. This is not a pacifistic teaching. Jesus is teaching that > we should not respond angrily to insults. Since Jesus allowed himself > to be insulted far more than any of us is likely to be, shall we take > offense at the insults we receive? Is a servant more important than > his master? We are encouraged to use Jesus as our example, Jesus "Who, > being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something > to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a > servant. . . Phil 2:6-7. > > > Lawrence >