DEAR EDITOR:
I am not comfortable debating religious matters. However, when I
am described publicly as a person with no positive morals and the
words
”
accused,
”
”
slammed
”
and
”
bashed
”
are used to describe my statements, I need to speak up and
clarify my writings.
DEAR EDITOR:
I am not comfortable debating religious matters. However, when I am described publicly as a person with no positive morals and the words “accused,” “slammed” and “bashed” are used to describe my statements, I need to speak up and clarify my writings. I am not attempting to change any minds, just offering the rationale for my writings.
On Nov. 22, Mr. Ben Whittaker claims that I “accused” Mr. Fennell of “acting as if he exists on higher moral ground than others.”
FACT: What I wrote (verbatim) on Nov. 19 was “you (Mr. Fennell) create the impression that …” The words “create the impression” are non-aggressive words unlike the word “accused” that Mr. Whittaker has selected to create a negative impression of my comment.
Mr. Whittaker continues to claim that I “slammed” the beliefs of all Christians (another caustic term).
FACT: I simply presented written arguments to Mr. Fennell’s comments on moral absolutism and moral relativism. Debate and disagreement over religious and secular principles has probably been ongoing since God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and will, no doubt, continue far past my lifetime.
Mr. Whittaker proceeds to say “you improperly interpreted the meaning of the scriptures.”
Discussion: Mr. Whittaker, prove to me that you have the authority to interpret the Bible for me, and that your interpretations will always be correct.
FACT: There are approximately 20,000 different non-Catholic Christian denominations all claiming to have the “truth.” There are at least five Protestant denominations created every year based on “someone’s” different interpretation of the Bible. Theoretically, anyone who owns a Bible can create their own denomination based on their own interpretation of scripture. Therefore, Mr. Whittaker, how can your interpretation of scripture be any more correct than mine or the remaining 19,999 denominations? History writes that late in life Martin Luther feared he had opened a Pandora’s Box of confusion and chaos by espousing that individuals have the authority to interpret the Bible.
I hold in the highest honor the right of all citizens to choose and practice their faith without interference from government or other religions. I am highly offended by those who classify people as morally corrupt for disagreeing with their individual vision of the world. I believe that by looking at the world through different eyes our minds and hearts gain an enriched appreciation and understanding of all the different inhabitants of our world.
(“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1)
Kristine Dillon, Gilroy
Submitted Thursday, Nov. 28
