Editor:
In her letter of Sept. 22, Diane Daiute spotlighted the hypocrisy of religious fakes who pretend and perpetrate sexual crimes against both children and women.
Centuries of these deceitful behaviors compound both civil and cultural inequities that routinely oppress the poor, women and children. Diane identified examples of religious and political systems that camouflage, excuse, and cover criminal behaviors while at the same time they repress women.
Diane justified her anti-religious views and her strong abortion-rights position based on these terrible cruelties inflicted upon women through these ungodly systems.
In response, I want to say I concur with Diane’s condemnation of the criminality and hypocrisy she has pinpointed. I cannot follow her in all conclusions that she reaches, but her point in revulsion against this abusive hypocrisy plus the use of religious and civil rank to repress females is against all goodness. This should cause us all to pause and repent and meditate upon our own behavior, which certainly includes any laxity we exercise by tolerating egregious criminality.
Even though this topic can degenerate into a gender-war, the fact is, this is far beyond female-only brutality.
The Bible clearly teaches that both Adam and Eve are culpable and fell into the same state of sin together at the very beginning. Christians learn from Scripture that, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) To extend dialogue, I ask for us to consider this standard: “All Souls Are Precious To God.” Why? Because they are made in the image of God.
The commandments apply to both men and women: “You shall not commit adultery.” Jesus Christ made it clear: Adultery includes any look or thought of lust.
On the issue of life and death: “You shall not murder,” which includes all manner of evil, and anger without just cause.
If a woman becomes pregnant, killing that child prior to birth adds murder to the charge of adultery against the mother. This compounds her guilt, (rather than solving the “problem”) – plus it burdens the woman twice, with death-penalty crimes and makes the responsible male an accessory to the murder as well.
Passing civil laws to authorize murder of the innocent baby (who is not her “own” body, prior to birth) incurs guilt to her account and to this nation (60 million and counting). Such murders perpetuate and multiply a general disregard for all human life. They do not resolve the matter.
The key is this: Murder of the innocent is compounded by abortion. Christ is the only cure for our willful sin and compounded guilt. He is all-sufficient: Nothing is too difficult for Him.
Today, if a Christian is encountered on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan, whether man, woman or child, they are beheaded on the sidewalk. In Nigeria, government functionaries and security chiefs have compromised with terrorists for decades and are complicit channels for executions of Christians by the thousands at the hands of self-appointed vigilantes in that nation.
Ask yourself: How will we as Americans do in the current worldwide onslaught of making classes of people suitable for execution based on the convenience of others and the civil authorities, by gender, age or political and religious convictions?
How will the God of all creation then deal with us?
Pete Ready
Albany