Another can of worms was opened last Friday with Greg Jerrett’s article about Christianity.

I agree he made several broad, harsh generalizations about Christians.

I agree that not all of what he wrote is true or considerate, but the replies were not entirely true either.

For instance, Christianity DID have plenty to do with the Native American genocide. In the textbook, “The American School: 1642-1996,” by Joel Spring, there is a passage which states, “the European Americans engaged in an educational crusade to turn ‘heathen’ and ‘uncivilized’ Indians into models of Protestant and English culture.”

When the Native Americans resisted, they were killed by the U.S. military, physically driven hundreds of miles on the Trail of Tears and had their children taken away and put in boarding schools where the children were beaten if they spoke their language or practiced any cultural or religious beliefs.

The book also quotes historian Michael Coleman: “These Presbyterians could accept nothing less than … a cultural destruction [of the Native American] and regeneration to be brought about by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Go see the movie “Black Robe” if you don’t believe me!

Even though Christians were not solely to blame for the above tragedies, they are not free of blame. Some Christians opposed the manipulation and destruction of that culture.

Even today, some contradictory behaviors exist in the Christian community. Some members DON’T practice what they preach. Some members DO spread hate.

In Monday’s paper, the article about the slain abortion doctor contained a quote by Rev. Donald Spitz.

It reads: “We as Christians have a responsibility to protect the innocent from being murdered … Who ever shot the shot protected the children.”

I don’t want to get into the whole abortion mess, but how can a person advocate murder when they preach “love thy neighbor?”

Also, some Christians DO pass judgment on their fellow human beings.

I have been told (in a very sorrowful tone) that I was going to hell because I do not believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior!

Also, does anyone remember the “God hates fags” minister who picketed the campus last spring?

All KINDS of hate in his denomination!

Doesn’t Matthew 7:1 specifically state, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Only God can judge; no one else has that right.

For those Christians bent on telling others what they ought to believe, they should instead look within their own ranks and witness to the hypocritical members of the faith to change their behavior (take the log out of your own eye before taking the splinter out of your peer’s).

I’m glad the respondents don’t harass others about their religion and practice what they preach (but don’t stoop to calling people names. It detracts from otherwise solid points and sounds immature).

Please continue being good Christians, but understand that Christianity is not the only way, the only truth or the only way to find spiritual fulfillment.

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Emily Woline

Junior

English and secondary education