To the editor:

With Christmas behind us, now’s a great time for Christianity to thank the following groups for their continued and unwavering support. The newspapers and magazines which print pro-Christianity columns and letters while censoring/banning opposing views. Catholic and Christian schools and colleges dedicated to indoctrinating America’s youth. A Republican Party waging biblically-inspired wars on women (considered chattel in the Bible), homosexuals, science, and nature and which would transform America into a Christian theocracy if given the chance.

And finally, a special thanks to the hundreds of millions of Christians who are biblically illiterate, a debilitating handicap allowing Christianity to materially misrepresent that: (a) the Old and New Testaments are compatible when they’re actually irreconcilable because of the radically different treatments of Satan and the origins of evil; the monotheistic god; eternal life (which didn’t exist in the Old Testament); and exorcisms. Likewise, Matthew, Mark, and Luke are irreconcilable with John. (b) Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:18,”thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church” It’s almost certain Jesus never said that because he was an apocalypticist who believed the world’s end was imminent 2,000 years ago and said so repeatedly. Mark 1:15, “The time is fulfilledthe kingdom of God is at hand: repentand believe the gospel.” Matthew 24:33-34,” This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Mark 9:1 (also Matthew 16:28 and Luke 9:27), ” there be somehere, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God.” (c) Jesus came for everyone (John 3:16). There’s compelling evidence Jesus only came for Jewish sinners as he states in Matthew 9:12-13 (also Luke 5:32), “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 15:24 (The Oxford Study Bible), “Jesus said, ‘I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and to them alone.'” Also see Matthew 10:5-6. (d) belief in Jesus’s divinity (again John 3:16) is the only path to eternal life. Actually, Jesus identified eleven other often contradictory paths like in Mark 10:17-25 (Matthew 19:16-19, Luke 18:19-25) when asked, “What shall I do (to) inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds, “Do not commit adultery, killsteal bear false witnessdefraudhonor thy father and mothersell what thou hast and give to the poor.”

Larry Knight

Columbia, SC