tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post2511555376420723063..comments2024-03-25T19:00:40.046-06:00Comments on The Constructive Curmudgeon: Statism (again)Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08766692378954258034noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-59367786681786278922009-02-01T10:55:00.000-07:002009-02-01T10:55:00.000-07:00This historically irresponsible naiveté smacks of...This historically irresponsible naiveté smacks of John Lennon's hymn to secularism "Imagine" written almost 40 years ago. Of course, Lennon is likely see the relevance of charity now, albeit from a different angle.Paul D. Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18213551311029058377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14410967.post-36777713144754648292009-02-01T02:27:00.000-07:002009-02-01T02:27:00.000-07:00I am not familiar with J.D. Trout's work or though...I am not familiar with J.D. Trout's work or thoughts. This interview is so brief as to provide little insight into what he believes. Your assesment that "secular statism" writes the church out of Western History elludes me. I don't know how anybody looking into the history of Western civilization, from the Roman era up to yesterday's headlines, could possibly ignore the role of the churches or of religious philosohies as fundamental components of history. That some of the assesments of the roles that religion have played in our history do not concur with your own is probably true.<BR/><BR/>I do agree with you that compulsory taxation which partialy funds charitable programs funded through the government does not necessariloy represent the compassionate heart of the taxpayer. It also does not deny the compassionate heart of the taxpayer who approves of such expenditures. Likewise, the funding of what I believe to be an imperialist war promoted by deception and misinformation, funded by my tax dollars, does not indicate my collusion with the government that has perpetrated this, by my own uncertain assesment, anti-Christian enterprise.Steve Schulerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17507446648186799208noreply@blogger.com