Steven Parmenius

                   In this essay I will argue two things, The first is that Protestants and atheists are ruining the cultural discourse of North America and probably other nations as well. The second is that Protestants and atheists are the same people. Where I am concerned there is not a scintilla of difference between them. I used to think this relationship was dialectical in the sense I shall explain below. I have discovered, though, that it is literal as well. A great deal of ‘atheist’ discourse is being generated by bitter ex-Protestants who have not changed either their personality or style of engagement. Nor have they overcome their deep anti-intellectualism. In fact, they have intensified it. Other individuals may not be jaundiced ex-fundies but, in the U.S. especially, live in a culture defined by Evangelical Protestantism whether positively or negatively. Thus, by osmosis they absorb its theological categories and replicate the...

                   Taking his stand on Timothy 2-5 Pastor Mike does not believe in ‘mediators’ such as saints or the Mother of God. As I said in my previous piece I have no problem with this. I must note, however, that any group that splits from another over finite mediators will soon enough split within itself over finite mediators. Islam is THE religion most committed to the unicity of God. A Muslim would almost certainly say to Pastor Mike that he puts a finite individual, Jesus, between humans and God. He would almost certainly object that Pastor Mike is not radical enough in his submission to the one true God because he associates God, in his thoughts and prayers, with a ‘son’ or second principle. In fact, if the Protestant Pastor Mike REALLY wants to be rigorous about putting the soul in the most direct ‘unmediated’ relation to God he should consider that he has, in fact, been outflanked on that front. Of course Pastor Mike will em...