religion on the Sinclair list and web pages

["John S. Quarterman" <jsq@mids.org>]

Folks,

I was afraid this would happen when I added the religion web pages.
That's why I included this disclaimer:
 This set of web pages is a place to put information about religious events
 and dogma that affected Sinclair history and genealogy.
 Religion and politics are notoriously divisive subjects,
 so let me hasten to say at the outset that opinions from many
 different people will be represented here, and I do not confirm,
 deny, attest, or refute any of them, except where I explicitly
 say so. --jsq

I suggest we apply a similar disclaimer to religious postings on the
discussion list.

Let's back up and think about this a little.

There have been allusions to the Jesus and Magdalene parentage story
in the book list in the web pages and in links related to Templars
for quite some time.  Probably most Sinclairs are aware that that's
what the Baigent Holy Blood Holy Grail book is about.  So the story
is nothing new.

It's also just a story, not to mention one that is generally rejected
by most scholars who have attempted to check what that books says.

There are also links to various Muslim pages.  Muslims believe that
Jesus was just a prophet.

There are also links to various Jewish pages.  Jews don't even believe
that Jesus was a prophet.

There are links to Cathar information.  The Cathars didn't believe Jesus
was a human.

There are links to Hindu information.  Some Hindus believe Jesus was
an avatar of Vishnu.

Then there are Buddhists, for whom Jesus has no particular significance.

And that's only a small sample of beliefs that are out there.

Should I remove all these links, and should no one mention any of these
things on the list?  I think it's safe to say that some of them are
considered blasphemous by some people on the list.

However, please remember that none of you are being asked to believe any
of them.  At least, I hope not.  Religious proselytizing is probably
beyond the scope of this list.

But some or all of the above beliefs are related to topics that are
relevant to Sinclairs, which is why they are mentioned in the web pages
and why discussion of them on this list is relevant.  This is a family
whose motto is Commit Thy Work to God.  Religion (of more than one kind)
is inextricably intertwined with the history of the Sinclair family.

I, for one, see no difficulty with anyone describing any of the above
(or other) beliefs or stories, and also no difficulty with anyone saying
they don't believe them.  But I would hope that we can all do those things
with civility.  And could we all refrain from overgeneralizations such
as "All Sinclairs believe," as well as from overreactions whenever somebody
does slip and post something like that.

If we can't do that, Niven's idea of a separate list for such matters
may be what we will need to do.

Comments?  Opinions?  Suggestions?

John
[ This is the Sinclair family discussion list, sinclair@jump.net.
[ To get off or on the list, see http://www.mids.org/sinclair/list.html