“Harper’s” Editor Lewis Lapham Rejects God, Hates Christianity Upon Which America Was Founded

The American View ^ | John Lofton

[Jeremydmccann]

Now, three years ago, I knew then what I know now – there is a palpable hatred for the God of the Bible in our country. This is not news to any discerning observer. But seldom had I seen such God-hate expressed so blatantly and explicitly as at a forum at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco (4/18/02), a forum co-sponsored by The Independent Institute and “Harper’s” magazine. The topic was: “Understanding America’s Terrorist Crisis: What Should Be Done?” Those participating in this discussion were: Barton J. Bernstein, History Professor, Stanford University; Robert Higgs, Senior Fellow, The Independent Institute; Thomas Gale Moore, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution; Lewis H. Lapham, Editor, “Harper’s” magazine; Gore Vidal, novelist.

[Tall_Texan]

Well, he found a good job then. Most journalists hate God, Christianity and America, in that order. He certainly won't have beliefs challenged working in journalism.

[RBroadfoot]

I'd say they hate Christianity, God, and America in that order, but we don't differ by much.

[GB]

I work in that trade, and I'm a Christian, one of two Sunday school teachers on our staff, and I would daresay that a majority ... not all, but a majority ... of folks on our staff are Christians. Of course we're in a conservative state and not in a blue state so maybe that's the difference. But I don't think the broad brush you used is accurate.

[Alex Murphy]

From the article....

Q: I understand. But what is the standard by which you judge things to be ‘bad’ or ‘evil’?

A: By my understanding of human freedom, human liberty, human beings, what I assign — I assign certainly the possibility of virtue to all people. And I think the universe is moral. I think that to act in a moral way makes people happy.

In other words, he wants to be God himself. He hates God because he doesn't like having competition.

[metmom]

Well, if the aforementioned people hate God, Christianity, and America so much, they are certainly welcome to leave and stop enjoying the lavish lifestyle they apparently enjoy (why else would they stay?) I'm sure there are plenty of God, Christ, and America hating countries that would welcome them with open arms.

[goodnesswins]

Unfortunately, it seems to be of importance what CHURCH those Sunday School Teachers are attending.....see the post about the United Methodist Church's new ruling today....here on FR....

[snarks_when_bored]

Lewis Lapham comes off as a weak reasoner and a credulous reporter. The United States killed three million Cambodians? That's the claim of a staggering imbecile.

If Lapham didn't inherit the editorship of Harper's from his father or have it handed to him by some rich relative or crony, one has to wonder what are the criteria for promotion at that publication.

[mountn man]

Q: I understand. But what is the standard by which you judge things to be ‘bad’ or ‘evil’?

A: By my understanding of human freedom, human liberty, human beings, what I assign — I assign certainly the possibility of virtue to all people. And I think the universe is moral. I think that to act in a moral way makes people happy

To counter his answer what if my understanding differs from his? What if I do not assign the possibility of virtue to all people (such as Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Jenghis Kahn, and Hillary Clinton). And What if I think the universe is evil? Who wins this argument? Him because he's him, or me because I'm smarter? Him because he says so, or me because I could throw him around the room like a hacky sack?

I believe he'd answer with a people/democratic response. In other words mob rules. But what happens if one mob becomes larger than the other? He consideres himself "enlightened", what happens if more people are less enlightened than him? Do they get to make the rules?

The very thing he wishes to elevate, he refuses to acknowledge, is the very thing that could destroy him.

[MrEdd]

America was founded on the Constitution.

Nope, America was founded on the Declaration of Independence. The constitution enumerates our second governmental structure, but the Declaration of Independence is still our founding document.

[Captainpaintball]

I encourage all of you to read the exchange between Lofton and Lapham, SAVE it, and STUDY it. It will only help to reinforce your views on God and government, and serve as a reminder to the utter foolishness and stupidity the godless among us possess.

[mc6809e]

In other words, he wants to be God himself. He hates God because he doesn't like having competition.

No, what he wants is to think for himself.

[Westbrook]

Lessee, where have we heard this lie before? Ah yes, this quote from The Serpent in the garden comes to mind.

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The Serpent says you can be your own god, make up your own mind about what's good and what's evil. You don't need the Creator of the Universe to tell you what's good and what's evil.

As for the Lewis Lapham, a couple other verses come to mind.

Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

.

[thomaswest]

So many claims to know the "one true faith".

Catholic, Orthodox, Serbians, Armenians--and 189 different Protestant sects--plus Mormons, Adventists... Obviously with so many competing claims they can't all be right.

Which ones are wrong according to you?

Which one do you adhere to that should be "more equal" than the others?

[Westbrook]

The Christian faith is based on a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Y'shua ha Meshiach).

Most of the differences among the sects amount to little more than window dressing.

Indeed, they used to kill eachother over these differences until the Bible became widely published and literacy rates among the people increased to the point where they could understand the following.

Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.

1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

.

[LS]

Some panel discussion: Higgs, a Libertarian, thinks all military action is immoral---we should have stayed out of WW I, II, of course Korea and Vietnam, the Gulf, and (naturally) Lincoln was the tyrant who started the Civil War. Mexico and the Sp-Am War? Fuggedddabboudit.

Berstein was the guy who did research "explaining" why it was "unnecessary" to drop the a-bomb, and Gore Vidal???