And so it begins.
Actually, "it" began with a totally unnecessary poke at the Presbyterians. This event isn't even a case of iconoclasm. An iconclast would have gone to the nearest Catholic Church and taken a sledge hammer to the statues there ... this was intended as an insult, and maybe a threat. It's actually quite the opposite of iconoclasm ... The vandal recognises that the statue is a sign pointing to a "higher" reality, and expresses his contempt for that reality.
Yes it does as always, and that's one reason why I usually avoid religion threads. But judging by the title and by the good will usually engendered by the Christmas season I didn't think that this thread would degenerate into another Catholic vs Protestant mudslinging contest over atrocities that were committed 4 or 5 hundred years ago by both sides, and in more instances than not, for political reasons rather than for strictly theological differences. Apparently I gave some FReepers credit for more common courtesy than they are willing to demonstrate.
Thank God my salvation doesn't depend on things that were said, written, or done by mortal men and women 4 or 5 centuries ago. It depends on what the sinless, perfect, Holy Son of God did for me on the cross almost 20 centuries ago.