Re: OT-ish:Conlang Census

On Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at 05:57 PM, paul-bennett wrote:

> On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 23:04:27 -0500 "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...>
> wrote.
>
>> Except individuals and churches don't get to decide what the definition
>> of
>> "Christian" is. :)
>
> Yes they do.
Well, yes, of course they do.  One has only to read the literature of
different
groups to see that.  Whether _subjectively_ one agrees with such a
situation or
not is one thing; but _objectively_, yes, both individuals and churches do
and
have done so.

[snip]
>> And one could argue that Islam is a Christian denomination as
>> well, since Jesus is recognized as a holy prophet and forerunner
>> of Mohammed
>
> And Sikhs.
That reminds me of one time when we were at Mass, at the exchange of the
sign of
peace my wife turned round and found herself facing a large turbaned &
bearded
Sikh  :)
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On Tuesday, January 20, 2004, at 06:26 PM, Mark J. Reed wrote:
[snip]

> I would count Sikhs within the umbrella of Islam, actually. :)
Having taught both Sikhs and Muslims, inter alios aliasque, over several
years now, I can assure you that is quite mistaken. (Whoever heard of a
Muslim celebrating Diwali??). They are quite distinct religions.

Fortunately, the relation between the two religions and with Hindus has
been good in the College where I work.  But I do know that, sadly, some
establishments a few years back were much troubled with confrontations
between Sikhs & Muslims.

Counting Sikhs within the umbrella of Islam is just as misleading as
counting
Christians (or Muslims) within the umbrella of Judaism - or Buddhists
within
the umbrella of Hinduism.

Ray
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"A mind which thinks at its own expense will always
interfere with language."         J.G. Hamann, 1760