If true, this is earth-quaking revolution in biological science, and as a retired biological scientist, I haven't heard of it and would like G.J. Philips to let us know the source of such info.
STEVE CHOU
Rotorua
In a Daily Post article (February 25) the Pope says "It's better to be an atheist than a hypocrite". As a Christian I would rather deal with people who acknowledge they are atheist or agnostic or from another religion than someone who says they are Christian and they are not!
In my view, three core things define a Christian; belief in Christ's physical resurrection; genuinely seeking to follow Christ as Lord; and accepting the whole Bible as the primary revelation of who Christ is.
In the article, the Pope talks about hypocrites who say they follow Christ as Lord but they do not. All Christians are sinners who fail to some degree but the Pope is talking about those who attend church and the rest of the time they live a lie. He particularly condemns mafia and pedophile priests.
I also particularly abhor hypocrites who manifest as Christians but you then find they deny Christ's resurrection. I also dislike people who say they are Christians but you then find their Christ does not come from the Bible (eg. a New Age "Cosmic Christ") or is based only on selected portions of the Bible (eg. followers of "the Jesus Seminar").
In the last census about half Rotorua's population said they were "Christian". Based on the fact that the Rotorua Lakes Council is about to introduce Easter Trading almost unopposed it seems that most are hypocrites.
BOB BOARDMAN
Ngongotaha
