Addicts and A.I.D.S.

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 18

Addicts and A.I.D.S.

Sir,—l was amazed to find Paul Mallng (January 22) describing Morton Smith’s “The Secret Gospel” as “a very scholarly book” when in fact the book is a tissue of flimsy hypotheses based on “evidence" that is not evidence at all. Smith, for example, infers from the enigmatic remark about the young man in the Garden of Gethsemane who eluded his would-be captors by leaving the linen cloth cast about his body and fleeing naked (Mark xlv, 5152), that the armed guards interrupted a baptismal ceremony taking place in the brook Cedron (which in early April was probably waterless). If Jesus did not explicitly condemn homosexual activity, this could well be because the Mosaic law forbade it under penalty of death (Leviticus xx,l3), so that everyone knew it is morally evil. St Paul did treat the subject explicitly (Romans i, 27) and left his readers in no doubt about what he thought of this behaviour. — Yours, etc., G. H. DUGGAN, S.M., Heretaunga, January 23, 1986. Sir, — It is time New Zealanders raised their heads out of the sands of ignorance. So long as they are not personally affected by a particular phenomenon or disease, down go their heads, just like ostriches. Regarding the recent article and discussion on A.I.D.S. and addicts, the ostrichlike attitude is outstanding in its self-righteous ignorance. There

are many minority groups who are lepers in our society because of a total lack of understanding about the problems that face them. Any means to restrict the spread of A.I.D.S. should be welcomed by all members of society, as we are all able to contract the virus. It is not restricted to homosexuals or intravenous drug users. Rather than a good dose of morals, a good deal of compassion and understanding of our fellow man is required, and so is a bit of enlightened thinking about the insidious problem of A.I.D.S. — Yours, etc., P. SPENCE. January 21, 1986.