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20 November 2004

Tillich’s Protestant Principle

Perfectly exemplified here:

I
was walking across a bridge one day, and I came across
a man standing on the rail, about to jump. I said ‘Stop!
don’t do it!’

‘Why
not?’ he said.

I
said, ‘Well, there’s so much to live for!’

He said, ‘Like what?’

I said, ‘Well… are you religious or atheist?’

He
said, ‘I am quite religious.’

I said, ‘Me too! Are you a Christian?’


He said, ‘I am.’

I said, ‘Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?’

He said, ‘Protestant.’


I said, ‘Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?’

He said, ‘Baptist!’

I
said, ‘What a happy coincidence. So am I. Are you Baptist Church
of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?’

He said, ‘Baptist Church of God!’

I
said, ‘Amen
!
Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist
Church of God?’

He said, ‘Reformed Baptist Church of God!’

I
said, ‘Amen and Amen! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation
of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915?’

He said, ‘Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation
of 1915!’

I
said, ‘Die, Godless heretic!’ and pushed him off the rail.

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