Christianity and its effect on self-worth

[Strider]

When I heard the song amazing grace for the first time I wondered why he thought so poorly of himself, as did the author of your artical. The difference? I did not stop at just the curiosity I had, and my initial conclusion. Every chance I got I'd ask someone about that song and who wrote and and why he was so down. I got the platitude christian answer more than a few times, but then I asked the right person once and he turned me on to a version of this this:
http://www.anointedlinks.com/amazing_grace.html

The dude was a slave trader, and found Christ. His song, his lament was because he saw the contrast between the pain and suffering he caused and the life Christ called him to live. He saw himself as a 'wretch' because by every standard of man and God he was a wretch. But, rather than justify his sins he repented of them.

This thread is a perfect example of why 'moral' men will never know God. They think that their morality/self worth puts them in a position where it is not 'healthy' to repent.

I wasn't aware of Newton's history, but I'd say the vast majority of people that recite "Amazing Grace" in church with a vacant stare and a slack-jaw don't know the origins either. They are singing it with themselves in mind, entirely ignorant of the song's origin.

I never mentioned the concept of repentance. I stand by my original statement that the Christian notion of unworthiness and guilt is counterproductive to healthy emotional well-being. However, I do agree with you on one point. This thread is a perfect example of why moral men will never know, acknowledge, or accept your purported version of god or his dogma. We're moral because we recognize the inherent worth of all others around us; we don't subscribe to a notion that says we are inherently broken, born in a magical sort of sullied condition that is beyond our control.