From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!orion!lime!houti!hogpc!houxm!5941ux!dje
Newsgroups: net.religion
Title: Re: The Freedom to Believe
Article-I.D.: 5941ux.234
Posted: Fri Apr  8 14:01:48 1983
Received: Sat Apr  9 07:36:53 1983
References: sbcs.257

I, too, wish to express a strong support for the freedom of an individual
to believe as (s)he pleases and to express these beliefs publicly without
being censored.

When should expression be suppressed?  The "fire in a crowded theater"
limitation seems to be as sensible as any place to draw the line.

In the context of religion, I find it disturbing that many people use their
freedom of expression to disparage others' beliefs or as a vehicle for
imposing one's own beliefs on others.  

This newsgroup would be much more pleasant to read if authors kept the
following distinction in mind.  One can freely disagree with others'
beliefs; one may PERSONALLY hold them as self-contradictory or morally
objectionable or just plain silly.  But let's try to avoid submissions
with the intent or effect of de-legitimizing others' beliefs and the
right to express them.

			Dave Ellis
			Bell Labs, Piscataway NJ
			...!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxm!5941ux!dje
			...!ariel!houti!hogpc!houxm!5941ux!dje