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From: smb@ulysses.UUCP (Steven Bellovin)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Inferring consent from silence
Message-ID: <10036@ulysses.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 7-Apr-85 15:37:01 EST
Article-I.D.: ulysses.10036
Posted: Sun Apr  7 15:37:01 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Apr-85 01:53:43 EST
References: <710@mhuxt.UUCP>
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> From: js2j@mhuxt.UUCP (sonntag)
> Newsgroups: net.religion
> Subject: Re: Inferring consent from silence
> Message-ID: <710@mhuxt.UUCP>
> Date: Wed, 27-Mar-85 10:08:07 EST

> > People, can you not see the difference between doctrinal disagreements
> > and *evil*?  Is even obnoxious atheism the same threat to humanity as
> > Nazism? 
>          So nice to hear that you don't think we're quite as evil as
> Nazis.  What did we ever do to you?  It's pretty damned amazing to hear
> someone denouncing the Nazis, while in the same breath, showing
> the kind of intolerance they were famous for.  (Actually, I'm an agnostic,
> rather than an athiest, but I'm sure you find us every bit as odious.)
> > 
> > 		--Steve Bellovin
> -- 
> Jeff Sonntag

My apologies for any imprecision in my wording that mislead Jeff Sontag; I do
not consider atheists, agnostics, or any other such group to be obnoxious,
odious, etc.  I do consider certain individuals to be obnoxious, at least
as manifested by their net postings.  This category includes atheists, Jews,
Christians, pagans, and many others.

My original note was addressed primarily to the Christians on the net who
have responded at length to atheists, but have not responded to Don Black.
I used the word "obnoxious" to forestall answers of the form "well, I would
have remained silent, but the posting was so flame-ridden that I had to answer."
Perhaps I should have phrased that sentence "Is atheism, even if propounded in
an obnoxious mannter, the same threat to humanity as is Nazism?"

Again, my apologies if my wording caused confusion.  I trust that Jeff Sontag
will retract his statement that I showed Nazi-like intolerance -- for I
consider that to be a very serious charge indeed.  I do my best to avoid
flaming and empty rhetoric, and I hope others will do the same.


		--Steve Bellovin