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From: ins_akaa@jhunix.UUCP (Ken Arromdee)
Newsgroups: net.religion,talk.religion
Subject: Re: Freedom
Message-ID: <3472@jhunix.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Sep-86 10:01:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: jhunix.3472
Posted: Wed Sep  3 10:01:25 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Sep-86 04:49:49 EDT
References: <131@hcx1.UUCP> <117@omepd> <126@omepd>
Reply-To: ins_akaa@jhunix.ARPA (Ken Arromdee)
Organization: TARDIS Repairs, Inc.
Lines: 44
Xref: linus net.religion:10690 talk.religion:48

>>>Mr Zimmerman is indulging in what we in the midwest used to call 'bear-baiting'.
>>Even if God does exist and control the afterlife, all Paul's done is examine
>>the evidence available to him (incomplete and inconsistent as it is), and
>>reach what he thinks is the most reasonable conclusion about God based on
>>it.  If he's wrong, and God is a reasonable fellow, then why would a
>>reasonable God want to punish him for that?
>
>Either you haven't read my reply to gary, or it hasn't reached you. The
>implication was not that Paul is headed to hell. The implication is that
>his viewpoint might change and he might regret this game of 'bearbaiting'.
>After all, i find it hard to believe that Paul really believes that God exists
>as the 'damager god'. 

I find it hard to believe that Jesus was actually God or was born of a 
virgin.  But I am aware that other people do hold the belief even though I
consider it absurd, and I do not assume that anyone who claims to hold that
belief doesn't really believe it.  This is known as "religious tolerance".
Why don't you seem to tolerate Paul's?
>
>I would say that Paul seems to have chosen an effective way of attacking
>christians, by slandering something they love, more than their church, more
>(if they are christians) than themselves. I wonder if that isn't the real
>reason for his posting - to arouse the response - rather than a real belief
>in the sadism of God. I understand the motive - as i clearly stated, i used
>to do it myself.

Here we go again.  If Paul believes what he is saying, he isn't "slandering"
anyone.  It seems as though you are projecting your own motives on someone
else; just because you used to do it yourself for selfish reasons doesn't mean
that everyone else who does the same thing does it for the same reasons.

>Ignoring the personal attack, i worship him the same way i draw near to
>a fire when i am cold. He is the source of all life and truth.
>To hate him is dry up and die, to cut off your own source of life.

It sounds as though you are saying that if you hate God, you will die.
Please clarify this; I have no idea what you're really trying to say here.
-- 
Kenneth Arromdee                                               |      |
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