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From: rjn@duke.UUCP (R. James Nusbaum)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: A Fig for 'what's his name'.
Message-ID: <8590@duke.duke.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 20-Sep-86 20:45:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: duke.8590
Posted: Sat Sep 20 20:45:34 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 23-Sep-86 04:28:23 EDT
References: <5369@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: rjn@duke.UUCP (R. James Nusbaum)
Organization: Duke University, Durham NC
Lines: 67
Xref: linus talk.religion.misc:180 net.religion.christian:4689



[warning flame ahead]

In article <5369@decwrl.DEC.COM> arndt@lymph.dec.com writes:
>Someone, I can't remember who (I'm losing the battle of the desk top here

	[content deleted]
>
>Well, keep chargin'
>
>Ken Arndt 

A new crusader appears to have jumped on the net.  Every so often someone
attacks the net with a vengence, spewing out article after article.  Mr. Arndt
appears to be the most recent example.  I have been following
talk.religion.misc since its inception and have been for the most part very
pleased with the high traffic and intelligent discussion in it.  However,
occasionally someone like Mr. Arndt comes along and damages the arguments
of many on the net.  His rambling, almost unreadable text is filled with
condescending remarks and sickening cuteness.  He evidently expects people
to agree with his opionions simply because he has said it is so.  This
attitude and method greatly denigrates the efforts of the many well meaning,
intelligent Christians who have been submitting articles to this newsgroup.
I must also comment on his disgusting racial slurs and political diatribe
which he inserted into one of his early articles.  That kind of statement
does not have any place in this newsgroup.

I am not a Christian, but I am willing to listen and discuss the Christian
viewpoint at any time.  It is this kind of discussion which allows people
of diverse religious backgrounds to live together in peace.  It is the
intoleration of opposing religious views which has recently been on the
rise in the US that has so many non-Christians striking back in retaliation.

I urge everyone who participates in this newsgroup to keep their postings
intelligent and thoughtful.  Postings like Mr. Arndt's are ineffective
at changing opinions and merely incense others.  This then leads to emotional
rhetoric from the other side and the ensuing feud wastes time which could
better be spent on logical, adult discussion.

I am also amazed at people who post to the net without even bothering
to substantiate their words.  Perhaps this is inevitable in a discussion
on religious issues.  So many people have been taught religion since early
childhood that I believe they simply accept it as fact.  It is obvious
that many Christians have had almost no real exposure to any other religion
but their own.  In fact it seems that they are even unaware of the many
different sects and offshoots of the Christian religion which are thriving
today.  I would urge everyone to spend a little time studying religion
before making rash statements which will simply be rebutted immediately
by someone more knowledgeable.

Not wanting to beat a subject into the ground, but it keeps coming up.
Christian supporters keep quoting from the Bible and other Christian
religious works as 'proof' of certain things.  I would hope that you will
soon realize that most of us who do not agree with you will not accept
any of these quotes as proof in any way.  The concept of circular reasoning
has been brought up over and over.  I suggest you look up the term and
try a new method of persuasion.

Jim Nusbaum


-- 
R. James Nusbaum, Duke University Computer Science Department,
Durham NC 27706-2591. Phone (919)684-5110.
CSNET: rjn@duke        UUCP: {ihnp4!decvax}!duke!rjn
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