rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (04/24/84)
For just a moment, I'd like to speak out in defense of those who
make sudden, abrupt, rash statements to the effect that "all you
people who believe in god are venereal toadstools with pigeon
excrement for brains" or some equally derisive metaphor. Often
these people are either new to the net or new to the newsgroup,
and just seem to come out of nowhere with these statements.
I can sympathize with the new reader of this newsgroup who reads
all the random talk (from all points of view) and says, "When is
there going to be some logic around here? This whole line of
discussion is moot from a logical perspective!! Why are these
people living in this fantasy world?? When will they wake up and
smell the coffee? ..." To many logical, rational people, the very
notion of someone believing in a deity is incomprehensible.
If there's one thing I've learned in this newsgroup, it's that there
are reasons that some people choose to believe in a deity, although
I fail to see any logic in those reasons myself. But to those who
have come to the logical conclusion that there is no reasonable reason,
no rational rationalization for believing in god, the very notion of
seeing the vast majority of people continuing to do so is unfathomable.
And that's exactly what they get to see every day. Despite those
who claim that there isn't enough Christian emphasis out there (how
much do they want?), religious (mostly Judaeo-Christian) thought is still
a major facet in our society. ("god's name" is invoked in legal and
government operations daily, and the de facto assumption that if you
are an American you must be a Christian permeates much of this society.)
Jeff Sargent has declared that my statements about religion have forced him
to pray intensely to avoid getting angry. Well, Jeff, the energy it's
taken me to restrain myself from violent anger at some of the poppycock
that comes across in this group (I'm not singling Jeff out here.) could provide
electrical power to the nation of Andorra for seven years. Granted, Andorra
is a small country, but you see my point. I can't blame 'partridge',
'labelle', and others for their statements. In fact, I have to agree with
most of their points. We've tried to carry on discussions in this newsgroup
in a logical fashion, but I can sympathize with those who have had enough.
--
Those responsible for sacking those people who have just been sacked,
have been sacked. Rich Rosen pyuxn!rlr