gds@mit-eddie.UUCP (Greg Skinner) (03/06/84)
a.
proselytzing, by definition is the act of converting from one religion
to another, especially be special inducements. I haven't acutally seen
anyone argue that "You should be in MY religion because ..." however,
I've seen a lot of "Your religion is wrong because ..."
b.
evangelizing, in the popular sense is to convert to Christianity ...
what it actually means is to preach the gospel (gospel means good news).
I see a lot of evangelizing going on (even I indulge some times) among
those who are Christians. Counter-evangelizing, is what I suppose
unc!tim, utzoo!laura and pyuxn!rlr do ... that would be de-preaching the
gospel. (I won't say that they are anti-evangelizing, because they are
not preaching the bad news, whatever that may be ... they are just
countering ssc-vax!david's arguments).
c.
I am not sure what net.religion really exists for. :-) I don't know what
purpose it is really supposed to serve. Is it an open forum to discuss
spiritual matters among spiritual people? (Any spirits will do.) Is it
closed to discussion of Christianity only? Is it open for open debate
on all religions ... as to their merits, origins, etc. Or is it an area
of discussion for people of all faiths to discuss (calmly) spiritual
experiences? At any rate, it seems now to be all of these, so I must
get on to my main point,
d.
The role of an open forum is for open discussion. Therefore, no point
should be looked upon as outside of what is considered proper for
discussion. By this token, it is as equally valid for tim, laura, rlr
and others to flame at david if they should so choose, as it is valid
for david to defend his faith. So, I conclude with
e.
Rather than flaming about each other's right to flame, let's start
discussing some facts and/or opinions about religion. I may not agree
with everyone's opinions on religion, but here I am to defend everyone's
right to voice their own opinions.
--
By the power of Grayskull!
Greg-bo, Prince of Eternia
{decvax!genrad, eagle!mit-vax, ihnp4}!mit-eddie!gds