From: parsons@cis.ksu.edu (Scott S Parish )
Newsgroups: alt.atheism
Subject: Re: leave us alone!!!!
Date: 5 Nov 92 19:52:59 GMT
Organization: Kansas State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: cygnus.cis.ksu.edu

Jennifer Lynn Urso <ju23+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:

>one question, well actually several:

>why on earth, if you're a christian, are you posting on this board.
>maybe you're even subscribed to it, i don't know.

Yes, I'm a Christian and I am even subscribed to this group.  Sometimes
I wonder why I read this group.  But the reason I end up skimming over
the posts on this list is because I want to find out what makes you
tick, Jennifer.  I never knew an atheist while I was growing up--at
least not one who openly professed their atheism.  I wanted to find 
out why atheists don't believe what I do. 

>but do atheists spend their spare time posting on christian
>boards(please note that you don't see too many jewish, buddhist,
>islamic, or hindus posting on the atheism board, trying to show us our
>faults)

I've seen some atheists posting to other religious groups like soc.religion.
christian and talk.religion.misc.  But most probably do not post to these 
groups in the number that Christian's seem to post here.  Or maybe you
are just more aware of the Christian posts here because they contrast
so much with everything else that is written?
Also, the reason you don't find Jewish, Buddhist, or Islamics posting to 
this group often (though I have seen Islam represented here occasionaly) is
that the bulk of the readers on the net come from predominatly Christian
countries, like the USA.  I'm surprised you didn't think of that.

>why oh why oh why can't you just live your own lives being comfortable
>in what YOU believe in?

Well, for some of us we can't; our motivation is the Great Commission.
Another reason is because we have found something that is so life changing
and real in Jesus Christ, that we can't understand why anyone wouldn't 
want it or can't see it.  For me at least, it is also a learning experience 
reading and posting here; and I've learned quite a bit about how an atheist
views religion and life.  I'm sure there are other reasons. 

>being an atheist doesn't mean that you don't believe in anything, right?
>right.  SO.  stop trying to convert.  get a hobby.
>stop posting on this damn board!

Set up a kill file.  Learn to be forgiving of the Unenlightened who haven't
achieved your level of freedom from religion.  Try and learn a little
about why we hold the views we do.  Press us and make us think a little
more.  Stop being so negative and try and find a little room for a different
perspective.   Read alt.atheism.moderated (is this group out there yet)?

>there are a lot more important things to discuss on here that doesn't
>have to do with atheists and christians quibbling over their beliefs.
>we never asked christians to post on here.  the newsgroup isn't named 
>[long news name deleted]  no, i'm sorry, doesn't say that.
>so why do these christian subscribers act like it is???

I challenge you to name a topic(s) that are important to an atheist 
that are not as important to or doesn't impact a Christian, anyone?  
Like I recommended before, make a kill file.  I also dare say that 
most of the regular (if there are any besides me) Christian readers/
posters don't try to convert someone someone with every post.  Most 
I dare say are just expressing their Christian view of the topic 
being presented. 

>post on your on board, damn it, and discuss some REAL issues for a change.
>just because you christian alt.atheism subscribers don't like us doesn't
>mean you can't just leave us the hell alone.

The real issues?  Humm...Read a lot of posts on this group and the
topics all repeat eventually.  It is a rare gem in any group when you
get a REAL issues topic going.  On the contrary, we don't hate you.  
Though you do raise my dander on occasion.  We don't bug you because 
we hate you; we bug you because we love you.  (It's kind of like when you
were younger (10-12) and your little sister just got on your nerves
because she wouldn't leave you alone.)  Some of us just do it with a 
little more tact than others.  So, forgive us when we offend.

>maybe it seems weird to post a message that's somewhat directed towards
>christians on the alt.atheism board, but they're obviously not
>subscribing to the christian boards, so i KNOW their going to read it on
>here.

On the contrary, I read the Christian boards too.  I just want to broaden
my knowledge of others views.  Some of which I have never been exposed to
before.  May be you can look past our faults and try to learn something 
from someone who has a differing outlook on life.  If you don't like the 
way some topic is headed--kill it.  Or, here's an idea, try to guide it 
back into focus or get that Christian to see your point of view.  We 
aren't going to go away, so do your best with the hand you are delt. 

-- 
Scott Parish                |  The Truth is still the Truth      |  John 14:6
parsons@cygnus.cis.ksu.edu  |  even if you choose to ignore it.  |
Newsgroups: alt.atheism