From: duncan@brolga.cc.uq.oz.au (Duncan McCardle)
Subject: Re: lighten up, people
Keywords: faith 
Organization: Prentice Centre, University of Queensland
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 03:23:10 GMT

tpe36878@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Mr. Mensa ) writes:

>Hello to all:

>	Well, tonight was the first time I have ever read this newsgroup, and I
>have a few things to say:

>	1) the idea of God is not illogical. I am a scientist (an astronomer),
>	and I believe in God. I believe that He (or whatever pc pronoun you
>	see fit to insert) created the Universe. BUT: I also believe 100% in
>	the natural laws that control the Universe (ie Big Bang, Worm Holes,
>	Black Holes, etc.) I am VERY interested in correspondance with someone
>	who has a differing opinion on this.

I'm sorry, I don't BELIEVE in 'the natural laws that control the Universe',
I know they exist because I see them in operation everyday. I've got
*evidence* for nature. However I don't find the same to be true of 'God'.

>	2) to believe in a God does not imply religiosity. Believing in a
>	higher being does not mean that one is necessarily a relious person.
>	For that matter, it does not even imply--if the person is religious--
>	that he (I don't believe in pc, sorry) is a `religious freak'.

Correct, however 'religious freaks', by definition, have to believe. Ergo
no belief -> no 'religious freaks' -> happier world.

>	3) God is not a person! I am Catholic (err, no comments please) and I
>	do not believe that God is a person, per se. He (see above note) does
>	not have a physical existence. He is a spirit of Love. One will
>	never 'see God' in a physical sense, because that is simply not how
>	He exists.

Well I guess the *nice* thing about 'God' and religion is that you can all
have your very own *nice* little convenient definition of it all. No need
to worry about problems etc, just redefine your belief to exclude all the
unpleasant or hard stuff. 
	
>	4) the Bible (to me, at least) is not a literal work. Come on, people..
>	who really believes that the Universe was created in SIX DAYS?!?! BUT:
>	whereas it is not literal, it is not fiction, either. This may seem
>	confusing, but I had it explained to me very well by the little-known
>	author James Connor. The stories in the Bible are there to teach us
>	how to live our lives.
>	
>	5) finally, LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE!!!! Geez. I mean, as if. People, people
>	people.....there is one and only one way to prove the existence of
>	God......

I would LOVE to lighten up, unfortunately some people *do* take the bible
literally, and they wont 'Lighten Up'. So while religious beliefs, in all
their myriad forms, threaten my (or anyone else's) freedoms, while believers
continue to harass me and insult my opinions and treat me with intolerence
and hatred, while all this continues to occur I'm afraid I'm NOT going to
lighten up. All I want is to be left alone to live my life as I see fit.
I'm only too happy to extend the same courtesy to everyone else, but I'll
defend myself against anyone to tries to tell me what to think. 


>	In Nomine Patris et filiis et Spiritus Sancti....
>	thomas ehardt
>	tpe36878@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu


In My Name, By My Will, On My Responsibility.

Duncan McCardle

Newsgroups: alt.atheism