From: mccullou@cae.wisc.edu (Mark McCullough)
Subject: Re: Religion = anything that's fun is bad.
Organization: College of Engineering, Univ. of Wisconsin--Madison
Date: 13 Dec 92 00:51:15 CST

In article <1992Dec12.213637.19852@timesink.chi.il.us> harry@timesink.chi.il.us (Harold Platypus) writes:
>In article <9212121433.AA02595@inet-gw-1.pa.dec.com> I3150101@DBSTU1.RZ.TU-BS.DE (Benedikt Rosenau) writes:
>>Harold Platypus types:
>>>Being an atheist OPENS your mind? What a crock of shit!
>>
>>Either give evidence for your assertions or switch to another newsgroup.
>>
>Bugger off you pompous windbag... I'll post here if I damn well please!

Sure, just don't object to the flames.  Judging from the responses so far,
I hope you are behind a flame shield. :)
>
>>You must be an idiot. We have a FAQ file defining an atheist as someone who
>>does not necessarily believe in no gods. It has been discussed recently, but
>>your cognitive equipment must have fouled up.
>>
>I just tuned in... but I love a good argument. I especially enjoy rousting
>complacent fixtures like yourself. So prepare... I might just like it here.
>
>>And you are holding up the fallacy that saying there is no god is a fanatical
>>belief system. What if, as many people on this list say, they can actually
>>produce rational reason for not believing in gods?
>>
>I despise crusading atheists who waste taxpayers time and money and
>subject their little children to public humiliation and media circuses
>all in the name of their BELIEF SYSTEM: seperation of church and state.
>It pisses me off and you'll all hear about it until it's out of my system.
>I may choose not to subscribe to your frickin' FAQ as gospel, but I'll
>air my laundry in this burg of anarchy if I so desire. If you don't like
>this arangement there's a moderated group.

You keep claiming taxpayers time and money are wasted by atheists.  How?
As I indicated earlier, it is not the parent who forces the lawsuit in
the case you are referring to, it is the child.  The "belief system" you
seem to object to is quite simple.  Congress shall make no law recognizing
the establishment of a religion, or forbid the practice of such.  (I could
have the wording off, but that is the general gist.)  I am not claiming
that the FAQ is gospel, but here is a little something you might want to
consider:  The first amendment guarantees the legal residents and citizens
of the United States the right to practice their own religion, regardless
of what it is, without having the government forcing another religion at
them.  This has evolved into the modern legal interpretation of
"separation of church and state."  You might be interested to note that
it was a relgious person who first uttered those words and advocated that
policy.  If a parent can be allowed to force their child to attend
religious ceremonies where the child is told how unworthy they are, or
are told not to question things, etc.; then another parent should be allowed
to force their child to take atheism.  But it doesn't work that way you
see.  While their are many forced conversions and dirty tricks conversions
on record, their aren't exactly such records for conversion to atheism,
or agnosticism.  >

I think I can sum up part of what I am saying with, we are simply demanding
our rights in the first amendment, and could you please post some specifics?
Generalities don't do much.

>>>Frankly, I find the majority of people ballsy enough to publicly
>>>declare themselves "atheists" are nothing more than troublemakers
>>>who finally found a mission. They stir up shit, cost the taxpayers
>>>money and vanish into the woodwork having done nothing constructive.
>>>If this is you, go soak yer head...
>>
>>Posting incoherent drivel or not reading FAQs costs the money of taxpayers
>>worldwide.
>I don't think it's incoherent at all... and I help pay for this frivolous
>use of taxpayer money like everyone else. This newsgroup is a forum for
>exchange of ideas about atheism... You'll tolerate mine 'cuz you have no
>choice, except that if you don't like it you can leave!

Ever hear of kill files?  It would be easy to kill any article mentioning
you. :)  Not that I would do that, but some people can.  Also, their is
a n key.
>
>>I understand that you generously allow people to be atheists but when they
>>use their right of free expression, you despise them.
>I don't despise atheists... believe what you like.. I'll respect that!
>
>>Vote with your feet, leave this newsgroup.
>>   Benedikt
>I'll vote with my keyboard and stay as long as I like. Feel free to
>filter me if you dare... HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA...
>- Harry

Why?  I so much prefer the argument.  The government set up the bandwidth
for internet, why not use it?  The specifics of who pays never were really
clear anyways.  
:)M^2