From: sdoe@nmsu.edu (Stephen Doe)
Subject: Re: Religion = anything that's fun is bad.
Organization: New Mexico State University
Distribution: world,public
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 17:33:10 GMT

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!

That's the trouble with these unmoderated newsgroups. . . any dickhead
and his uncle can post.

>>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.

All the FAQ does is help clear up some common fallacies many people
have about atheists.  Also, it is generally considered polite to read
the FAQ before posting to a newsgroup.  But I guess this doesn't apply
to you, as you indicate above you are not interested in polite
discussion.


>>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.

I think you'll find that any 'crusading atheists' you may find make up
a very small fraction of the atheist population.  In general, it's
pretty hard to get too worked up over something's non-existence.  On
the other hand, it is easy to get annoyed when some people insist on
shoving their questionable beliefs down your throat.

I despise crusading theists who waste taxpayer time and money
attempting to get Creationism taught in public schools.  I despise
crusading theists who go door-to-door to tell you about the virtues of
their religion, and sometimes bring their children along so that
you'll feel like a heel if you tell them to get lost.  I despise the
religious hucksters one sees on TV, paying for their million dollar
mansions with old people's Social Security checks.  I despise
religious fanatics who want to end the separation of church and state
in this country and establish a theocracy (check out some things Pat
Robertson has said).  I despise crusading theists who come on
alt.atheism and flame what they do not understand.

What's that you say?  This is not a fair depiction of theists?  If you
can see that, can't you see that maybe your depiction of atheists is
also not a fair one?

>>>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!

No you're not incoherent.  You just don't have any "ideas" about
atheism we haven't all heard a million times before.

>>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!

Sure, you don't despise atheists. . . and Hitler didn't hate Jews
either. . .

Why is it so despicable for atheists to express themselves?  I assume
that you have no problem with the theist majority expressing
themselves in a similar manner.  Oh, that's right, you subscribe to
"majority rule."  Here's a newsflash. . .the Bill of Rights protects
us from government abuse.  We could vote to make say Baptism the
official religion of America, and guess what--even if 99.99% of the
people voted for it, it would still be unconstitutional.  "majority
rule" is a sure prescription for trampling individual rights
underfoot, especially in times of trouble. . .

>>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...

Oh I'm sure you'll get bored soon enough.  I've seen people like you
so many times. . .come in, flame people, reveal their ignorance, and
then "mysteriously" disappear.

SD

Newsgroups: alt.atheism