From: "Robert Knowles" <p00261@psilink.com>
Subject: Re: Reverse FAQ....
Organization: I'm on a coffee break now
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 17:26:02 GMT
X-Mailer: PSILink-DOS (3.3)

>Seeing how so much of this alt.atheism group is dedicated to ridiculing
>Christians, I'm proposing to write up some sort of an "anti-FAQ"--something
>that attempts to answer (intelligently) the standard attacks on Christianity.

You said you wanted questions.  My question is:

Why do Christians think they have to preach to us in alt.atheism?  And then
criticize us for ridiculing Christians?  Do atheists go into other news
groups and "take on" the believers?  I know you are commanded to spread
the word, but can't we have a little corner of our own for discussion
among atheists?  It only seems polite.  

When I read and post to alt.atheism (except when I am trying to get garbage
removed) I am interested primarily in what atheists think.  I have seen/met
a few reasonable believers whose opinion I respect for the other side of a
discussion and that is nice, but generally speaking I want to know what the
atheists think.

I really think the presence of so many Christian posters in this news group 
only adds to the general dissonance and prevents atheists from being more
constructive.  In nearly any forum in which atheists participate, there is
always some Christian butting in with his two cents worth.  Do atheists go
into your churches and shout down your ministers?  (If so, give me times,
dates, places, and contacts -- I may want to join in :) )

This even occurs in major media.  You never see an atheist guest on a radio
or TV show without someone to represent the "opposing side".  Preachers and
all other religious types go on without any ATHEISTS to counterbalance their
claims.  People are just plain afraid to let us speak among ourselves.

As far as ridiculing Christianity goes, it does not bother me or any other
atheist I know.  Some of us would like to go beyond that, but from time to
time it is just necessary because we live in a society where CHRISTIANITY 
IS RAMMED DOWN OUR THROATS.

I had the pleasure of living and working in Indonesia which is primarily
Moslem and watching the Christians (expecially the expatriates) squirm when
they were no longer the dominant culture.  Quite a pleasure.  Seems they
can dish it out at home, but can't take it abroad.  What!  No Christmas
tree in the Cafeteria!  We can't preach in public!  Will someone turn off
that goddamned loudspeaker in the Mosque!  You mean the stores are closed
every afternoon for prayer!  Quite a laugh riot for me.  I think I understand
now why there are so many religious wars.  People get quite pissed off about
this kind of stuff.

So altogether I think a few flames of Christianity in this newsgroup is quite
acceptable and a very mild reaction.  There are other newsgroups for Christians
to read if they are offended.

I guess the above could be considered a "standard attack on Christianity",
or perhaps it is non-standard, I don't know.

But if you want another question for your FAQ how about:

Since you have no testable proof for the existence of God, and we require it 
for further discussion on or about God, why do Christians assume that a god
exists in their comments and expect us not to complain?  Don't you understand
that some common ground has to be found?  And you are entering a newsgroup
filled with atheists?  Don't you read the FAQ's?

Flame on!