From: pcrayne@halcyon.com (Peter C. Crayne)
Subject: Re: Reverse FAQ....
Organization: The 23:00 News and Mail Service
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 14:18:41 GMT

In article <1inmq0INNp99@gap.caltech.edu> werdna@cco.caltech.edu (Andrew Tong) writes:
>
>and beliefs of Christians?  I'm sorry, but the major impression that I get from
>this group is that atheists believe that Christians are the brainless scourges
>of the world, the cause of a majority of the world's (or at least America's)
>problems.  Since this group IS public, then this sentiment is BOUND to attract
>Christians.  

I would like to say that this is an accurate obesrvation. I DO believe
that christians are a (not the) brainless scourge, as a lot. Furthermore
they ARE responsible for many of the world's problems, and even more of
America's problems. Primarily this is because of their unrelenting
illogic, and lack of consideration for other's rights.

>And my major point lies in the FAQ itself.  It is geared toward answering
>attacks on atheism from Christians.  This fact, by itself, shows that much
>of this group is not alt.atheism, but rather alt.atheism_is_better_than_
>Christianity.  In light of this context, Christian participation in this
>group is almost expected.

In this country at least, anyone who publicly admits to being an atheist
is the recipient of scorn (or at least condesention). Atheists are so
used to fending off religious attacks that it is often hard to seperate
atheism as a belief from atheism as an argument. 


>
>OK.  I'll keep in mind that maybe many people in this group simply don't want
>to hear the other side of the story in alt.atheism.  This probably won't
>stop me from posting a completed anti-FAQ, though.   Please excuse my little
>bit of impoliteness and/or inconsideration.  But this is something I think is
>important.

I, for one, welcome the anti-FAQ. Nobody should be afraid of an honest
argument. Please don't let anyone dissuade you from posting it.

>
>>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.
>
>Is this still the case?  With prayer banned in schools and even the phrase
>"merry Christmas" banned on public buildings (in Maryland, for one...  They
>require "season's greetings" or something like that) it seems as if
>atheism is officially sanctioned by our society.  Or at least anti-Christianity

This is definitely still the case. I remember being preached at from the
time I was 6 years old. I have the pleasure of living on the west coast,
where there is a little more tolerance, but I understand that in the
midwest, religion is relentless. For christians, it can be hard to see
just how much christianity is incorporated into the fabric of our
society. (Whew, narrowly avoided a cliche!)

-Pete
pcrayne@halcyon.com

"Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous
debaucheries, the cruel and torturous executions, the
unrelenting vindictiveness, with which more than half
the bible is filled, it would seem more consistent that
we called it the word of a demon than the Word of God.
It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt
and brutalize mankind."
-- Thomas Paine