From: goehring@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Scott Goehring)
Newsgroups: rec.games.mud,talk.religion.misc,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk,alt.discrimination
Subject: Re: Christian MUDS, are there any?
Date: 16 Apr 92 21:57:13 GMT
Article-I.D.: mentor.GOEHRING.92Apr16165713
	<GOEHRING.92Apr16092458@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>
	<mktjadx.703451569@gsusgi1.gsu.edu>
Reply-To: goehring@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Followup-To: rec.games.mud
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
In-reply-to: mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu's message of 16 Apr 92 19:12:49 GMT

mktjadx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Jeff A. Dilcher) writes:

>It is interesting that many university systems are condoning (albeit
>indirectly) nearly every other religion under the sun, from roman
>mytholgy to satanism, and not one person crys foul.  However, bring
>in this "evil Christian religion" into the university computers and
>you have obviously violated "anti-discrimination" policies and have
>crossed the bounds of separation of church and state.

>This is not surprising to Christians, however, as we are used to this
>form of behaviour from this world.

[quotation from the Christian holy book deleted]

Heh.  You seem to have some sort of persecution complex.

First of all, you seem to believe that allowing the free practice of
religions other than your own is the same as condoning these
religions.  This is, of course, nonsense.  The presence of constraint
would imply encouragement for those religions unconstrained.  The
absence of constraint implies equal encouragement for all religions,
so therefore no religion is specially treated in any way, and
therefore no religion can be considered to be "condoned" over any
other.  You are arguing for the sole condonement of Christianity and
the condemnation of all other religions; this would indeed violate the
separation of church and state, as well as principles of academic
freedom (in the context of the university environment).

Note that it is not discriminatory to permit Christian conduct.  It
is, however, discriminatory to permit ONLY Christian conduct (that is,
to prohibit non-Christian conduct) - it is discriminatory against
non-Christians.  Likewise, it would be discriminatory to prohibit
Christian conduct, but I am not aware of any such cases.  Note,
however, that your right to conduct yourself as a Christian ends when
it interferes with another person's right to his own religion.

Many universities have restrictions on harassment based on religious
belief.  A Christian who attempts to convert a person against his will
can be considered to be harassing if he does not desist on request.
This problem is most peculiar to Christianity, as it is one of the few
major religions that expects its adherents to coerce others into
joining in their beliefs.  Other religions do not run afoul of these
regulations because they do not, by and large, engage in such
practices.

Non-Christians are constantly and continually discriminated against in
our society.  Christians often fail to see this, as they strongly
outnumber non-Christians.

Finally, I see no reason why our universities should not be an open
environment where people can sample alternative lifestyles, beliefs,
and creeds.  For one strong in his beliefs, the contact with those of
differing beliefs will but aid him in gaining a further understanding
of his own.  The strong need not fear challenges.

I take your statements to mean that you believe that these other
religions should not have the right to practice freely.  If so, then
you are expressing great intolerance for the rights and beliefs of
others.  Such an attitude offends me greatly.
--
You're damn right we need a rational code of morality and ethics.  But not
much progress can be made in that direction while we've still got a majority
ranting about gods, devils, souls, and absolute morality, and using an ancient
book written by ignorant nomads as a guide.  -- Doug Graham (dgraham@bnr.ca)