From: jeff@tct.com (Jeff Witzer)
Subject: Re: To All Truth Seekers!
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 14:18:45 GMT
Organization: TC Telemanagement, Clearwater, FL

In article <1992Oct9.150735.23962@cs.tulane.edu> goff@pops.navo.navy.mil writes:
>A Quote from Alt.Athesim Frequently Asked Questions:
>     "Most atheists put truth first.  If searching for truth causes you to
>      become uncomfortable, that's too bad."
>
>I assume that this implies that they evaluate objectively both sides
>of a topic. If this be the case, then if they are correct, then there
>must be a sound, reasonable explanation as to who Jesus Christ was.

Victoria, without animosity, I suggest that sound, reasonable explanations
as to who anyone *that* ancient, worshipped, and possibly exaggerated WAS 
are going to be difficult, if not impossible, to develop.  Finding the 
actual, true *reason* for anyone's existance is mute to an atheist...there
doesn't *have* to be a reason (read: conscious, pre-planned) for anything.

>JESUS WAS A MYTH-
>BIBLE ACCOUNT IS INCORRECT:
>BIBLE ACCOUNT IS CORRECT:
>JESUS LIED:
>JESUS HONESTLY THOUGHT HE WAS THE SON OF GOD BUT HE WASN'T:
>THE BIBLE IS CORRECT AND JESUS IS THE MESSIAH:

I have thories and beliefs for each of your points.  However, I will not 
post these until I can prove (within reason) a sound, factual basis for
them.  Atheists work that way.  We can separate what we believe from what
we know and present them accordingly.  I respect your beliefs (assuming
they were formed with reason...I assume they were), but do not necessarily
accept them as fact.

>AND NOW- THE FINAL POSITION THAT NO INTELLIGENT, UNBIASED, TRUTH SEEKING
>COMMITTED ATHEIST WOULD NEVER TAKE (or would they)
>
>I don't care if Jesus did or did not exist. I don't care if the bible
>is true or not. I don't want to believe in God and I don't have to if
>I don't want to so you can take your self-righteous, ignorant arguments
>elsewhere. Gee, you christians are all alike (and if you misspell anything,
>you are son of quayle) and why don't you study up on religious wars and
>then tell me where God is. This world would be a whole lot better if
>there weren't these bible thumping christians around. You believe a
>book that says in the last days, God will remove the christians before
>some kind of so called tribulation period. I'm sick of you trying to
>save my soul...LEAVE ME ALONE!

Please do not assume that athiests use the same reasoning techniques that
theists use.  We choose to believe there is no god based on the evidence
we have now, not because we don't *want* to believe in one.  When and if
the evidence shows that a god exists or existed, I will alter my beliefs
to incorporate that...but the evidence must come first.  For us, form 
follows function, not leads it.  We don't all believe that all theists are
ignorant.  We just don't agree with their beliefs.  Dissagreement should
not necessarily spawn animosity...just discussion.  

>-v.goff
>
>Disclaimer: My opinions are my own.

That disclaimer sums up one of my points on athiesm.  Just because someone
claims to be an atheist and believes "A", doesn't mean that another atheist
believes "A".  The ONLY belief that all atheist have in common is the 
belief that god does not exist.

Take care,

jeff