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From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Proselytizing on the Net
Message-ID: <579@pyuxa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Feb-84 15:26:42 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxa.579
Posted: Fri Feb 24 15:26:42 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Feb-84 08:12:30 EST
Organization: Central Services Org., Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 40

Please, Mr. Davis, if you want to proselytize, go out and find a
nice street corner and set up shop.  As you will note from reading
the Articles in this news group, everyone has his or her opinion
regarding religion.  I have never seen an opinion changed or a stand
reversed because of the type of submission you have posted.  Most
of the arguments amount to "how many angels can sit on the head
of a pin?" type.

The discussions are interesting, with the different sides defending
their positions with great outpourings of deathless prose.  Just
be content to read them, but don't go telling anyone they are going
to roast in some mythical oven.  Many, and some quite religeous,
netters just do not believe that that scenario is true.
The arguments have been, if you wish to join in:
	a. God is dead
	b. God is mean and nasty
	c. God is good
	d. There is no god
	e. Who needs god
	f. Morality has nothing to do with god
	g. God is everything
	h. God is an abstract whatever
	i. God is real
	j. My god is nicer than your god
	k. Religion is the opiate of the masses
	l. Gods I have never met

and so on.......

No one is telling anyone else that they are going to go to hell
in a handbasket if they don't believe the same way.  Save the
fire and brimestone for the street corner or tent meeting.  Jump
into the fray at any point, but remember, you ain't gonna change
any minds out there.  It is best to present what you believe then
stand back and be ready to defend your position from all sides.
It may sound sometimes as if people are attacking your beliefs.
It is most likely not so, they are just defending their own
positions.  We all have our hobbyhorses to ride.

T. C. Wheeler