Klarinet Archive - Posting 000438.txt from 2001/09

From: Claaronet622@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Peace
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 00:00:40 -0400

In a message dated 9/12/01 9:12:19 PM, charette@-----.org writes:

<< Please just hit the "delete" key and refrain from answering every post that

you have some sort of problem with. There are people who use religion and

prayer as an emotional outlet - why do you continue to interfere?

You're just adding to the denominator of the S/N ratio. >>

Please, permit me to further "interfere," since you did directly question me.
And please, forgive me having "some sort of problem with" certain posts and
voicing my disagreement. I would hate to do such things in an open forum for
debate and the expression of opinion. I have the distinct notion that had I
let loose a few "Jesus loves yous" I would not be receiving posts from you
telling me to shut up. And that's why I "continue to interfere," because I
see a definite bias in favor of religion. Why am I censored for simply
trying to present the other side? I see no reason for the promotion of
religious ideas on a clarinet list, and if religion IS going to be part of
the list, why can it not be debated as would any other topic? I do not doubt
the good intentions of the people offering prayers, but they must realize
that some people do not want to be included in prayer and are in fact deeply
offended by the notion. I refuse to be part of a forum where some, perhaps
generally disagreeable ideas are not allowed to be expressed, so you will not
have to deal with my "interfering" any more, since I will be unsubscribing
from this list after several years as a (mostly-lurking) member. I will
conclude by quoting a man who knows far more than me, the late Dr. Carl
Sagan:
"I think it is healthy for the religions themselves to foster skepticism
about the fundamental underpinnings of their evidential bases. There is no
question that religion provides a solace and support, a bulwark in time of
emotional need, and can serve extremely useful social roles. But it by no
means follows that religion should be immune from testing, from critical
scrutiny, from skepticism.... I hold that belief systems that do not survive
scrutiny are probably not worth having."
Aaron

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