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Subject: 
Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Tue, 21 Sep 2004 03:31:15 GMT
Viewed: 
1428 times
  
In lugnet.admin.nntp, David Eaton wrote:
   In lugnet.admin.nntp, Lee Meyer wrote:
   Taking an active stance that religious beliefs have no part in making LUGNET decisions, is not a neutral stance about how LUGNET feels about those of us with religious beliefs. After all this decision has all the atheists here standing up and applauding (and FYI if you aren’t aware - atheism is a form of religion - the religion of man)...most often found in secular humanist groups.

I can’t say I agree-- by saying that, you’re absolutely forcing LUGNET into a position of choosing a religion by arguing that something that’s *unreligious* is a religion in and of itself.

Hence, you could argue that nothing ever was religion-neutral. IBM, The New York Yankees (read “evil incarnate”), the US goverment, a bottle of Cheez Whiz: all religious. The Cheez Whiz doesn’t believe in God, therefore it’s atheistic? A puppy doesn’t believe in God, therefore it’s atheistic? How about a newborn baby? A 2-year-old? A 5-year-old? A 38-year-old? How about an autistic 38-year-old?

The implication Todd made by saying that LUGNET is religion neutral is that it’s decisions should not be made based on religious merit-- decisions should be made based on criteria that visibly affect LUGNET. Now, you could argue that God affects LUGNET, but seeing as how you could also say the same for Allah, Zeus, or the Almighty Ford Prefect, all with similar visible evidence, we’re safer just relying on stuff we can visibly see.

Will it make community members happy? Some yes, some no. Will it cause people to leave LUGNET? Possibly, but hopefully not. Does it fit with the LUGNET plan? Sure. Will it violate any laws? Nope. Is having such a group detrimental to LUGNET readers? Not if we’ve got skip-filters. Does Zeus approve? Uh, I dunno! So I’m not gonna try and factor that one in, and apparently (and thankfully by my book) neither does Todd & co.

DaveE

FUT .debate

Hi Dave, the point I was trying to make was that when you deal with a topic that has moral/religious implications (such as homosexuality), if before the discussion has even begun, you state that religious factors will not be taken into consideration on determining if something should or shouldn’t be done, all I’m saying is that that is not a religion-neutral position - it is one that is hostile (equally hostile towards all religions) to religion.

You have to understand that people of faith cannot compartmentalize or separate their faith/morality from their decisions. To say we actively make sure that religion has no place in the decision making process makes it a process that is inherently hostile towards all people of faith. ANd I’m not singling out LUGNET here, it;s just a specific example.

It’s a subtle thing that many people don’t see. And as far as LUGNET is concerned, I am not surprised in the least that this is the attidtude they have adopted (or always had). You have to expect it from a society that separates things into ‘secular’ and ‘religious’.



Message has 6 Replies:
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
(...) Why not? Jesus did. Who did he hang out with all the time? The Scribes? The Pharisees? Or the people that they had labeled Sinners™? Which group are you representing right now? (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
"Lee Meyer" <leemeyer1@compuserve.com> wrote in message news:I4DGG3.yz4@lugnet.com... (...) separate (...) that (...) that is (...) LUGNET (...) If one were to base Lugnet decisions on faith, which faith system would one choose as the basis for (...) (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)  
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
(...) There are no moral implications in the issue -- except for the immorality of behaving in a hostile manner toward a harmless minority, of course. (...) Out of curiosity, would it be more or less hostile to your particular religion if Todd (...) (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Lee Meyer wrote: <snip> (...) Don't certain faiths hold the average bovine in high esteem? Would that necessitate that all topics of conversation regarding having a 'LEGO Buildfest and BBQ at Biffs Place' be inherently a (...) (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
(...) Some can. Like my father for example - who is a United Methodist Minister, and has been for the past 15+ years. He is a respected member of the Christian Community in Daytona Beach - and a friend of the Bishop for the United Methodist Church (...) (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
(...) Just a quick aside, pretty much anything has implications in some religion or other. Lego altogether is an affront to the Amish I'm sure, since they don't even believe in using such technical marvels as buttons, let alone plastics and the (...) (20 years ago, 21-Sep-04, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: False premise in this message needs to be identified as what it is
 
(...) I can't say I agree-- by saying that, you're absolutely forcing LUGNET into a position of choosing a religion by arguing that something that's *unreligious* is a religion in and of itself. Hence, you could argue that nothing ever was (...) (20 years ago, 20-Sep-04, to lugnet.admin.nntp, lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)

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