Showing once again that the idea that I am out to irk people for no good reason is baseless, I, interest of getting the forum back to discussing quizbowl, will end my commentary on this thread in this message, with the following points. If anyone still gives a damn about what I think and wants to say so, e-mail me. <<you are an unabashed proselytizer.>> This is news to me. Let's cut to the chase: I challenge anyone to find a single documented instance on this forum or any other, quizbowl-related or not, in which I have attempted to "convert" anybody to another religious opinion. >> <<Could your disgust with my condemnation of such things indicate sympathy with Falwell and Robertson?>> That's disgusting, Matt. That's also petty and that's also spurious, and it's also wrong.<< Is it? Here's what irks me about Kristin's response: It belies a double standard for others based on beliefs. If a liberal Christian had come on here and posted "I do not believe that Falwell is correct, because I believe that God is merciful, not wrathful", Kristin would not have said anything. But because I said "I do not believe that Falwell is correct," with "because I do not believe in anything resembling Jerry Falwell's concept of God" added by Kristin's outside knowledge (note that it was not explicity added by me, because, despite distortions from some, the evidence shows that I DO NOT go around telling everyone what my religious beliefs are), she blasts me. Treating people differently based on whether they are protestant, catholic, muslim, atheist, or whatever is the kind of bigotry that would certainly make Jerry Falwell proud, and it's exactly the kind of mentality that produces the statements which he made. If Kristin had accused someone of harboring a plot for "Muslim superiority" because they shared a liberal Islamic viewpoint on Falwell, she would be subject to a well-deserved condemnation by the rest of the forum. However, throwing around notions of "atheist superiority" goes unchecked, because it's scoially acceptable to be an anti-atheist bigot. The fact that this holds true even in this forum of well-educated individuals should bring anyone who still harbored hope for a tolerant and progressive world to tears. To be clear: No, I do not think that every Christian is a bigot, and indeed I thank those open-minded Christians who have taken the time to read what I said rather than judge me by who I am, including those who e-mailed me in support. To those who still insist that atheists should be neither seen nor heard, you need to take a long look at yourself as an American and a person, and ask whether you are truly as tolerant and even-handed as you should be. --M.W.
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