Anti-Semitism In France!

[Wheetsin 714]

Very honestly, with many many posts recently just admitting you are a Christian puts you in open season. All one has to do is read them. Even worse our moderators are part of the action.

Wait a minute. Being a moderator does not remove your ability to have, or share, an opinion. Being a member, and being a moderator, are two completely different hats. I don't believe I get them confused. Agreeing to help manage the site never included a stipulation that I would only post to innocuous topics. Have I ever acted unfairly as a moderator because a christian created the post? Have I ever censored a thread because its content was not in agreement with my atheism? No. Absolutely not.

And don't lump me into "open season" behavior. I have my opinions, and I express them, but I have never cut someone down because of their beliefs or lack of -- or rather, I have never "hunted", to use your analogy, someone down because of their faith. I ask questions, I engage, I try to understand. And I share. I have never "flamed". I have never attacked or "hunted".

And don't lump me into "back up", or needing a back up. Laurend came here and posted what she did of her own accord. And what I've posted has not been related to what she has posted. Two different conversations.

[TamifromAL 1]

Very honestly, with many many posts recently just admitting you are a Christian puts you in open season.

(snip)

If a Christian lashes out, then they're accused of not being a 'real' Christian or being hyprocritical or just plain stupid, but your constant interrogation and ridicule seems to somehow qualify you for superiority?

(snip)

By the way, I've been on this board since week one. I have seen this territorialism over and over. Different story, different factions, same behavior. This too shall pass..

Leatha, I'm not a regular in R&R, so I have no clue about the stuff you're referring to. But, from an outsider looking in, it's pretty obvious that you entered this particular conversation with an agenda based on *other* discussions here.

Tami

[Wheetsin 714]

like Ron, who have no idea what has been going on be sucked in unknowingly.

There's a difference between unknowingly being sucked into something, and joining this board with the intention of rousing debate. It's not like "Ron Caruso" had been helping people determine if they were too tight over in General, or answering insurance questions, or -- pick a topic of your choice, and then somehow happened here and was taken down by a flock of prowling atheists. "Ron Caruso" posted here, and independently brought up the topic of religion with me. My title clearly states I'm an atheist. Not many questions about that. That's not really "unknowingly being sucked into".

[Ron Cusano 0]

Just for the record, when I posted here I expected that my topic and comments would spark lively debate and differing viewpoints. I make no bones about who I am or what I believe, and am not shy about expressing it.

What sparked me to bring up the subject was your moniker of "token athiest" which seems like an open invitation for discussion of the subject. If it wasn't meant to invite discussion, I assume it would not be there in such a prominent position. That being said, why do some find it suprising that a Christian would ask questions about someone displaying the title of "token athiest"!! That is like putting a bone in front of a hungry dog, and wondering why he ate it!!

[TamifromAL 1]

why do some find it suprising that a Christian would ask questions about someone displaying the title of "token athiest"!! That is like putting a bone in front of a hungry dog, and wondering why he ate it!!

Ron, put down the athiest! Bad dog!

Tami

[Wheetsin 714]

I'm sorry you see answering questions as being baited. We have a pretty clear difference of opinion there. I have no problems answering questions. I've answered more questions here about my atheism than I can count, and that's not even including the PMs and emails I get from here. I have some objection to being "scoffed", for lack of a better word, with insinuations like "have you done your homework?"

I've never had a problem with you Leatha, but I think your comments are stemming largely from what other people have done or have said, yet your finger is pointing at me.

[Wheetsin 714]

What sparked me to bring up the subject was your moniker of "token athiest" which seems like an open invitation for discussion of the subject. If it wasn't meant to invite discussion, I assume it would not be there in such a prominent position. That being said, why do some find it suprising that a Christian would ask questions about someone displaying the title of "token athiest"!! That is like putting a bone in front of a hungry dog, and wondering why he ate it!!

Ok, I'll say it again. I don't mind being asked questions. I'm not a genius but I'm smart enough to know that "putting something out there" is likely to bring interest. And I've had a LOT of extremely civil conversations about my atheism, and others' christianity, and others' hinduism, and others' every which what.

Please don't think I have objections to rational conversation. All it would take is a search or two and you'd find quite the opposite. But my definition of rational does not necessarily include condescension.

[Wheetsin 714]

"token athiest"!! That is like putting a bone in front of a hungry dog, and wondering why he ate it!!

And no, it's actually not like that. My signature has been what it has been for... oh... a year and a half. Two years. Something like that. So it's more like a hungry dog happening upon a bone, and deciding to jump.

[Wheetsin 714]

I make no bones about who I am or what I believe, and am not shy about expressing it.

You keep saying that, over and over, in many different ways. I get it. Yet - no one has asked you to have bones, or be ashamed, or withhold your opinion.

[Ron Cusano 0]

Wheetsin,

You are taking something I said completely out of context! After explaining what I believed and why I believed it, I made it clear that I arrived at my conviction after many years of searching, studing and questioning. When I said "have you done your homework?"

I was inquiring if you had also done likewise to arrive at your position on faith. This is the second or third thing that I have said that you took as a personal afront, and have become defensive about. Now why is that??

[lisah25 3]

Very honestly, with many many posts recently just admitting you are a Christian puts you in open season. All one has to do is read them. Even worse our moderators are part of the action.

I have posted many times that I'm a Christian, and I don't feel like I've taken flack for it at all.

I've been told I can just 'ignore' posts if I don't like them. I can just 'ignore' threads if I don't like them. So forgive me for asking, but if you see a person who openly admits to being a Christian, why on earth would you even feel compelled to speak to him?? You are obviously dead-set against his beliefs. You do not want to know his reasoning, you simply appear to be luring them in for the kill.

Ron came here, and his first post on a board that is mostly about Lap-Band wasn't about banding. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with doing that, but I don't see how he was lured in for some kill? He brought up personal faiths by asking Wheetsin about her title.

I did read the whole thread. This man had no idea what he was walking into and he was ganged up on. Shame on you...

I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. Again, he came to a lap-band board, granted at an invite. He brought up personal faith and questioned others believes. I think he knew exactly what he was doing, and had to have had an idea what the reaction would be.

[Wheetsin 714]

This is the second or third thing that I have said that you took as a personal afront, and have become defensive about. Now why is that??

Why is it that I appear to get defensive when someone makes a comment that is easily interpreted as condescending? Do you not know the answer to that?

You said what you did. I interpreted it the way I did. I'm sure we'll both still die happy. I really don't dig bickering. Can we move beyond this?

[Ron Cusano 0]

I'm happy if you're happy!! :-)

[green 6]

I have posted many times that I'm a Christian, and I don't feel like I've taken flack for it at all.

Ron came here, and his first post on a board that is mostly about Lap-Band wasn't about banding. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with doing that, but I do see how he was lured in for some kill? He brought up personal faiths by asking Wheetsin about her title.

I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. Again, he came to a lap-band board, granted at an invite. He brought up personal faith and questioned others believes. I think he knew exactly what he was doing, and had to have had an idea what the reaction would be.

I agree. I think that Cusano was being totally disengenuous. Asking an individual who announces in her information block that she is an atheist whether she has examined her beliefs is both offensive and dumb. Of course she has! Why else would she put herself out there publically, eh? The issue of her beliefs should be a non-issue unless you are trying to troll for souls, something which drives atheists right around the twist. Cusano, you got what you asked for, the attention of a flock of angry atheists!

[Ron Cusano 0]

Listen, Christians, by virtue of their beliefs, will go to great lengths to share their faith. It is who they are! When we see someone who we believe to be eternally lost, professing themselves to be an athiest, we have a spiritual and moral obligation to share our faith with them. They may or may not accept it, but nevertheless, we must share it. We would be hypocrits if we did not. If being exposed to Christian faith and beliefs maks a "flock of atheists angry", then something must be hitting home!

Asking an athiest is they have examined their position on faith is very relevant, since atheists usually base their lack of faith entirely on "feelings" which can not be substanciated and have no basis in fact. It is based upon a foundation of sand that quickly washes away when put to the test. The result is usually anger, which as you point out, has happened here! God bless!