Okay, okay, everyone. I specifically said not to turn this into a flamewar. And I suppose that, since I shot first, I made this a flamewar. So please let me try to end it. What ticked me off was that people were basing their anti -- and yes, it definitely seemed anti -- Christianity on these three things: 1. Christians caused the Crusades. Events that occurred 700 years ago are still being held against Christianity. You same people don't disassocaite with anyone of German descent because of the Third Reich, though, right? Just try to be consistent. 2. Those who claim they kill because of the Bible. You know, there's a word for such people: insane. They are no more Christians than the rest of you. In fact, by living a moral and ethical life, I'd say the righteous pagan is closer to being a Christian than they are. 3. Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, Jimmy Swaggart, and everyone else who says "Convert or go to hell." The Christian community -- the TRUE Christian community -- takes these televangelists no less seriously than you do. And as for the man on the street, he should know that while the Church is always welcoming, he must live its ideals, not badger his neighbor, to spark interest. In short, the bias runs both ways. But a lot of it deals with overblowing or writing off the other side -- something which can be applied to damn near any debate. I never asked for no tournaments on Sunday -- just for time before or after it on Sunday. If a tournament covers a weekend, why can't it be scheduled so that Sunday competition starts as late as 11:00 or 12:00? Is it that big a deal to rush through everything that you can't allow people to spend time in reflection? Since Tim brought it up, the statement I made that triggered his need to call my faith a superstition was: "If I'm not allowed to sleep around before getting married, why are you?" Let me finish now. Religion is something close to me and to lots of people. Whether you worship a deity, or the sciences, or knowledge, there is something all of us want to attain more than anything else. I will never say anything against any religion to anyone, because it is their choice to do so. I can debate, I can argue, but I will not belittle. Is it so much to ask everyone else to do the same? The arguments cited above -- all used in the chatroom last night -- are so illogical as to mock the need for an argument. I expect this kind of blind intolerance from stubborn ignorants. It saddens me that this community cannot leave people's beliefs as beliefs, and leave them alone. Leave Them Alone! Andy
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