Carter's nihlism

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On 8 Feb 99, at 23:37, Jason Carter wrote:


> CARTER

> Thanks for writing Gloria, however, let me explain myself. I personally

> have a deep disgust for atheistic "evangelism" toward un-educated

> Christians. Christ expressed this same concern when He spoke of millstones

> around the neck of those who attempted such actions. 


Achilles
I am likewise disgusted with "born again" Christian evangelism. One good reason 
(among many) is your constant projection of your own internal conditions on 
everyone else. Gloria is carrying on a discussion, with a friend, concerning 
religious issues, and you immediately assume that she is engaging in "atheist 
evangelism." Did it ever occur to you that they may both simply be following 
that route that the Bible recommends when it says "Prove all things; hold fast 
that which is good." 

No, of course not, you cannot comprehend anyone who doesn't share your 
worldview, your evangelism, and your deep feelings of meaninglessness, of 
hopelessness, of helplessness. 

If others can be happy, can live meaningful lives without your myths, your 
faith, without your belief and your overwhelming need to convert others to your 
way of thinking, then maybe you could to? That threatens your belief. So you 
conclude that anyone who doesn't share your belief is really unhappy don't you? 


> Secondly, it is my personal experience that those who do attempt such

> evangelism are intensely lonely/angry, which is why I asked you the

> question. I did not mean to chide you, I asked only to encourage you to

> examine your own motivations.


Achilles
This is certainly true, though I doubt you intended it to be quite so 
revealing. 


> I very much value gentle persuasion, however, I do not value gentle

> persuasion to a philosophy of meaninglessness. If your friend is strong in

> the faith, and educated enough to defend herself, then please enjoy

> yourself. My letter was aimed at the deeper meaning of your endeavours,

> which seemed from you letter to be not a "dialogue of religion", but an

> effort to unconvince someone of their deepest belief and joy. 


Achilles
And who here, with the possible exceptions of yourself and Matt Bell, are 
attempting to persuade anyone to adopt a "philosophy of meaninglesness?" 


> I am not offended at your beliefs Gloria, (though I know them to be wrong

> in the area of God), I am only offended if you are seriously going into

> such a discussion with a friend with the rather immoral objective of

> deconverting her. I cannot fathom how such an act can be done out of pure

> love. 


Achilles
I am not offended at your beliefs, Jason, (though I know them to be wrong in 
the area of G-d,) I am only offended that you seriously go into discussions 
with your fellow humans with the immoral objective of converting them. I cannot 
fathom how you can claim that such an act can be done out of pure love. 


/Achilles     achillesz@usa.net

All rights reserved.

Random thought for the moment:

    I don't trust a man who talks about ethics when he is picking my
    pocket. But if he is acting in his own self-interest and says so, I
    have usually been able to work out some way to do business with him.
           -- Lazarus Long in Time Enough For Love.

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