[geeks] Glad I don't live in Texas!

[Jonathan C. Patschke]

On Wed, 12 Jun 2002, David Cantrell wrote:

> Yes, they like to keep their bayonets well-hidden.  I didn't realise that
> about the faith I used to follow until I looked at it objectively.  So
> what is your faith?

Okay, you asked....

I'm Lutheran--a rather old-fashioned Lutheran that draws a very very thick
line between "saying what I believe" and "convincing people what I believe
is the only way to live".  If people choose to believe things that I don't
believe, that's fine.  It's not my place to change those beliefs or to
instill anything metaphysical where there is only the firmest reliance on
the physical laws that govern this universe.

My justification for that fairly "non-religuous" standpoint is, regardless
of how strongly I believe in something, there exists the statistical
possibility that I am incorrect.  Depending on whether the real answer is
"all religion is crap" or "religion $foo is correct", I would take great
risk in going to great lengths to convince people of my side.  While I
have that level of confidence in myself and my beliefs, I do not believe I
have the authority to take such a risk with other people.  Besides that,
people are intelligent enough to decide things for themselves, and to
state otherwise is an insult the the intellect and reasoning of others.

This is largely why you'll find me in bed on Sunday morning, instead of
dressed-up and sitting on a wooden pew.

Moreover, I believe that my beliefs are -mine-.  I'm acutely aware that
they are not anyone else's, except perhaps by conincidence.  So, what I
would consider "wrong" for me to do is perfectly okay for someone else to
do, so long as they aren't hurting anyone.

Finally, I believe that I speak far better of my religion by being the
most rational, kind, and fair person I can be, and then telling people why
it means a lot to be that way, should they ask, than I would to run amuck
shouting my beliefs in people's faces.  If a group of people intrigue
someone by their actions in a positive way, that person will be more
willing to look into that group's philosophy and make an even-handed
judgement than if the group were to force that person to read and/or
listen to piles of dogma.

You may consider that "keeping my bayonet" hidden, but I have no intent of
actively changing anyone else's belief.  If someone looks at what I
believe and says "that's really neat", it's an honor to me, and a
reflection that I am living how I would consider "rightly".  Anything more
active on my part, I would consider to be an intrusion and an insult.

--Jonathan