Jazz_Man: "To you, it may be bull****...but it is the truth. If you choose not to accept that...that is your decision"

Spyro: It's the TRUTH he says! I am WRONG!!!! See that?!

*In no way am I saying that you are wrong. I am only stating what I know to be the truth. And in the end...the truth is the truth, no matter what you believe.

Jazz_Man: "Whether you want to believe it or not, God intervenned in your life at that moment"

Spyro: Whether I believe it or not!!! Look at that, he IS forcing this bull on me!!!

*I am not forcing anything on you. I'll say it again; God DID intervenne in your life during one of your most desperate hours. Why? I don't know...but what I do know is that God did that because he has bigger plans for your life. What they are....again, I don't know.

Jazz_Man: "No one trying to say that you are stupid/wrong for not being a Christain."

Spyro: Do you have any idea what you just said to me?! Any idea at all?! Read what you said again and closely this time! God is there and its the truth whether you believe it or not..... but you aren't wrong!!!! What the hell dude? You so do not understand what you are talking about, I simply stated where I was coming from so that you could understand my point of view and so what do you do? You say I am wrong and then cover it up! I can't believe how ignorant some people can be! You just astound me! I am so shocked at you!

Yes, I do know what I said to you...and I don't have to read it a second time. God was there for you...and he will continue to be there for you.

*I know I do not have all the answers to your questions. But, if you want to talk to someone who knows more...then go to this web page: www.praisetabernacle.com

*You can get in contact with my church pastors via E-Mail, or even over the phone if you wish. They will be more than happy to answer your questions and listen to you.

*Also, I will continue to pray for you...and so will my entire church.

It is no use arguing with you! I am taking Shannon's advice and high-tailing it out of here!

BTW jazzwriter: You made me bloody my hand punching a wall because you made me so mad. I hope you are happy. I cannot believe how ignorant you are of what you are saying, "what I know to be truth" is by all means implying that I don't know what the truth is and therefore wrong. Is that clear enough for you? Even if it isn't I don't care. I posted in here to clear some things up about my point of view and some of you feel the need to throw your Christain preachings at me. Believe me, I know your side of the story, I've only heard it a gizillion times because you seem to say it more than you say hello. If you don't wish to accept my point of view, then fine.

Shannon: I apologize deeply for the cursing, but you don't know how much people like this piss me off! And besides, it's not like we are little children and have never heard cuss words before. In the real world people curse and so here I curse when I truly feel the need too. But I'm sorry I even posted here, I knew that deep down this would happen because people can't just accept other people's point of view. They can't and that is why we have wars and bombings and terrorism. So in a way I am to blame for all that is happened, I should never have posted here.

So once more, don't even try and talk to me because I am never coming back.

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Rippingtons nut, Spyro Gyra junkie, Keiko Matsui fanatic,
BUDDHIST AND PROUD OF IT!!!

[This message has been edited by Spyroripguy (edited September 30, 2001).]

Spiriripguy . . .

No one wants to see you not post anymore on the site. However, there are a few things that need to be said.

First, about the use of language. The moderator cautioned us about it and I believe she was primarily referring to your posts. I read how you "deeply apologized" in another message. But then you spent the rest of the "apology" paragraph justifying it because it was everyone else's fault for not accepting your "point of view." Remember when you asked another poster to re-read their message and what it was really saying? You need to do the same since in reality you did not really apologize.

Second. Your initial post on another thread resulted in this discussion subject. You did the very same thing when you said "No offense intended, but...." Then you accused the book so highly held by many of being contradictory. Did you expect those affected here to simply accept that as a "viewpoint?"

Third. When asked to explain why you made the statement, your answer was "No, I don't wish to discuss it!" or something to that effect. This is a "discussion" board not a place to make assertions without reasons.

Fourth. I'm not sure where anyone got the idea that the Constitution of the United States was framed to let us believe anything we want. The Bill of Rights in protecting against a "state" religion was developed as a means of encouraging "discussion" and the "exchange of ideas." The objective was not to suppress discussion. Isn't it admirable that the framers included atheists, deists and no doubt a majority of Christians who protected against the ascendency of a state religion? There can be no arguement that if I want to believe that the moon is made out of green cheese I have that "right." However, if I share that belief with another person, they have the "right" to ask for an explanation. Refusing to supply a reason would mean I did not really have the "right" to raise the issue. That is not free-speech.

Fifth. This will be the most sensitive issue on this post. It relates to something one poster mentioned about the fact that in our interchanges here, we do not really know one another. That's true and I believe it resulted in the worst thing I've seen done on this site.

I'm referring to the attempt to lay "guilt-trips" on a bunch of the posters here. I believe that you allowed your dislike or possible hatred of "Christians" to not only misread their positive motives towards you, but resort to using the board the make many feel guilty about questioning you. Most tried to make amends without success.

I'm probably flirting with being banned from this site but I think this needed to be said. While many were exercising restraint to your sensitivities, when it bacame apparent that some supported your view you have continued to post on these subjects.

Please, no one has driven you away from this site. If you want to discuss your beliefs, fine. Do so. But be willing to ask questions and also to be questioned. that's what "discussion" is about.

[This message has been edited by Phil (edited September 30, 2001).]

Phil, as far as I know only two people have been banned from this site and both of them were banned not because of the content of their posts, but because they were posting under two or more screen names, one for their "regular" posts and other names for their abusive ones..
I don't know about the first one but I know the one who was banned last summer was not banned because of the content of the post which was ugly but not really out of bounds..he was banned because he was posting under 2 names and lied about it on the BBs and said (under his alterego screen name) that he had been lurking but was a new poster.
You have to work pretty hard to be ugly enough to get banned from the BBS...not just create controversy.

"BTW jazzwriter: You made me bloody my hand punching a wall because you made me so mad. I hope you are happy."

Fascinating. Here I sit in Greenville, Miss., having absolutely no idea where you are or what you look like. Yet without even trying, I forced your fist into a wall. Pretty powerful for a mere mortal, eh? Imagine what I could do if I hated you, as you seem to imply.
Look, Rip, I'm not your enemy. I merely pointed out that while your one comment about Bible scripture led to your point of view, your research on that matter was incomplete. I suggest you read further. If that is all it takes to "make" you injure yourself, it's no wonder you're unhappy.
You want to be treated like an intelligent, rational and ADULT human being. Fair enough.
But how mature can you be when your response to a typed message is to play knockout with an immovable object?
Explain to me, if you will, the logic in that.
No, it doesn't make me happy that you bled. In fact, it saddens me. But pity is the one thing you don't want, right? So any emotion I show is going to make you even angrier, right?


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Woody
jazzwriter23@yahoo.com