>>>However, if anyone has chosen to close their mind to the obvious connections I'm sure not going to waste my time trying to open that closed mind.
>>
>>A closed mind is one that disagrees with yours?
>
>Hmm.. Seems that this just might be a two way street don't you? In this particular case it seems that others other than myself are doing this.

Doug, please read two quotes above where you stated that I have a closed mind. Then quote where anyone else in this thread stated anything about your closed or open mind.

>You're certainly free to choose to not believe in God but why are you so compelled to even respond at all? IOW, why does it seem to bother you so much that there are other folks who do believe? You seem awfully threatened by all of this and I'd think that if you really didn't believe that you'd just be able to ignore it.

Are you implying that there is some inner part of me that wants you or anyone else to convert me? Arrogant again.

>Sounds like you're externalizing an internal struggle here..

STRUGGLE? There's no struggle. I am _at least_ as confident in my beliefs as you are in yours. I had my struggle in the 7th grade. Solved all of that at church camp the summer after that year. Never again was there even the slightest hint of question in my head. I don't believe in ghosts, I don't believe in monsters under the bed, I don't believe in Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny, and I don't believe in God. No struggle.


>You sure seem bothered by mine - to the point that you seem to feel it necessary to start calling name. Shame on you.

No Doug, I am bothered by your prejudice ('I am moral- non-christians are not').

>I certainly do not have a monopoly on inner peace whatsoever. I am asserting that I do have it though. Do you? If you do not you can - if you choose.

I am bothered that you would imply in any way that you are more sure in your convictions than I am. That I might not have the same level of 'peace' as you, and that my belief system is deficient and can therefore benefit from being 'enlightened' by yours.

Would you like me to say it literally? Yes Doug, I have inner peace. I am not having a struggle with "who I am", "what does it all mean", or "what's going to happen to me after I die". I have a complete and healthy set of morals that are not derived from fear of punishment by a supernatural force.

>Gosh.. I'd think that folks would be glad to know that this is possible Erik, rather than be so put out that someone asserts that they do.

I know it's possible. What you can't seem to grasp is that someone else can acheive it without agreeing with your beliefs.

>Sorry, but I'm sure not going to give it up so I can be miserable again. <g>

No one asked you to give it up. I'm simply asking you not to try and force it on me. Or sorry, in your words, 'persuade' me. To try and give you perspective, an attempt at 'witnessing' makes me feel the same way as an Amway sales pitch. It makes me feel all slimy.

>>This is an inappropriate forum/thread for this discussion. If you feel the need to continue, please do so privately.
>
>Baloney. Here you go imposing your belief system on those around you..

Well, since you are reading this message, you can see that I decided to continue the discussion in public, after seeing that my attempt to move it wasn't doing any good. I also decided to respond to underline the fact that I am not afraid to discuss it. But I'm still not sure that this is the place. And before you offer to discuss it over a soda at the next DevCon, you should know that I've had the discussion before (plenty of times), and frankly it bores me to tears.


>I just object to the name calling and who's done most of that in this case? <g>

Describing an action or a statement with a negative adjective is not the same as name calling.

> If you don't want to participate - don't.

I know. I just can't resist.