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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>Roger Falen writes:<?xml:namespace
prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>"I abhor religion being dragged into
the political arena."<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>Roger's view reflects that of some
other locals who have commented on Postcardgate.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>Are these people delusional, living on
the far edges of reality?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I can
only most charitably assume that these unfortuantes somehow live lives totally
sheltered from all current media and who have never studied a whit of
history!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>It doesn't take a rocket scientist or
even a feeble-witted child of five to see what happens when government becomes
entangled with religious beliefs and practices.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Even the slowest among us who read or
see the news can see what the effect of mixing religion and government in near
and middle-eastern countries leads to.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>In addition to war, there is a great loss of individual liberties and the
punishment of people for doing the most ordinary things we who live in a
relatively secular society take for granted.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>And such can't happen
here?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>See:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><A
href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2004/spring/taliban-on-the-palouse"><FONT
size=3>http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2004/spring/taliban-on-the-palouse</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>And from <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Credenda/Agenda</I>, part of Christ Church
Cult plan for establishing a theocracy:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><A
href="http://information-receptical-f-001.googlegroups.com/web/No+Pity.pdf?gda=wwI7jz0AAADfAMERIoT7virUdex72FZFZk8k9aCIPpL0tETFw78ewz1Kn5mchz5NeryAAGVuIfTlNv--OykrTYJH3lVGu2Z5&gsc=X-dULwsAAAD-DGKXSQTnGiMJE7R5fCvi"><FONT
size=3>http://information-receptical-f-001.googlegroups.com/web/No+Pity.pdf?gda=wwI7jz0AAADfAMERIoT7virUdex72FZFZk8k9aCIPpL0tETFw78ewz1Kn5mchz5NeryAAGVuIfTlNv--OykrTYJH3lVGu2Z5&gsc=X-dULwsAAAD-DGKXSQTnGiMJE7R5fCvi</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT
size=3>Reality<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>In evaluating a person who proposes to
become our elected representative or other public functionary, we need to know
what facts/probabilities/theories they believe, the set of values they act upon,
and the relative strength of their belief in these values and how they will
apply them to the duties of their office.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>And that's not enough.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We need to know how this candidates
justify these beliefs and values.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>In the great early murder mystery, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Moonstone</I>, by Wilkie Collins,
Gabriel Betteredge justifies his beliefs by looking things up in <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Robinson Crusoe</I>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Why is this
relevant?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>Think of the trillions of hours of
careful work and verification that got us to the point where we have enough
knowledge to send persons to the moon and watch it in real time.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This accomplishment was not the result
of depending on a work of fiction or a book of fairy
tales.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>It is the empirical method that made
this knowledge possible, not wistful thinking propounded by power motivated,
bullheaded "my way or the highway" thinking.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>For the literate (those who can read
at the high school level) who read this post an essay by Charles Sanders Pierce
called "The Fixation of Belief" expresses this concept far better than I could
possibly do.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT><A
href="http://www.peirce.org/writings/p107.html"><FONT
size=3>http://www.peirce.org/writings/p107.html</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>There are thousands and thousands and
variations of such of different religions, all inconsistent with each other (and
with logic and reality) and there is no reliable, tested system to tell which of
these religions, if any is true.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>And how horribly absurd to believe in an alleged omnipotent God that
can't even help us get this allegedly important belief
straight.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>And a candidate presenting oneself as
a Christian is supposed to persuade us to vote for
them?<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>There is not one major ethical issue
upon which Christians agree.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Whether it be the death penalty, abortion, same gender marriage, if
stealing or lying is sometimes OK, and even surprisingly, whether to aid the
poor and unfortunate or not.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>The word "Christian" is so vaguely and
ambiguously used as an adjective that it tells us nothing about how a person who
uses the word to describe themselves is likely to
act.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>The more fervently a person holds a
belief, the more likely they are to impose this belief on others, especially if
they are running for political office.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>If they are fervent religious crackpots, they are very likely to try to
impose their beliefs derived from their crackpot religious beliefs with very
predictable and unpleasant outcomes, if history is any
guide.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>Knowledge is not perfect.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of what we now believe is most
likely wrong.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most everyday
knowledge (and political, social, and economic knowledge) is not nearly as
probable as the knowledge carefully wrought by physics or chemistry.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most political, social, and economic
theories are current guesses, and there are major disagreements among the
so-called authorities on most of these theories.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>None the less when I vote, I wish to
vote for someone who bases their views on beliefs and values derived by
observation, beliefs whose approximate probability can be judged based on our
current state of knowledge, not by relying upon a book of fairy
tales.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>I do not wish to have my life
determined by someone relying on some unverifiable, almost infinitely improbable
set of religious or superstitious fantasies.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I do not wish to have some religious
crackpot tell people of the same gender that they can't marry, for example, or
that homosexuals ought be executed or exiled, or that adulterers ought to be
executed.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>In the case of Gresham Bouma of the
Freeze Church, which believes the Bible is the allegedly <B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">inerrant</B> word of some alleged god, I do
not want Bouma or any other religious crackpot to give acceptance, legal or not,
to act as proscribed in Numbers 5:11 et seq or to act in accordance with many of
the other ridiculous, cruel proscriptions found in the
Bible.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><FONT size=3>Therefore, that’s why I believe that
any candidate's religious beliefs and how these beliefs determine their thinking
and actions are important.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Further,
any candidate who is unwilling to discuss their religious beliefs and how they
determine their thinking and actions, and with how much weight these beliefs
determine their thinking and actions is not only being dishonest, but is being a
cowardly chickenshit and not deserving to hols public
office.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV><FONT size=2>
<DIV><BR>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow, ID
83843</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>208
882-7975<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>