On Tuesday, March 11, 1997 5:11 AM Alex Williams wrote: =09
In rebuttal to your Thesis, let me quote but a single line:
There is no surer route to tyranny than to believe one right.
My "Thesis" does not require one religion or even that one's beliefs be =
completely right. Instead it merely asks recognition that certain =
ethical principles which are only effectively taught by religion are =
essential to a civilized society. One cannot but read the letters of =
Civil War soldiers to their wives to learn that a religiously motivated =
ban on divorce "may" contribute to an increase in marital harmony.
Further, all beliefs whether religious or otherwise are held by those =
who believe they're right. For example, how can you quote the above line =
without believing it is right?
Tyrants commonly profess to be certain they are in the right. This is =
because few become tyrants without demonstrating political skills, and =
it is a common political skill to appear certain of the things one is =
attempting to persuade others. For example, listen to Alan Dershowitz on =
CNN or CNBC sometime.
He is an atheist, but he always appears more certain of the rightness of =
his position that anyone I have seen. The practical result: his clients =
get acquitted in the face of obvious guilt. Hence, the certainty of the =
rightness of one's position is independent of religious faith and is in =
fact but a mere tool of persuasion.
All faithful have doubts, but where have you seen the faithless without =
certainty of the rightness of their position. Thus, may one conclude =
that atheism is a more potent and perhaps more deadly virus than =
religion.=20
=20
------ =_NextPart_000_01BC2E2A.CEBC91E0
Content-Type: application/ms-tnef
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
eJ8+IgUUAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAAAElQTS5NaWNy
b3NvZnQgTWFpbC5Ob3RlADEIAQ2ABAACAAAAAgACAAEEkAYAkAEAAAEAAAAQAAAAAwAAMAIAAAAL
AA8OAAAAAAIB/w8BAAAAQQAAAAAAAACBKx+kvqMQGZ1uAN0BD1QCAAAAAHZpcnVzQGx1Y2lmZXIu
Y29tAFNNVFAAdmlydXNAbHVjaWZlci5jb20AAAAAHgACMAEAAAAFAAAAU01UUAAAAAAeAAMwAQAA
ABIAAAB2aXJ1c0BsdWNpZmVyLmNvbQAAAAMAFQwBAAAAAwD+DwYAAAAeAAEwAQAAABQAAAAndmly
dXNAbHVjaWZlci5jb20nAAIBCzABAAAAFwAAAFNNVFA6VklSVVNATFVDSUZFUi5DT00AAAMAADkA
AAAACwBAOgEAAAAeAPZfAQAAABIAAAB2aXJ1c0BsdWNpZmVyLmNvbQAAAAIB918BAAAAQQAAAAAA
AACBKx+kvqMQGZ1uAN0BD1QCAAAAAHZpcnVzQGx1Y2lmZXIuY29tAFNNVFAAdmlydXNAbHVjaWZl
ci5jb20AAAAAAwD9XwEAAAADAP9fAAAAAAIB9g8BAAAABAAAAAAAAALpUAEEgAEAOQAAAFJFOiB2
aXJ1czogIi4uLiBmYWl0aCBpcyBvbmUgb2YgdGhlIHdvcmxkJ3MgZ3JlYXQgZXZpbHMiAIoSAQWA
AwAOAAAAzQcDAAsADgABAAEAAgD0AAEggAMADgAAAM0HAwALAA0ADgACAAIAAQEBCYABACEAAAA1
Q0MyMTI2QzBGOUFEMDExOEExRjQ0NDU1MzU0MDAwMADhBgEDkAYArA4AACMAAAALAAIAAQAAAAsA
IwABAAAAAwAmAAAAAAALACkAAQAAAAMALgAAAAAAAgExAAEAAADrAAAAUENERkVCMDkAAQACAE0A
AAAAAAAAOKG7EAXlEBqhuwgAKypWwgAATVNQU1QuRExMAAAAAABOSVRB+b+4AQCqADfZbgAAAEM6
XEV4Y2hhbmdlXG1haWxib3gucHN0ABgAAAAAAAAAfLjlng0pvBGEta7yuns9CKKAAAAAAAAAGAAA
AAAAAAB8uOWeDSm8EYS1rvK6ez0I4oEAABAAAABcwhJsD5rQEYofREVTVAAAOQAAAFJFOiB2aXJ1
czogIi4uLiBmYWl0aCBpcyBvbmUgb2YgdGhlIHdvcmxkJ3MgZ3JlYXQgZXZpbHMiAAADADYAAAAA
AEAAOQAAq4TxVi68AR4AcAABAAAAOQAAAFJFOiB2aXJ1czogIi4uLiBmYWl0aCBpcyBvbmUgb2Yg
dGhlIHdvcmxkJ3MgZ3JlYXQgZXZpbHMiAAAAAAIBcQABAAAAFgAAAAG8LlbukmwSwl2aDxHQih9E
RVNUAAAAAB4AHgwBAAAABQAAAFNNVFAAAAAAHgAfDAEAAAAPAAAAam1pbHRvbkBvdS5lZHUAAAMA
BhDj3y++AwAHECsFAAAeAAgQAQAAAGUAAABPTlRVRVNEQVksTUFSQ0gxMSwxOTk3NToxMUFNQUxF
WFdJTExJQU1TV1JPVEU6SU5SRUJVVFRBTFRPWU9VUlRIRVNJUyxMRVRNRVFVT1RFQlVUQVNJTkdM
RUxJTkU6VEhFUkVJAAAAAAIBCRABAAAAOgoAADYKAACYGAAATFpGdd12zbYDAAoAcmNwZzEyNXIy
DGBjMQMwAQcLYG6RDhAwMzMPFmZlD5JPAfcCpANjAgBjaArAc4RldALRcHJxMgAAkioKoW5vElAg
MAHQhQHQNg+gMDUwNBQh8wHQFBA0fQdtAoMAUAPU+xH/EwtiE+EUUBOyGPQU0K8HEwKAApEI5jsJ
bzAa3/plDjA1HAodIRzfHekb9P8eEhx/IE8gDR+PHb8cDxBg/DI4Jdom8SavJ7kb9CfivyZPKh8p
3SlfJ48rVDkOUB8upDABKCMwAAKCc3R56mwHkGgJ4HQAABNQA/BQZGN0bAqxXDJYYZhkanUxcAUQ
Z2gFQjsWMgwBYwnAMmADMHNufGV4FzAHsAWwAMACc3OxAFBzYjIUUDFgYRPw9FxrCeBwC5AyPzKj
CGDrMpALgGUxoHY5YAFAM5u/DDA0ZCgAN0AEoAuAZyfx6TTmYmEXEGQCIDWgNUbnMdAzkDuRIDEx
Mw5QNp//N684vwBROfwAoDRuPH89hv8xJA/APo8/n0CvDlA570MP20QfPbMzAoITEGM2YEuhkzOQ
PbB0aTmQIEQBEKhhdWwFQFAKwGEJwOBhcGggRgIhNiQlQOhmaS0PkDgBQDkwUDPrRw8yo2ILIHIJ
UFJSFqDZUlJ3NCVBFwBwAdBNcn8zv0qfS6ZP0E6QBRACMC1DTzADYTogVG9XsFModWJqBZB0V7BE
Yeh0ZTo2JDZP/1EPUh//Uy9UOTHAPaMOIUuhOrYOUJtVb1Z+UjmBFwEgSD2R+wSQNiQ3WW9af1uP
XJ05Dy9dvw+QaXAI0GIKsHQ4/0n6D1RGEF+/YMZqAGHQC1C8eS9PQFywCxFiRXM2JP8oAGM/ZE9l
X1yvVE9rX2xv7211V9JXdFipOW+/Mz8DMB1pszlzn3SveqBEb2P+dQeAAjAF0E8AGgMTEBrwgnYC
USB7VW5reCGRFdJKb2gDoFIuBdD9AxB0AiAaAXjSeDB4cHFR/QGAblgwAGAJ8E2gfQACAbs14F5S
ZQDwfQAxgHAegKRcdgiQd2sLgGRrQP+DEgTwB0AQYQFADgBxIj2Ce4R1AhBvBUIXIRLyWMBtgwtR
WMAgQzpcXFcA+m9O4W1PMAMQB5CHIH/AywUAE2BvAYAgTwEgDeC1gmBciNZFAMADEC5LcL50gEAX
EHhwNSFncngBQL2BcW4x0BrwinRONGN+cecTAgCABZBsdkGhRtAOcP814I0CAZAAII2Sg2F9QQHB
f40BFuAPcAAARtAM0AGQIP4ufcSNFg5QjbJOcHjAji//jz+QTw/ARtAFgZHvkv+UD3Zsa0BG0GyR
r5Zvl3UpH5B8JUCVT5ovl2RiICj/ApGbT41DWVCY/52/ns+f3/+NcGMQoSKN/6KPo5+QfCgA/6Ev
pq+nv6jPjXB4AKWvqz//rE+tVAr5AzB4L3k/es0Iwbs08jWgTwOgGiK2NFQKUKBzZGF5LH1xchbQ
DT3wMbfQL/A5NyA1Yjq4UCBBTbbItrlBIRLyYmtta68jIF8nfYADEFihYX0xoHgg7lcDEGdwh5Bz
ApF+IQQAZwmAfhJOUHRoAFB+IWQFAkBtuFA3NTY3M/e+4DvVudF3A2BYwba5DIL+IAqFshSy37Pv
BUC9D74f3jd6oME/wk/DXkkDoBrwnmJnUAGQAyB/8CB5CGH3V8Ax0ACQc7fQMaAFQAeAqCBxdb/x
IMoBIJfA3wCQD3AxoMtgZ4E6CoUKhdfOMcrxGvAgBAAgE1DMkP8IcASQydBnQROAynExgE7AuG5u
ecpglxHKYmJnoN8IkE3xAiATgLSzLsafx69vw1/Eb8V/xoZN0IBvQGTfAmDL5Mr0ABDYZyBLcAeR
7xNQBUAa8Mvgac6h0aPRMfxnaQIg0ZAFwGfB0NEW4O8FQLz/1l8BwDPRkgAQy+T/BCDRIwPQ0RHc
z93fxlLcv/fhn78AbyAgBaCGkRcgZ6D70IDR5CDJsDFwPZHOwMuSv9th0IBLQLsgydEFoGcDAH9N
0NvB3HOJEAAgsqIXIGjvDeDKQRdwC4BjBSAxob/A/+mhTyAKwNGC5eHjD+Qf3uJ/ARFYUU3h63/s
j+T1AZB1/bTSYuXx23brEgeQFxACML8HMcpil8DqQIMQZ3B6CYD/zJB9AAiQMYB/oO7P79/lIP8O
kLaQE4CEANBghbHMQhrwf+bR9bDM8RcgWMAXANGQZv+G8POSvGAKwYiA2FAIkQQg/8/yMdDa4L/A
TeH6UzGgCsD/3FWXwNtltIDl4QRgTdFYsd81IEsw29EDoD2wdgWwiRD39K/1v+URMtg6/r//z/bS
/YngeQHPAt8A09lpCOAQ8P9JoMoBz9P90eoh+AETcbKx/4ngSaDKMhbh/SDQcNI20kX2RsrA+FFy
t9CEEOng3/b/BF8Fb+Ug3wDqsOmBz2L8dv/b4oWwi6EWcROA8lIx0NhQv/GCDXATYuqw0Qj4UXnf
Vu/OoeYVbWHcEHiHkOWRt9B9EZB390LKksvV+FLBAG/fTfFncgx/DY/lIDS/secAfxGQzFHRJD3C
5wHO0UmjP/8W3xfv5SBW4M1sGy8cPxjy+lTQMnTf0OVhCfHl4eoA/4iQ8pHQ5Oj3EqLrAyME5gb/
yvDO0c7R0SCEAPzQhuDuIP8U8CUh5XDP0SDVGUav0Anxv7SRWLA9wh5vH38dQnD58H9NwenC57C8
gbzvKT+/ADn9uRAsK58srx1CCEHm487R7/NhIVMqjvMjcILQ+bHpBv/5EfhS6ZFeoPjx0bEw4vix
34aQJ+PKcYLQcnB1YnEQFN5zE+1ncOah0NNBatFOEddycBTR5wB6/fJDLg8vHyHlIDYgTk7b4kNO
/EJD9BHLsE3Qy7A5vzrP/+3AuRCQYD1fPm9fkB1/P9/7LM+5EEhC/0QPO9I0xPIxX/qitJC30MxC
FgJsbZB5/zDxMuPf0P0gzqEzTXnjVpD/IiH5ESSyKpDMoOho/dDKoP3RsUkJsRZhYGA9P0ZvLaN+
bk5/T4870iSChuDqAGH/7kHpwvHAzzCMgFewJLKMoPv0UCECZ8uBUO9R/+3AagD3U8DawfixZFXP
Vt870iO2f1i/Wc/lILjAjFD+gfkRb/ZigxAPsmfa0IyAf6BiUP/qMBSh+FLpBfRwSv9eM986/0yH
JMKvwYLQr8P5Ag9YjFD/GVFbj1yf5RFYATCCY2Jd4v/3pJfA5zLKYfnw+QI19Myg/woAP69mf0HP
Qt9rn+UCeqC/OHDp4G3vbv9X4mUTZoxwn3CPcZ9wAk3kfBB1YiEQ/0i0DtEQ0k4CFVJOQSPUZRP/
h+EmuGAfS3v6pEyGJIL80N+30AQh0ZMHcYygdTZR+/T/SFOHoM7Rc290fy2wv6BpAX9KQiqQOAFN
Qv2gNfH8AHD/fr9/z2ykSjOC34PvgPKv0Pfm0OXhhdByD8HQo/HGap//ho9ss4V/ip/e020N0s/T
3//U74y/Zzi2sW14utRj0buJCH0AAJZwAAADABAQAAAAAAMAERABAAAAAwCAEP////9AAAcwIO5E
YVAuvAFAAAgwIO5EYVAuvAEeEACAKQMCAAAAAADAAAAAAAAARgEAAAASAAAASwBlAHkAdwBvAHIA
ZABzAAAAAAABAAAABgAAAFZpcnVzAAAACwABgAggBgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAAA4UAAAAAAAAD
AAOACCAGAAAAAADAAAAAAAAARgAAAAAQhQAAAAAAAAMABoAIIAYAAAAAAMAAAAAAAABGAAAAAFKF
AAC3DQAAHgAmgAggBgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAAVIUAAAEAAAAEAAAAOC4wAAMAJ4AIIAYAAAAA
AMAAAAAAAABGAAAAAAGFAAAAAAAACwAwgAggBgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAADoUAAAAAAAADADGA
CCAGAAAAAADAAAAAAAAARgAAAAARhQAAAAAAAAMAM4AIIAYAAAAAAMAAAAAAAABGAAAAABiFAAAA
AAAAHgBCgAggBgAAAAAAwAAAAAAAAEYAAAAANoUAAAEAAAABAAAAAAAAAB4AQ4AIIAYAAAAAAMAA
AAAAAABGAAAAADeFAAABAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAeAESACCAGAAAAAADAAAAAAAAARgAAAAA4hQAAAQAA
AAEAAAAAAAAAHgA9AAEAAAAFAAAAUkU6IAAAAAADAA00/TcAAEJi
------ =_NextPart_000_01BC2E2A.CEBC91E0--