So...guess I'm the new guy

[Reforged]

Hi Vinny,

Yes, I do want to know the truth. I can understand what you are saying about refusing to blaspheme not because you're a secret Christian but because you didn't want to be coerced into something. Your signature at the bottom says "Honour the truth". Yes, I do want to know the truth.

I'm not saying now that you told a lie when you represented yourself as an atheist. But honestly, that is the impression I got but if you will be open about your beliefs, I will accept what you say openly without being evasive. People have said I'm an atheist but I have NEVER lied about my beliefs or lack of belief. I maintain I'm a Christian because I'm a member of God's Holy Church and my church and prelates accept me as a Christian. But I'm open about the fact that my definition of God is a mere metaphor for goodness and not a supernatural being. I have not concealed the fact that I don't accept anything supernatural or superstitious (the two words being perfectly synonymous in my view). If my beliefs fall under the category of "atheist", that's fine. I always have the highest regard for atheists anyway and I find the title an honour in itself. But I have to be honest in declaring myself a Christian because I am one and the Church accepts me as one and I'll be confirmed later this year when I return to England, possibly by the Archbishop of Canterbury himself (or so my friends are trying to arrange!!!).

I believe in being open about things. There was a time when I would lie on forums and pretend to be older than my real age. But that's because some forums have age limits or people think ill of you if you're on the young side so I used to pretend to be anything from 25 to 40. It was when I pretended to be a 40 year old professor in English in Jesus' College, Oxford that an old woman fell for me and insisted on meeting me. She said she would wait for me at "my" College just to have lunch with me! After that experience, I decided to be truthful. It's very hard to maintain a lie - that's my experience.

Yes, I would be delighted if you could openly state your religious position and affiliation. But if you want to keep it a secret, that's fine too but just let me know you want to keep it a secret and not tell me a long story, at the end of which I'm left wondering what it is you really are up to.

Have a pleasant day!

Hey greneknight,

Are you looking for me to openly state my religious/irreligious affiliation, or are there certain limits on what the answer to that question can be? The impression I get is that there is only one acceptable answer for you, and that is the answer that confirms your hypothesis.

Does this mean the only answer you will accept is the answer you have determined to be correct?

TPFKAV

Actually I think what he was getting at is more that a answer is an acceptable response to a question regardless of whether it confirmed his hypothesis or not as opposed to the endless stream of evasive bullshit you flooded two pages of this thread with.
Just sayin'.