Hello

[Edward the Theist]

Welcome, newcomer! I hope you turn out to be one of the theists that can survive.

Oh really? What kills them off?

You'll be fine, so long as you don't prove to be 'one of the crazy ones'.

See, now, that's one of those statements I'd like to take outside. I mean, what is "crazy"? Believing in God? Almost every human being on the planet believes in God.

So, can I safely assume we won't see you defending your theism here?

I'd rather point out the absurdity of atheism. Actually, I'll bet in the end, you and I will agree. Where that end occurs or when, I don't know. But I think there's a better way than throwing out the baby with the bathwater, which is what most atheists do. They chuck out theism because they're upset with the Church.

Also, you profess to be a theist, yet you continually refer to them as they, why don't you include yourself in that group?

I'll bet I'm not like any theist you've ever encountered. And I think I should take a moment to lay a ground rule so no one gets offended. I'm not going to talk with the following types of atheists:

You-can't-prove-it types. These are the ones who have no intellect beyond the realization that nothing can be proved in this world with any certainty. So, they use that as their only debating technique. God(s) can't be proved, nor has the standard model of quantum mechanics been proved. I can't prove to you the sky is the same blue to me as it is to you. I can't prove we are not in a dream, and I can't prove you exist. So, why talk with that type?

You're Bible says... types. I can't defend Christianity and I won't. I can defend a lot of things Jesus Christ is supposed to have said, but I can't defend an institution like conservative right-wing Christianity. I am a theist of the highest order, but I am not a Christian. So, if I don't respond to posts like that, don't be surprised.

Insulter-types I don't insult anyone, and I'm not going to respond to people who insult me. Some people feel insulted because that's their thing--to go through life feeling insulted; some people pretend to be insulted to manipulate a theist into backing off a position. The fact is, I don't insult anyone, and if I think you feel insulted by what I say, I'm not going to continue the debate with you. Why?

Because I've been doing this for 16 years and I've had more blogs than I can count, more bans from Christian and atheist groups than I can count, and more knock-down-drag-outs than I can count. So, I'm not going to allow a string to heat up to the point where I get kicked out.

In exchange, I intend to obey all the rules of this forum to the best of my ability. It looks like a nice one.

See ya 'round.

Edward