home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
open in: 
MacOS 8.1
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Win98
|
DOS
browse contents |
view JSON data
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view as text
This file was processed as: Mailbox/MIME Entity
(archive/mbox).
| Confidence | Program | Detection | Match Type | Support
|
|---|
| 100%
| dexvert
| Newsgroup Content (archive/news)
| magic
| Supported |
| 100%
| dexvert
| Mailbox/MIME Entity (archive/mbox)
| magic
| Supported |
| 100%
| dexvert
| Internet Message Format (text/imf)
| magic
| Supported |
| 1%
| dexvert
| Text File (text/txt)
| fallback
| Supported |
| 100%
| file
| news, ASCII text
| default
| |
| 100%
| checkBytes
| Printable ASCII
| default
| |
| 100%
| dexmagic
| PrintFox/Pagefox WEAK
| default
| |
| 100%
| perlTextCheck
| Likely Text (Perl)
| default
| |
| 100%
| siegfried
| fmt/950 MIME Email (1.0)
| default
| |
| 100%
| detectItEasy
| Format: plain text[LF]
| default (weak)
| |
| 100%
| xdgMime
| message/news
| default
|
|
hex view+--------+-------------------------+-------------------------+--------+--------+
|00000000| 50 61 74 68 3a 20 73 65 | 6e 61 74 6f 72 2d 62 65 |Path: se|nator-be|
|00000010| 64 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 2e | 6d 69 74 2e 65 64 75 21 |dfellow.|mit.edu!|
|00000020| 62 6c 6f 6f 6d 2d 62 65 | 61 63 6f 6e 2e 6d 69 74 |bloom-be|acon.mit|
|00000030| 2e 65 64 75 21 67 61 74 | 65 63 68 21 68 6f 77 6c |.edu!gat|ech!howl|
|00000040| 61 6e 64 2e 72 65 73 74 | 6f 6e 2e 61 6e 73 2e 6e |and.rest|on.ans.n|
|00000050| 65 74 21 70 69 70 65 78 | 21 6d 61 6e 74 69 73 21 |et!pipex|!mantis!|
|00000060| 6d 61 6e 74 69 73 21 6e | 6f 74 2d 66 6f 72 2d 6d |mantis!n|ot-for-m|
|00000070| 61 69 6c 0a 46 72 6f 6d | 3a 20 6d 61 74 68 65 77 |ail.From|: mathew|
|00000080| 20 3c 6d 61 74 68 65 77 | 40 6d 61 6e 74 69 73 2e | <mathew|@mantis.|
|00000090| 63 6f 2e 75 6b 3e 0a 4e | 65 77 73 67 72 6f 75 70 |co.uk>.N|ewsgroup|
|000000a0| 73 3a 20 61 6c 74 2e 61 | 74 68 65 69 73 6d 2c 61 |s: alt.a|theism,a|
|000000b0| 6c 74 2e 61 74 68 65 69 | 73 6d 2e 6d 6f 64 65 72 |lt.athei|sm.moder|
|000000c0| 61 74 65 64 2c 6e 65 77 | 73 2e 61 6e 73 77 65 72 |ated,new|s.answer|
|000000d0| 73 2c 61 6c 74 2e 61 6e | 73 77 65 72 73 0a 53 75 |s,alt.an|swers.Su|
|000000e0| 62 6a 65 63 74 3a 20 41 | 6c 74 2e 41 74 68 65 69 |bject: A|lt.Athei|
|000000f0| 73 6d 20 46 41 51 3a 20 | 49 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 |sm FAQ: |Introduc|
|00000100| 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 | 41 74 68 65 69 73 6d 0a |tion to |Atheism.|
|00000110| 53 75 70 65 72 73 65 64 | 65 73 3a 20 3c 69 6e 74 |Supersed|es: <int|
|00000120| 72 6f 5f 37 35 33 36 31 | 36 38 30 32 40 6e 65 77 |ro_75361|6802@new|
|00000130| 73 2e 6d 61 6e 74 69 73 | 2e 63 6f 2e 75 6b 3e 0a |s.mantis|.co.uk>.|
|00000140| 46 6f 6c 6c 6f 77 75 70 | 2d 54 6f 3a 20 61 6c 74 |Followup|-To: alt|
|00000150| 2e 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d | 0a 44 61 74 65 3a 20 31 |.atheism|.Date: 1|
|00000160| 36 20 44 65 63 20 31 39 | 39 33 20 31 30 3a 30 30 |6 Dec 19|93 10:00|
|00000170| 3a 30 33 20 2d 30 30 30 | 30 0a 4f 72 67 61 6e 69 |:03 -000|0.Organi|
|00000180| 7a 61 74 69 6f 6e 3a 20 | 4d 61 6e 74 69 73 20 43 |zation: |Mantis C|
|00000190| 6f 6e 73 75 6c 74 61 6e | 74 73 2c 20 43 61 6d 62 |onsultan|ts, Camb|
|000001a0| 72 69 64 67 65 2e 20 55 | 4b 2e 0a 4c 69 6e 65 73 |ridge. U|K..Lines|
|000001b0| 3a 20 36 36 30 0a 41 70 | 70 72 6f 76 65 64 3a 20 |: 660.Ap|proved: |
|000001c0| 6e 65 77 73 2d 61 6e 73 | 77 65 72 73 2d 72 65 71 |news-ans|wers-req|
|000001d0| 75 65 73 74 40 6d 69 74 | 2e 65 64 75 0a 44 69 73 |uest@mit|.edu.Dis|
|000001e0| 74 72 69 62 75 74 69 6f | 6e 3a 20 77 6f 72 6c 64 |tributio|n: world|
|000001f0| 0a 45 78 70 69 72 65 73 | 3a 20 32 37 20 4a 61 6e |.Expires|: 27 Jan|
|00000200| 20 31 39 39 34 20 31 30 | 3a 30 30 3a 30 31 20 47 | 1994 10|:00:01 G|
|00000210| 4d 54 0a 4d 65 73 73 61 | 67 65 2d 49 44 3a 20 3c |MT.Messa|ge-ID: <|
|00000220| 69 6e 74 72 6f 5f 37 35 | 36 30 33 36 30 30 31 40 |intro_75|6036001@|
|00000230| 6e 65 77 73 2e 6d 61 6e | 74 69 73 2e 63 6f 2e 75 |news.man|tis.co.u|
|00000240| 6b 3e 0a 4e 4e 54 50 2d | 50 6f 73 74 69 6e 67 2d |k>.NNTP-|Posting-|
|00000250| 48 6f 73 74 3a 20 73 75 | 6e 66 6f 72 65 73 74 2e |Host: su|nforest.|
|00000260| 6d 61 6e 74 69 73 2e 63 | 6f 2e 75 6b 0a 4d 69 6d |mantis.c|o.uk.Mim|
|00000270| 65 2d 56 65 72 73 69 6f | 6e 3a 20 31 2e 30 0a 43 |e-Versio|n: 1.0.C|
|00000280| 6f 6e 74 65 6e 74 2d 54 | 79 70 65 3a 20 74 65 78 |ontent-T|ype: tex|
|00000290| 74 2f 70 6c 61 69 6e 3b | 20 63 68 61 72 73 65 74 |t/plain;| charset|
|000002a0| 3d 69 73 6f 2d 38 38 35 | 39 2d 31 0a 43 6f 6e 74 |=iso-885|9-1.Cont|
|000002b0| 65 6e 74 2d 54 72 61 6e | 73 66 65 72 2d 45 6e 63 |ent-Tran|sfer-Enc|
|000002c0| 6f 64 69 6e 67 3a 20 38 | 62 69 74 0a 53 75 6d 6d |oding: 8|bit.Summ|
|000002d0| 61 72 79 3a 20 50 6c 65 | 61 73 65 20 72 65 61 64 |ary: Ple|ase read|
|000002e0| 20 74 68 69 73 20 66 69 | 6c 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 | this fi|le befor|
|000002f0| 65 20 70 6f 73 74 69 6e | 67 20 74 6f 20 61 6c 74 |e postin|g to alt|
|00000300| 2e 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d | 0a 4b 65 79 77 6f 72 64 |.atheism|.Keyword|
|00000310| 73 3a 20 46 41 51 2c 20 | 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d 0a |s: FAQ, |atheism.|
|00000320| 58 72 65 66 3a 20 73 65 | 6e 61 74 6f 72 2d 62 65 |Xref: se|nator-be|
|00000330| 64 66 65 6c 6c 6f 77 2e | 6d 69 74 2e 65 64 75 20 |dfellow.|mit.edu |
|00000340| 61 6c 74 2e 61 74 68 65 | 69 73 6d 3a 38 30 38 34 |alt.athe|ism:8084|
|00000350| 36 20 61 6c 74 2e 61 74 | 68 65 69 73 6d 2e 6d 6f |6 alt.at|heism.mo|
|00000360| 64 65 72 61 74 65 64 3a | 32 31 34 31 20 6e 65 77 |derated:|2141 new|
|00000370| 73 2e 61 6e 73 77 65 72 | 73 3a 31 35 38 39 33 20 |s.answer|s:15893 |
|00000380| 61 6c 74 2e 61 6e 73 77 | 65 72 73 3a 31 34 33 37 |alt.answ|ers:1437|
|00000390| 0a 0a 41 72 63 68 69 76 | 65 2d 6e 61 6d 65 3a 20 |..Archiv|e-name: |
|000003a0| 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d 2f | 69 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 |atheism/|introduc|
|000003b0| 74 69 6f 6e 0a 41 6c 74 | 2d 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d |tion.Alt|-atheism|
|000003c0| 2d 61 72 63 68 69 76 65 | 2d 6e 61 6d 65 3a 20 69 |-archive|-name: i|
|000003d0| 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 | 69 6f 6e 0a 4c 61 73 74 |ntroduct|ion.Last|
|000003e0| 2d 6d 6f 64 69 66 69 65 | 64 3a 20 32 39 20 4a 75 |-modifie|d: 29 Ju|
|000003f0| 6c 79 20 31 39 39 33 0a | 56 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 3a |ly 1993.|Version:|
|00000400| 20 31 2e 33 0a 0a 2d 2d | 2d 2d 2d 42 45 47 49 4e | 1.3..--|---BEGIN|
|00000410| 20 50 47 50 20 53 49 47 | 4e 45 44 20 4d 45 53 53 | PGP SIG|NED MESS|
|00000420| 41 47 45 2d 2d 2d 2d 2d | 0a 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20 |AGE-----|.. |
|00000430| 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | | |
|00000440| 20 20 20 20 41 6e 20 49 | 6e 74 72 6f 64 75 63 74 | An I|ntroduct|
|00000450| 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 41 | 74 68 65 69 73 6d 0a 0a |ion to A|theism..|
|00000460| 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | | |
|00000470| 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 62 | 79 20 6d 61 74 68 65 77 | b|y mathew|
|00000480| 20 3c 6d 61 74 68 65 77 | 40 6d 61 6e 74 69 73 2e | <mathew|@mantis.|
|00000490| 63 6f 2e 75 6b 3e 0a 20 | 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 |co.uk>. | |
|000004a0| 20 20 20 20 77 69 74 68 | 20 68 65 6c 70 20 66 72 | with| help fr|
|000004b0| 6f 6d 20 4d 69 63 68 61 | 65 6c 20 57 61 6e 67 20 |om Micha|el Wang |
|000004c0| 3c 6d 6d 77 61 6e 67 40 | 6d 76 2e 75 73 2e 61 64 |<mmwang@|mv.us.ad|
|000004d0| 6f 62 65 2e 63 6f 6d 3e | 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 20 61 |obe.com>|..This a|
|000004e0| 72 74 69 63 6c 65 20 61 | 74 74 65 6d 70 74 73 20 |rticle a|ttempts |
|000004f0| 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 | 64 65 20 61 20 67 65 6e |to provi|de a gen|
|00000500| 65 72 61 6c 20 69 6e 74 | 72 6f 64 75 63 74 69 6f |eral int|roductio|
|00000510| 6e 20 74 6f 20 61 74 68 | 65 69 73 6d 2e 20 20 57 |n to ath|eism. W|
|00000520| 68 69 6c 73 74 20 49 0a | 68 61 76 65 20 74 72 69 |hilst I.|have tri|
|00000530| 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 65 | 20 61 73 20 6e 65 75 74 |ed to be| as neut|
|00000540| 72 61 6c 20 61 73 20 70 | 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 65 20 |ral as p|ossible |
|00000550| 72 65 67 61 72 64 69 6e | 67 20 63 6f 6e 74 65 6e |regardin|g conten|
|00000560| 74 69 6f 75 73 20 69 73 | 73 75 65 73 2c 20 79 6f |tious is|sues, yo|
|00000570| 75 0a 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 | 20 61 6c 77 61 79 73 20 |u.should| always |
|00000580| 72 65 6d 65 6d 62 65 72 | 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 |remember| that th|
|00000590| 69 73 20 64 6f 63 75 6d | 65 6e 74 20 72 65 70 72 |is docum|ent repr|
|000005a0| 65 73 65 6e 74 73 20 6f | 6e 6c 79 20 6f 6e 65 20 |esents o|nly one |
|000005b0| 76 69 65 77 70 6f 69 6e | 74 2e 20 20 49 0a 77 6f |viewpoin|t. I.wo|
|000005c0| 75 6c 64 20 65 6e 63 6f | 75 72 61 67 65 20 79 6f |uld enco|urage yo|
|000005d0| 75 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 | 64 20 77 69 64 65 6c 79 |u to rea|d widely|
|000005e0| 20 61 6e 64 20 64 72 61 | 77 20 79 6f 75 72 20 6f | and dra|w your o|
|000005f0| 77 6e 20 63 6f 6e 63 6c | 75 73 69 6f 6e 73 3b 20 |wn concl|usions; |
|00000600| 73 6f 6d 65 0a 72 65 6c | 65 76 61 6e 74 20 62 6f |some.rel|evant bo|
|00000610| 6f 6b 73 20 61 72 65 20 | 6c 69 73 74 65 64 20 69 |oks are |listed i|
|00000620| 6e 20 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 | 61 6e 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 |n a comp|anion ar|
|00000630| 74 69 63 6c 65 2e 0a 0a | 54 6f 20 70 72 6f 76 69 |ticle...|To provi|
|00000640| 64 65 20 61 20 73 65 6e | 73 65 20 6f 66 20 63 6f |de a sen|se of co|
|00000650| 68 65 73 69 6f 6e 20 61 | 6e 64 20 70 72 6f 67 72 |hesion a|nd progr|
|00000660| 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2c 20 | 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 |ession, |I have p|
|00000670| 72 65 73 65 6e 74 65 64 | 20 74 68 69 73 20 61 72 |resented| this ar|
|00000680| 74 69 63 6c 65 0a 61 73 | 20 61 6e 20 69 6d 61 67 |ticle.as| an imag|
|00000690| 69 6e 61 72 79 20 63 6f | 6e 76 65 72 73 61 74 69 |inary co|nversati|
|000006a0| 6f 6e 20 62 65 74 77 65 | 65 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 74 |on betwe|en an at|
|000006b0| 68 65 69 73 74 20 61 6e | 64 20 61 20 74 68 65 69 |heist an|d a thei|
|000006c0| 73 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c | 20 74 68 65 0a 71 75 65 |st. All| the.que|
|000006d0| 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 61 | 73 6b 65 64 20 62 79 20 |stions a|sked by |
|000006e0| 74 68 65 20 69 6d 61 67 | 69 6e 61 72 79 20 74 68 |the imag|inary th|
|000006f0| 65 69 73 74 20 61 72 65 | 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f |eist are| questio|
|00000700| 6e 73 20 77 68 69 63 68 | 20 68 61 76 65 20 62 65 |ns which| have be|
|00000710| 65 6e 20 63 72 6f 70 70 | 65 64 0a 75 70 20 72 65 |en cropp|ed.up re|
|00000720| 70 65 61 74 65 64 6c 79 | 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 74 2e |peatedly| on alt.|
|00000730| 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d 20 | 73 69 6e 63 65 20 74 68 |atheism |since th|
|00000740| 65 20 6e 65 77 73 67 72 | 6f 75 70 20 77 61 73 20 |e newsgr|oup was |
|00000750| 63 72 65 61 74 65 64 2e | 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 20 6f |created.| Some o|
|00000760| 74 68 65 72 0a 66 72 65 | 71 75 65 6e 74 6c 79 20 |ther.fre|quently |
|00000770| 61 73 6b 65 64 20 71 75 | 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 |asked qu|estions |
|00000780| 61 72 65 20 61 6e 73 77 | 65 72 65 64 20 69 6e 20 |are answ|ered in |
|00000790| 61 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 6e | 69 6f 6e 20 61 72 74 69 |a compan|ion arti|
|000007a0| 63 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 50 6c | 65 61 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 |cle...Pl|ease not|
|000007b0| 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 | 68 69 73 20 61 72 74 69 |e that t|his arti|
|000007c0| 63 6c 65 20 69 73 20 61 | 72 67 75 61 62 6c 79 20 |cle is a|rguably |
|000007d0| 73 6c 61 6e 74 65 64 20 | 74 6f 77 61 72 64 73 20 |slanted |towards |
|000007e0| 61 6e 73 77 65 72 69 6e | 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 |answerin|g questi|
|000007f0| 6f 6e 73 0a 70 6f 73 65 | 64 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 |ons.pose|d from a|
|00000800| 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 69 | 61 6e 20 76 69 65 77 70 | Christi|an viewp|
|00000810| 6f 69 6e 74 2e 20 20 54 | 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 62 |oint. T|his is b|
|00000820| 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 74 | 68 65 20 46 41 51 20 66 |ecause t|he FAQ f|
|00000830| 69 6c 65 73 20 72 65 66 | 6c 65 63 74 0a 71 75 65 |iles ref|lect.que|
|00000840| 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 20 77 | 68 69 63 68 20 68 61 76 |stions w|hich hav|
|00000850| 65 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c | 6c 79 20 62 65 65 6e 20 |e actual|ly been |
|00000860| 61 73 6b 65 64 2c 20 61 | 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 73 |asked, a|nd it is|
|00000870| 20 70 72 65 64 6f 6d 69 | 6e 61 6e 74 6c 79 20 43 | predomi|nantly C|
|00000880| 68 72 69 73 74 69 61 6e | 73 0a 77 68 6f 20 70 72 |hristian|s.who pr|
|00000890| 6f 73 65 6c 79 74 69 7a | 65 20 6f 6e 20 61 6c 74 |oselytiz|e on alt|
|000008a0| 2e 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d | 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 20 77 68 |.atheism|...So wh|
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|000008c0| 69 67 69 6f 6e 2c 20 49 | 20 61 6d 20 74 61 6c 6b |igion, I| am talk|
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|000008e0| 6f 75 74 20 72 65 6c 69 | 67 69 6f 6e 73 20 73 75 |out reli|gions su|
|000008f0| 63 68 20 61 73 0a 43 68 | 72 69 73 74 69 61 6e 69 |ch as.Ch|ristiani|
|00000900| 74 79 2c 20 4a 75 64 61 | 69 73 6d 20 61 6e 64 20 |ty, Juda|ism and |
|00000910| 49 73 6c 61 6d 2c 20 77 | 68 69 63 68 20 69 6e 76 |Islam, w|hich inv|
|00000920| 6f 6c 76 65 20 73 6f 6d | 65 20 73 6f 72 74 20 6f |olve som|e sort o|
|00000930| 66 20 73 75 70 65 72 68 | 75 6d 61 6e 20 64 69 76 |f superh|uman div|
|00000940| 69 6e 65 0a 62 65 69 6e | 67 2e 20 20 4d 75 63 68 |ine.bein|g. Much|
|00000950| 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 | 64 69 73 63 75 73 73 69 | of the |discussi|
|00000960| 6f 6e 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 | 61 70 70 6c 79 20 74 6f |on will |apply to|
|00000970| 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 72 | 65 6c 69 67 69 6f 6e 73 | other r|eligions|
|00000980| 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 6f | 6d 65 20 6f 66 20 69 74 |, but so|me of it|
|00000990| 0a 6d 61 79 20 6e 6f 74 | 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 |.may not|..."What|
|000009a0| 20 69 73 20 61 74 68 65 | 69 73 6d 3f 22 0a 0a 41 | is athe|ism?"..A|
|000009b0| 74 68 65 69 73 6d 20 69 | 73 20 63 68 61 72 61 63 |theism i|s charac|
|000009c0| 74 65 72 69 7a 65 64 20 | 62 79 20 61 6e 20 61 62 |terized |by an ab|
|000009d0| 73 65 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 | 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 |sence of| belief |
|000009e0| 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 65 | 78 69 73 74 65 6e 63 65 |in the e|xistence|
|000009f0| 20 6f 66 20 47 6f 64 2e | 0a 53 6f 6d 65 20 61 74 | of God.|.Some at|
|00000a00| 68 65 69 73 74 73 20 67 | 6f 20 66 75 72 74 68 65 |heists g|o furthe|
|00000a10| 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 | 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 74 |r, and b|elieve t|
|00000a20| 68 61 74 20 47 6f 64 20 | 64 6f 65 73 20 6e 6f 74 |hat God |does not|
|00000a30| 20 65 78 69 73 74 2e 20 | 20 54 68 65 20 66 6f 72 | exist. | The for|
|00000a40| 6d 65 72 20 69 73 0a 6f | 66 74 65 6e 20 72 65 66 |mer is.o|ften ref|
|00000a50| 65 72 72 65 64 20 74 6f | 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 20 |erred to| as the |
|00000a60| 22 77 65 61 6b 20 61 74 | 68 65 69 73 74 22 20 70 |"weak at|heist" p|
|00000a70| 6f 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 2c | 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 |osition,| and the|
|00000a80| 20 6c 61 74 74 65 72 20 | 61 73 20 22 73 74 72 6f | latter |as "stro|
|00000a90| 6e 67 0a 61 74 68 65 69 | 73 6d 22 2e 0a 0a 49 74 |ng.athei|sm"...It|
|00000aa0| 20 69 73 20 69 6d 70 6f | 72 74 61 6e 74 20 74 6f | is impo|rtant to|
|00000ab0| 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 74 68 | 65 20 64 69 66 66 65 72 | note th|e differ|
|00000ac0| 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 | 77 65 65 6e 20 74 68 65 |ence bet|ween the|
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|00000ae0| 2e 20 20 22 57 65 61 6b | 0a 61 74 68 65 69 73 6d |. "Weak|.atheism|
|00000af0| 22 20 69 73 20 73 69 6d | 70 6c 65 20 73 63 65 70 |" is sim|ple scep|
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|00000b20| 63 65 20 6f 66 20 47 6f | 64 2e 20 20 22 53 74 72 |ce of Go|d. "Str|
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|00000b50| 66 20 74 68 61 74 20 47 | 6f 64 20 64 6f 65 73 20 |f that G|od does |
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|00000b80| 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 | 74 72 61 70 20 6f 66 20 |nto the |trap of |
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|00000ba0| 6c 20 61 74 68 65 69 73 | 74 73 20 61 72 65 20 22 |l atheis|ts are "|
|00000bb0| 73 74 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 | 74 68 65 69 73 74 73 22 |strong a|theists"|
|00000bc0| 2e 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 20 | 61 74 68 65 69 73 74 73 |...Some |atheists|
|00000bd0| 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 | 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 | believe| in the |
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|00000bf0| 20 61 6c 6c 20 47 6f 64 | 73 3b 20 6f 74 68 65 72 | all God|s; other|
|00000c00| 73 20 6c 69 6d 69 74 20 | 74 68 65 69 72 0a 61 74 |s limit |their.at|
|00000c10| 68 65 69 73 6d 20 74 6f | 20 73 70 65 63 69 66 69 |heism to| specifi|
|00000c20| 63 20 47 6f 64 73 2c 20 | 73 75 63 68 20 61 73 20 |c Gods, |such as |
|00000c30| 74 68 65 20 43 68 72 69 | 73 74 69 61 6e 20 47 6f |the Chri|stian Go|
|00000c40| 64 2c 20 72 61 74 68 65 | 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 6d |d, rathe|r than m|
|00000c50| 61 6b 69 6e 67 0a 66 6c | 61 74 2d 6f 75 74 20 64 |aking.fl|at-out d|
|00000c60| 65 6e 69 61 6c 73 2e 0a | 0a 22 42 75 74 20 69 73 |enials..|."But is|
|00000c70| 6e 27 74 20 64 69 73 62 | 65 6c 69 65 76 69 6e 67 |n't disb|elieving|
|00000c80| 20 69 6e 20 47 6f 64 20 | 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 | in God |the same|
|00000c90| 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 | 73 20 62 65 6c 69 65 76 | thing a|s believ|
|00000ca0| 69 6e 67 20 68 65 20 64 | 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 65 |ing he d|oesn't e|
|00000cb0| 78 69 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a | 44 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 |xist?"..|Definite|
|00000cc0| 6c 79 20 6e 6f 74 2e 20 | 20 44 69 73 62 65 6c 69 |ly not. | Disbeli|
|00000cd0| 65 66 20 69 6e 20 61 20 | 70 72 6f 70 6f 73 69 74 |ef in a |proposit|
|00000ce0| 69 6f 6e 20 6d 65 61 6e | 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f |ion mean|s that o|
|00000cf0| 6e 65 20 64 6f 65 73 20 | 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 6c 69 |ne does |not beli|
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|00004a70| 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 65 2e | 2e 2e 20 20 4a 65 73 75 |t in me.|.. Jesu|
|00004a80| 73 20 43 68 72 69 73 74 | 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 64 |s Christ| might d|
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|00004af0| 20 65 74 65 72 6e 61 6c | 20 6c 69 66 65 2e 20 20 | eternal| life. |
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|00004d10| 20 73 61 69 64 20 74 68 | 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 64 | said th|ey had d|
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|00004d60| 61 66 74 65 72 20 63 6f | 6e 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e |after co|nversion|
|00004d70| 2e 20 20 53 69 6d 69 6c | 61 72 6c 79 2c 20 35 25 |. Simil|arly, 5%|
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|00004db0| 20 61 66 74 65 72 2e 20 | 20 54 77 6f 20 70 65 72 | after. | Two per|
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|00004e00| 20 61 66 74 65 72 2e 0a | 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | after..| |
|00004e10| 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | | |
|00004e20| 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 | 5b 22 46 72 65 65 74 68 | |["Freeth|
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|00004e40| 70 74 65 6d 62 65 72 20 | 31 39 39 31 2c 20 70 2e |ptember |1991, p.|
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|00004e70| 20 72 65 6c 69 67 69 6f | 6e 20 64 6f 65 73 20 6e | religio|n does n|
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|000051a0| 3f 22 0a 0a 41 20 73 74 | 75 64 79 20 62 79 20 74 |?"..A st|udy by t|
|000051b0| 68 65 20 46 72 65 65 64 | 6f 6d 20 46 72 6f 6d 20 |he Freed|om From |
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|00005240| 68 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 | 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 |hey had |found th|
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|000052c0| 6c 69 65 76 65 72 73 20 | 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 |lievers |through |
|000052d0| 69 67 6e 6f 72 61 6e 63 | 65 20 6f 72 20 64 65 6e |ignoranc|e or den|
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|000052f0| 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 72 | 73 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 |believer|s throug|
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|00005320| 74 68 65 6d 20 68 61 76 | 65 20 73 70 65 6e 74 20 |them hav|e spent |
|00005330| 74 69 6d 65 0a 73 74 75 | 64 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e |time.stu|dying on|
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|000053b0| 72 65 6c 69 67 69 6f 75 | 73 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 |religiou|s belief|
|000053c0| 73 2e 0a 0a 54 68 69 73 | 20 64 65 63 69 73 69 6f |s...This| decisio|
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|000054b0| 73 74 6c 79 20 6d 61 6b | 65 2e 0a 0a 22 42 75 74 |stly mak|e..."But|
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|000054d0| 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 | 62 65 6c 69 65 76 65 20 |want to |believe |
|000054e0| 69 6e 20 47 6f 64 3f 22 | 0a 0a 41 74 68 65 69 73 |in God?"|..Atheis|
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|00005590| 66 69 67 75 72 65 20 6d | 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 2e |figure m|ight be.|
|000055a0| 0a 0a 53 6f 6d 65 20 61 | 74 68 65 69 73 74 73 20 |..Some a|theists |
|000055b0| 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6c 69 | 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 62 65 |would li|ke to be|
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|00006070| 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 | 20 6d 61 6b 65 73 20 74 |ometimes| makes t|
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|00006140| 20 54 68 65 79 20 68 61 | 76 65 20 65 6e 63 6f 75 | They ha|ve encou|
|00006150| 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 6d | 61 6e 79 0a 61 72 67 75 |ntered m|any.argu|
|00006160| 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 61 6e | 64 20 6d 75 63 68 20 73 |ments an|d much s|
|00006170| 75 70 70 6f 73 65 64 20 | 65 76 69 64 65 6e 63 65 |upposed |evidence|
|00006180| 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 65 | 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 6e | for the| existen|
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|000061a0| 68 65 79 20 68 61 76 65 | 0a 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 61 |hey have|.found a|
|000061b0| 6c 6c 20 6f 66 20 69 74 | 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 |ll of it| to be i|
|000061c0| 6e 76 61 6c 69 64 20 6f | 72 20 69 6e 63 6f 6e 63 |nvalid o|r inconc|
|000061d0| 6c 75 73 69 76 65 2e 0a | 0a 54 68 6f 75 73 61 6e |lusive..|.Thousan|
|000061e0| 64 73 20 6f 66 20 79 65 | 61 72 73 20 6f 66 20 72 |ds of ye|ars of r|
|000061f0| 65 6c 69 67 69 6f 75 73 | 20 62 65 6c 69 65 66 20 |eligious| belief |
|00006200| 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 20 | 72 65 73 75 6c 74 65 64 |haven't |resulted|
|00006210| 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 | 67 6f 6f 64 20 70 72 6f | in any |good pro|
|00006220| 6f 66 20 6f 66 0a 74 68 | 65 20 65 78 69 73 74 65 |of of.th|e existe|
|00006230| 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 47 | 6f 64 2e 20 20 41 74 68 |nce of G|od. Ath|
|00006240| 65 69 73 74 73 20 74 68 | 65 72 65 66 6f 72 65 20 |eists th|erefore |
|00006250| 74 65 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 | 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 61 |tend to |feel tha|
|00006260| 74 20 74 68 65 79 20 61 | 72 65 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b |t they a|re unlik|
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|00006280| 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 20 69 | 6e 20 74 68 65 20 69 6d | wrong i|n the im|
|00006290| 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 | 66 75 74 75 72 65 2c 20 |mediate |future, |
|000062a0| 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 79 | 20 73 74 6f 70 20 77 6f |and they| stop wo|
|000062b0| 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 61 | 62 6f 75 74 20 69 74 2e |rrying a|bout it.|
|000062c0| 0a 0a 22 53 6f 20 77 68 | 79 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 |.."So wh|y should|
|000062d0| 20 74 68 65 69 73 74 73 | 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f | theists| questio|
|000062e0| 6e 20 74 68 65 69 72 20 | 62 65 6c 69 65 66 73 3f |n their |beliefs?|
|000062f0| 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 | 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 | Don't t|he same |
|00006300| 61 72 67 75 6d 65 6e 74 | 73 0a 20 61 70 70 6c 79 |argument|s. apply|
|00006310| 3f 22 0a 0a 4e 6f 2c 20 | 62 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 |?"..No, |because |
|00006320| 74 68 65 20 62 65 6c 69 | 65 66 73 20 62 65 69 6e |the beli|efs bein|
|00006330| 67 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 | 6f 6e 65 64 20 61 72 65 |g questi|oned are|
|00006340| 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 69 6d | 69 6c 61 72 2e 20 20 57 | not sim|ilar. W|
|00006350| 65 61 6b 20 61 74 68 65 | 69 73 6d 20 69 73 0a 74 |eak athe|ism is.t|
|00006360| 68 65 20 73 63 65 70 74 | 69 63 61 6c 20 22 64 65 |he scept|ical "de|
|00006370| 66 61 75 6c 74 20 70 6f | 73 69 74 69 6f 6e 22 20 |fault po|sition" |
|00006380| 74 6f 20 74 61 6b 65 3b | 20 69 74 20 61 73 73 65 |to take;| it asse|
|00006390| 72 74 73 20 6e 6f 74 68 | 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 74 |rts noth|ing. St|
|000063a0| 72 6f 6e 67 20 61 74 68 | 65 69 73 6d 0a 69 73 20 |rong ath|eism.is |
|000063b0| 61 20 6e 65 67 61 74 69 | 76 65 20 62 65 6c 69 65 |a negati|ve belie|
|000063c0| 66 2e 20 20 54 68 65 69 | 73 6d 20 69 73 20 61 20 |f. Thei|sm is a |
|000063d0| 76 65 72 79 20 73 74 72 | 6f 6e 67 20 70 6f 73 69 |very str|ong posi|
|000063e0| 74 69 76 65 20 62 65 6c | 69 65 66 2e 0a 0a 41 74 |tive bel|ief...At|
|000063f0| 68 65 69 73 74 73 20 73 | 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 |heists s|ometimes|
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