tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297947.post1733482493050167863..comments2023-10-06T01:17:26.463-07:00Comments on Rev. Rob Schenck "Faith and Action": Will Jesus’ Tomb Bury Christianity on Capitol Hill?Rev. Rob Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12729845779164557204noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30297947.post-64247089031196000282007-03-02T06:33:00.000-08:002007-03-02T06:33:00.000-08:00Rob, I am the representative of Beltway Atheists w...Rob, <BR/><BR/>I am the representative of Beltway Atheists whom you report in your blog "...agreed it (the religion-based initiatives case being argued before SCOTUS) was a loser". What you report in this little blurb is so far out of context that it is, for all intents and purposes, a false characterization of what I said. Can you say "false witness"? <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>When you approached me on the street, I had just come from our demonstration on the steps of SCOTUS. I was not privy to the proceedings inside and I certainly was not expressing a legal opinion. My one-liner was nothing more than humorous, self-effacing cordiality. It doesn't seem possible the it could have been mistaken for anything beyond that. And it seems more than a little self-serving that you would report it as something other than what it was. But, perhaps a mixture of denial, wishful thinking, and the apparent need to make us look bad to your support base made you report it as if it bore any significance. No matter how insignificant, irrelevant, innocent, or inconsequential a comment might be, to purposefully misconstrue it is no less of a falsehood and, frankly, smacks of desperation.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>To anyone concerned with scrupulous handling of the truth, my quip could not reasonably be construed to reflect either the secular community's view of the merits of the case, or our view on the constitutionality of the religion-based initiatives, or our expectation that the Supreme Court will do the right thing by ending government handouts to religious institutions. So, I wouldn't take much comfort from such impromptu remarks. <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>And what was the remark in question? As we were shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries, you asked me how I thought it went. My response, as you recall, was that ,lately, these things usually seem to come down 5 to 4 for your side. You responded that we "Atheists needed to have a little faith". <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>We, on our website, could just as easily have reported that a high level spokesman for Faith and Action said that he thought we might win. But that would certainly have misreported your obviously humorous, self-effacing, attempt at cordiality. Your response to me was free of useful content and was neither mistaken for, nor intentionally misreported, as an opinion on the relative merits of, or eventual outcome of, the case. I took it as nothing more than banter and forgot about it.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>It seems a bit much that I should have to correct you on such a trivial point, but I feel that the truth is important and, and worthy of proper respect and scrupulous observance on all sides. I have frankly, seen reporting on your blog which did not accurately and fully reflect the facts and, thus, represented a picture that diverged from the truth. If a cause is worthy, the truth should not need to be... modified.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>BTW - thanks for continuing to publicize our motto. We've had requests for tee shirts and a new printing will happen in the near future. Just for the sake of accuracy, the full motto is "Stabbing Religion in the Neck With A Screwdriver since 2005". Its a little ironic that you find this offensive even as you talk about pouring hot coals on our heads as a way to inspire us into belief in a just and loving deity. I took it as humor rather than any sort of veiled threat, but it certainly evokes thoughts of the not very humorous Inquisition when such practices were gleefully carried out by the faith-driven, biblically-justified servants of a just and loving deity.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Naturally we expect that most people recognize that we are not actually stabbing anyone in the neck with a screwdriver, but rather that we are merely interested in raising legitimate debate about the claims and practices of religion in general as we are entitled to do under our Constitution and Bill of Rights. What is surprising and a little disappointing is that so many in this country take the position that religion is not open to question, that it is exempt from humor, immune from criticism, and entitled to special privileges. One thing the Constitution does NOT guarantee is a right to never be insulted.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Every time we have met in public, we have exchanged handshakes and pleasantries. I have always found you to be friendly and engaging. I think I have always treated you with the same personal respect. I hope we can always keep it that way. And while we obviously disagree on many things, let us scrupulously observe the truth in all our dealings. I seem to recall that your alleged deity expects that of you. And it is a Humanist principle which we think is an essential component of any system of ethics, fair treatment, and acceptable civilized human behavior.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Sincerely,<BR/><BR/>Rick WingroveJeff Wismerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05870229053478815130noreply@blogger.com