Hi Bob, I happen to be an agnostic, so the most bland and generic reference you could make to a creator wouldnbt be aligned with my beliefs (or doubts, if you will). That said, I enjoy your trip reports and am not in the least put out by your spiritual references. You should no more feel a need to b apologizeb for being a Christian than I should for not being one. I think what makes the difference with your references is that theybre very natural, simply a reflection of who you really are, rather than who you think the rest of us should be. (Plus, I respect the good humour in which youbve taken cracks to the effect that if you were really up to speed in your profession, you wouldnbt need a kayak to cross the stormy waters!) Debates about the existence or non-existence of god, gods, goddess, and/or goddesses belong elsewhere b there are tons ob chatgroups for just these issues. Likewise b smotherly loveb that seeks to proselytize shouldnbt find a home here. That said, spirituality can be both a cause and an effect as it relates to kayaking. In talking about what motivates us to go kayaking and what we get out of it, an honest answer that includes a spiritual element seems to me to belong on this group just as much as a discussion of paddlefloat rescues would. Cheers, Philip __________________________________________________________________ Switch to Netscape Internet Service. As low as $9.95 a month -- Sign up today at http://isp.netscape.com/register Netscape. Just the Net You Need. New! Netscape Toolbar for Internet Explorer Search from anywhere on the Web and block those annoying pop-ups. Download now at http://channels.netscape.com/ns/search/install.jsp *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 13 Dec 2004 21:19:41 -0500, kayakwriter_at_netscape.net said: > Debates about the existence or non-existence of god, gods, goddess, > and/or goddesses belong elsewhere there are tons ofchatgroups for just > these issues. Likewise motherly love^] that seeks to proselytize > shouldn't find a home here. > > That said, spirituality can be both a cause and an effect as it > relates to kayaking. In talking about what motivates us to go kayaking > and what we get out of it, an honest answer that includes a spiritual > element seems to me to belong on this group just as much as a > discussion of paddlefloat rescues would. I concur. I think Rev. Bob has done a great job in his posts of keeping the spiritual content so that those of all faiths can enjoy them. > Quoted text below here is all from Steve Brown: It all boils down to > how "free" the free speech is on this list. It's not "free" speech on this list. It's adhering to the rules of the list and whims of the list moderator. As the list moderator I function as the "benevolent dictator". Like it or not what I say goes. I also fully realize everyone is perfectly capable of leaving if I turn out to be a nutcase. If someone wants full "free speech" the rec.boats.paddle newsgroup is available. I do my best to not moderate. My goal is to keep the discussion on topic and civil. Most of the time I don't need to do anything to keep conversations on topic. When digressions occur other members of the list are as likely as I am to speak up - like now. > It is a paddling list, so there are limits. Paddling is more an > exercise in physics than philosophy. Nevertheless, we all seem to have > our own philosophy regarding it. For some the act of paddling can be spiritual. I'm not about to tell anyone what they can or can't believe. I do want to make sure there are no public attempts to modify anyones personal theology. > As much as any other philosophy is allowed on the list, a bible based > philosophy is just as valid to be expressed. There is nothing > objectively that makes religion based philosophy more unacceptable > than any other. I view religion as a hot button topic. As a hot button topic it gets different rules for discussion. That is it gets less leeway in being discussed. Strong religious beliefs abound. If someone wants to post looking for others to enter an offline discussion related to paddling and their personal theology that would be fine. But a public discussion won't last, I won't permit it, even if I agree with the theology being espoused. > There is a lot of preaching on this list about the ethics of copying > designs, about protecting the environment, and all kinds of other > things only tangentially (if at all) related to actual paddling. I see > no reason to single out religious thoughts for censure. I disagree. Religion isn't the only hot button topic that will get moderated in a hurry. General discussions of the US administration would also be quick to get squashed. > One thing for certain, any idea put forth in a forum like this should > be subject to someone else posting the counter idea. If the point is > valid to be expressed, so is the counter point. Which is specific religiosity is to be avoided in posts. There's enough diversity on the list that such a discussion would be far from the required paddling topic in only a couple of posts. Anyone who wishes to continue this topic are welcome to email me directly, please don't follow up on the list. Kirk paddlewise admin. -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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