<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <TITLE>John 3:16 and Donald Duck on the Pianotech list.</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>It's interesting that "religious influence" is so offensive, but = profanity or the wide array of other influences (and it is often very wide = here) that enter onto this list through the natural course of conversations = are "OK" and should be tolerated by "techs".  In fighting for their = "freedom", some would take away the freedom of others.  This list is not, nor has = it EVER been piano tech related 100% of the = time because we are human beings.  If it were all tech, the posts would be cut = probably in half.  We wouldn't be talking about (from recent posts) dogs, = children's books, politics, or our families. Relationships are formed here, = too.  For an "all tech, all the time" info site, visit the archives and search = your topic.  Just be aware, some idiot may throw in something unrelated = in the posts.  Tolerance and consideration should be exercised on all sides.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> Lance Lafargue, RPT Mandeville, LA New Orleans = Chapter, PTG lancelafargue@bellsouth.net </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV align=left class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr>-----Original Message----- From: = owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of = vanbrussel Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 3:24 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: John 3:16 and Donald Duck on the Pianotech list. </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE> From: vanbrussel <vanbrussel@euronet.nl> Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 = 22:53:25 +0100 To: <DGPEAKE@aol.com> Subject: John = 3:16 on the Pianotech list. </BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>Christopher Witmer, in a recent post, = quoted John 3:16; "For God so loved the world that = He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not = perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the = world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be = saved." -- John 3:16-17 <BLOCKQUOTE> And then (another pianotech subscriber) : Why = does this upset you so much? Are you under conviction? Read the verse = again, insert your name instead of "the world" and see how it applies to = your life. </BLOCKQUOTE> Well Sir / Madam, I will try to explain to = you why, yes.... it bothers me : In this opening sentence actually = lies the cause and the answer (of my being bothered): In the first = place, I thought I am/was a subscriber to a so called 'pianotech list', a = forum for piano technicians (and not specificly 'religious only' piano technicians). When I subscribed, I did so, because it said = nowhere that one had to be a piano tech AND be a member of any religion or church. By getting e-mail on that very pianotech list with = religious material  like, : quote : "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever = believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For = God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that = the world through Him might be saved." -- John 3:16-17 " unquote. I am puzzled = and annoyed. Why puzzled? Because, as I said before, I wanted = to be a subscriber to a 'pianotech related' list without sermons or any kind = of religious influence. And why annoyed? Because I feel = pressured to accept YOUR vision, YOUR way of living, YOUR philosophy. You = probably did not ask yourself (in this case) whether I had the WISH and NEED = to accept YOUR way, YOUR phantasies. Furthermore: Suppose = I am a believer in 'Deity' Donald Duck...(and please, do take my words seriously) How would YOU personally react to my asking you to = accept 'HIS' (Donald Duck's words? How would YOU personally react to my = asking you to "insert your name instead of "the world" and see how it applies = to your life" ("For God so loved the world that He gave His = only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but = have everlasting life. ).   You would probably feel = very much insulted and you would considder it blasfemy (and on top of = that....on the pianotech list!) So, 'my point' is : Maybe I believe = in Donald Duck? Maybe I believe in Allah? Maybe I believe in = Buddha? Maybe I believe in the Thora? Maybe I believe NOTHING? I = <<<<  try to have respect for others by (on a public forum like the pianotech list) not openly push forward MY religious believe or opinion. If I would do so anyway, it would actually show my = contempt for the ideas of other persons, my personal criticism of what another = human being might feel privately in relation to religion, philosophy, or = whatever way of life. I did never want to write this letter in the = first place, it did not even come up into my mind! It shows, that by = provoking subscribers of this list with YOUR religious ideas, you FORCE and = BOTHER other persons with something private THEY never asked = for. And that is exactly what I have against anybody, who forces his will upon = me...and I don't care whether it is political, religious, or Donald = Duck! May 'any' force be with you anyway.........because I wish no harm upon = you and forgive you. I just wanted to make this clear! Martin van Brussel PS. As = I am still a subscriber to the Pianotech list, and as this all came into = the world because a religious subscriber of said list wanted his = personal religious opinion in public, I feel it necessary to make a statement = (I will however not disclose your personal name, out of respect). If = other religious subscribers (on the list) then find it necessary to use = the pianotech list as a battleground for their personal pyilosophical beliefs, I will happily unsubscribe and switch over = to a more neutral territory. At least I know where I stand then. </BLOCKQUOTE> </BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>