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The Reverend Vern Barnet, DMn
bio page CRES minister emeritus vern@cres.org
RELIGIOUS LITERACY under construction
Dear Correspondent:
1. Sending undocumented material is seldom helpful.
If you are passing on a hoax, please search for information about it at one of these websites or use your search engine to learn its pedigree:
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/
http://www.truthorfiction.com/
http://www.snopes.com/2. To improve your background in religious subjects, please consult references such as these books
or these websites (beware of sites motivated by iigorane or ill-will)
3. I have written on related subjects in my Kansas City Star column:
2. In my opinion, it is wrong to make fun of anyone who has a sincere religious opinion. America was founded in part by those who respected religious diversity. Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence, said in his 1782 Notes on Virginia, "But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." As we would be respectful of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, American Indians, Hindus, etc, so let us respect the atheist. Please also see http://www.cres.org/star/star2010.htm#805.
And please do not send me any further material making fun of other people's religion or lack thereof. Everyone may be criticized, and disagreements may also be worthy. But it is not often helpful to make fun of others' religious opinions.
Thank you.
Vern Barnet
