It all started with this invite from an undergrad, Jessica, to an event called “Xtreme Bible study”. She didn’t know who would be interested, so she collected random student IDs from the University’s public directory and sent invites (aka spam). I found this out when she replied to my response, which was meant to figure out why I was on this list, and also to subtly mock the whole event. Jessica was apologetic, which made me feel bad, and I ended up helping her use the free student newsletter. But, in the crossfire was a graduate student named Corey, who was rather offended…

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From: Jessica A (S&T-Student)
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 3:16 PM
To: [around 40 random students, including me]
Subject: Monday Night Bible Study

Hello all, I am a Missouri University of Science and Technology student
This is an invitation to come to bible study. This is an xtreme bible study class, so if you are really interested in learning all that God wants for you, and you are ready to get a deeper understanding of Gods word. This bible study class is for you. If you know anyone else that will be interested in coming to bible study, PLEASE tell them. Remember, we are here to do Gods will. Attatched is the Bible study flier. Like I said, If you know anyone that will want to come to bible study, please forward this email to them.
Bible study is held:

Xtreme Bible Study
Date: Monday
Time: 8:30 - 10:00pm
Location: Burgess Room (Havener)

Please don't be shy, the door will be closed to preserve quietness,
but please just come right on in. We will not bite :)
Please don't let this semester go without getting a word from God

Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Please email me if you have any questions
Thank you, Have a Blessed Day
Jessica

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From: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Sent: Sun 1/27/2008 7:35 PM
To: Jessica A (S&T-Student)
Cc: [the same 40 students, including a dude named Corey]
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Hi,

I’m just curious - How did you get all our email IDs? Am I on a christian mailing list? Or have I been shortlisted as “possibly religious” or “most likely to convert“?

Thanks,
Cyriac
(Strictly Agnostic)

--
Cyriac Kandoth
Dept of Computer Science
Missouri S&T

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From: Corey J (S&T-Student)
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 8:26 PM
To: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Why did you have to CC me? Thats fine if you have a problem with it but don't back up my e-mail for your own personal problems.

Corey

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From: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Sent: Sun 1/27/2008 11:54 PM
To: Corey J (S&T-Student)
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Hi Corey, I’m really sorry about that. It was just a joke. Also, I really was curious as to how she shortlisted our email addresses.

~Cyriac

--
Cyriac Kandoth
Dept of Computer Science
Missouri S&T

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From: Corey J (S&T-Student)
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 11:22 PM
To: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Ok that doesn't mean send more e-mails to further describe yourself, also if you are agnostic you are obviously an idiot!
Also this doesn't mean send me another e-mail, it means leave me alone!

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From: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Sent: Tue 1/29/2008 10:46 AM
To: Corey J (S&T-Student)
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Other than for the fact that I’m sending you yet another email, how does “being agnostic/atheist” make someone an idiot?

--
Cyriac Kandoth
Dept of Computer Science
Missouri S&T

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From: Corey J (S&T-Student)
Sent: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 2:51 PM
To: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Well if you have to ask you need to pay better attention to your surroundings. Well I will explain this a little to you but I am most likely speaking to a wall on this subject. This is due mainly to the fact that most people that makes this claim, strictly agnostic, already have their minds made up and anyone who has a religion is an idiot when compared to them. But if you read the Bible everything that is happening right now with respect to current events is predicted by the Bible. Also anyone who looks around and thinks evolution made this is gravely mistaken due to the fact that we do not care any DNA traits from apes. So this leads to the question what have we evolved from? Nothing we have evolved from nothing, we are our own men and women. Especially when it comes to taking God out of everything, this is also predicted by the Bible.
Also when you don't think there is a God do one thing for me think of not existing, then tell me there's not God. Also if there was no God why would the word GD (Godd@#$) be so popular, why would people feel the need to state this horrible word? Also to think there is no divine intervention is also retarded, one huge case in point is World War 2. The Germans had over whelming odds going their favor including jet power and some of Russia's best Rocket Scienctist. At one point he had most of Europe under his control and we still won against him.
Also another thing that I thought made you rather dim was the fact that you were repling to an e-mail sent to you by somebody that will just delete you e-mail address in the first place. Also anyone can fine your e-mail they probably just went through and added you, sorry get over it.

Corey

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From: Kandoth, Cyriac (S&T-Student)
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 5:57 AM
To: Corey J (S&T-Student)
Subject: RE: Monday Night Bible Study

Cool! I love a debate. But, only as long as we keep it civilized. And thanks for not tagging me as spam (yet!).
I think you have “agnostics” confused with “atheists”. An agnostic would never say - “There is no god”. Instead they try to stand the middle ground without taking either side until they see more evidence. This makes the average agnostic much more open-minded than atheists (who have obviously made up their minds). Here is an old article of me “standing my middle ground”.
From everything I’ve learnt and seen over the years, a god just seems really improbable, but not impossible. The god according to the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) is especially hard to believe in. They contradict a lot of things that we know about today, not just evolution. The god(s) according to Hindus and Buddhists are easier to believe in because they speak more of a concept on how to live a good life, rather than of a supernatural being who will forgive all our sins.
All religions, on the other hand, did serve their purpose well. They brought people together under one authority, and made them less violent. But only as long as everyone followed that Religion. And that’s where the tables turned and violence came in. E.g. the crusades, the Spanish conquest of Americas, the extermination of indigenous people in Australia, ... these are all actions by human beings who twisted the concept of god into violent zealotry. Religions started will the aim of doing good. But all of them have ugly history.
You appear to have quite a fundamentalist view on your faith. Simmer down man. There is a lot of information out there, and scrutinizing everything with a mechanistic point of view can be very enlightening.

~Cyriac

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It’s been more than 2 weeks and he hasn’t replied yet. He might have had enough, or more likely, he’s tagged me as spam and has never read that last email. But anyway, religious folk like Corey prove that it is possible for a person to be so close-minded that they accuse others of being close-minded to their point of view.
I blame parents for indoctrinating children with religious ideals before they even get a chance to think for themselves. These kids end up so heavily dependent on prayer and hope, sometimes even more than facts or reason.