Since Ron recently showed up, and several people are unsure who or what
he is, I present this Ron FAQ that I wrote a bunch of years ago.




The Ron Burdette FAQ (version 2)

This FAQ on Ron Burdette is to answer questions new users may have on
this poster to tnn.religion.catholic

1) Who is Ron Burdette
Ron Burdette is a poster who spews forth hatred of the Roman Catholic
Church on Catholic News groups. Agree, or disagree with him, there
is no doubt that he hates all things associated with it.
"Love your enemies"

2) In what ways is he trollish?
When confronted with responses, he is usually unable to answer them.
For example, when someone said he found anti-Catholicism in his sojourn
in other denominations, Ron answered (on 1999/09/30 in message titled
"Re: Abominations of the Catholic Church") "This is a damnable lie
that is propagated by the cult of Rome." He then goes off on a
tangent describing an invisible church. But that does not change
the fact that he called someone a liar for describing their own
experience.

Later in that post - without any arguments, he says: "If you can
defend the cult of Rome, then you have no part in the Kingdom of God."
"Judge not" obviously doesn't apply to him - he can see into people's
hearts to know who is and isn't in the Kingdom. Of course the
Church's contention that that job is for Jesus alone doesn't apply to
him! Never mind the Bible saying it, Ron has taken to himself the
authority to condemn everyone in the Church. Wow.

3) Does he have anything useful to say?
Not that I've found. He seems too steeped in hatred to give reasoned
responses.
Example: On 1999/10/01 in message "Re: Praying to Saints" when
confronted with the fact that his pronouncements are presented as
infallible, he says "If you knew God, then you would realize that you
cannot serve the God of the Bible and the gods of Rome." He doesn't
answer the comment, and claims that everyone in the One, Holy,
Catholic, and Apostolic Church worships multiple gods. Obviously, all
the people trained by the Church in the 10 commands and the Greatest
commands were wrong! It is obvious when the Church teaches "The Lord,
your God is One!" it must mean something besides "one." Not being as
smart as Ron, I never guessed that. Wow!

Also, in that same message, he says: "God is not your Lord, if He
was you would know Him and leave the cult of Rome." Once again, he
shows his amazing ability to look into the soul of another human who
he has probably never met, and _know_ that person doesn't believe in
God.

4) Is it possible to debate with Ron?
No. He uses the slither method. If you talk about your beliefs, he
will call you a liar (as if he knows what you believe in). If you
say what the Church believes, he may attempt to show you from the
Bible why you are wrong. If you attempt to show how you follow the
Bible, he will say (see previous note) "My faith is not in the Bible,
my faith for Salvation is in the Christ, and Him alone." If you point
him to information supporting your view, as on 1999/10/01 "Re: Praying
to Saints" he will ignore it and go on another hate filled spew like:
"The religious sect of Rome is not Christian." If you bring up the
Fathers he'll reject them. If you bring up history, he'll call it
propaganda. Bottom line - you just can't get through the hatred.

If you defend yourself with Bible verses, he will either
a) say he doesn't know why you are bringing that up
(Wonderful example:
Theodore Seeber> Show the error, Ron. Quote John 20:21, and show
how your view is correct. Or admit to ignoring Scripture, and by
ignoring scripture, ignoring God.
--
Ron> Yet another illogical statement from you. I have no at idea
whatsoever you are trying to show me here. Would you mind
rephrasing your statement so that it makes sense, and preferably
germane to the posting subject?
From an exchange between Theodore M. Seeber <seebert@teleport.com>
and Ron on 1999/10/01 "Re: Praying to Saints is an Abomination to
God" on alt.christnet.christianlife.)

b) (if you explain it enough so he can't not understand) he will say
you are twisting the Bible, without showing how,

c) cut the verse out in his response and not answer,

d) claim you are a "slave to Rome" and you are doomed, and there's
nothing you can do about it.

Actually, he'll probably do all 4 in any extended thread.



5) What does Ron believe?
I think Ron's beliefs can be summed up as:

a) The Church is wrong. (Seen in just about any posting back to his
earliest posting from reburdette@earthlink.net in November 1998)

b) "I KNOW that I was given the gift of discernment" (same posting)
1999/04/06 "Re: HOLY FATHERS?" (Ron's emphasis, not mine. No pride
here!)

c) Pentecostalism is also a heresy. 1999/03/07 "Re: ANOINTED WHORE"
(Note - he gives as much proof for this as for his diatribes against
the Church.)

d) The phrase "These things I command you, that ye love one another",
"Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour" and
other bible verses just don't apply to him. (Shown by his actions)

e) "Christ would not and did not appoint anyone as head over His
Church" 1999/02/16 "Re: William J. Clinton: Antichrist? (Part 2)"
Very similar to d), another example where if the Bible doesn't agree
with Ron, he can ignore it.

f) "I don't have a church" 1999/04/06 "Re: HOLY FATHERS?" (even
though Christ said he would build a Church (on Peter, no less.))

g) "the Word of God is not to be 'used'." 1999/10/01 "Re: Praying
to Saints is an Abomination to God" Wow! This is some
revelation! Millennia of studying, teaching the Bible is all
for naught!!! I guess we should have just asked Ron, and he'd
tell us.

h) When told ">Er...we don't do that." his discernment is great
enough to tell the person who said it that he is wrong.
1998/12/07 "Re: Article XXII, Articles of Religion"

i) "From the inception of the Roman Catholic religion, during the
reign of Constantine @ 300 A.D. it has consistently rebelled and
refuted the Orthodox teachings of the original Church at Pentecost."
1998/11/11 "Re: Veneration of Mary, was Re: Mary Worship" (note -
he never supports this, or says what the changes were - just
asserts it, in numerous posts.)

j) Any slam against the Church is a good slam - eg. "When the head
pagan is going to be televised, are all you followers admonished by
the pseudo-priests to watch the event? You betcha'." from 1999/04/05
"Re: HOLY FATHERS?"

k) If you use a different dictionary from Ron, he claims you are
"caught in a bare faced premeditated lie!" 1999/10/05 "Re: Purgatory
is Biblical" He also thinks the Church is involved in some
conspiracy to change the meaning of English words in the dictionary.
If the Illuminati find out, and it turns out this in an unauthorized
conspiracy, we're all in trouble.

l) He may love Christ, but if so, he hides His love under a bushel.

Actually, I'm not sure you can get a good picture of what Ron
believes--or why-- in his posts. The best you can do is find what
he hates. What a way to present the Lord of Love and Prince of
Peace to the world!

6) What to do about Ron?
It would be wrong to let his calumny go unanswered, at the same time
you probably cannot help him by answering him. Probably best to
avoid futile exchanges. The best thing to do is keep him in your
prayers.
--
Tom A.
"Archie! You are headstrong. I am imperious. It's a miracle
we get along as well as we do." - Nero Wolf
Deja mail is gone. Look for me at raugost at yahoo . com