Thursday, November 1, 2007

BIGOT ALERT: Paul Derengowski, founder of ApologeticsOnline.net

As always, let me state the definition I use for a bigot - "A prejudiced person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities differing from his or her own." Paul Derengowski fits this definition perfectly and uses the internet to spread his hate for religions other than his own.

Paul posts as "Deren" over at Christian Forums, an online Christian community. He also writes for Apologetics Online, a website that puts Science in the category of "Non-Christian."

Paul Derengowski is particularly bigoted when it comes to Atheism and Jehovah Witnesses. For example, in a review of Richard Dawkin's book "The God Delusion," Paul attacks Atheists by elevating "believers" to a higher status than Atheists and states that Atheists have no meaning to life:

...the believer has a genuine grasp on life and death by accepting the reality of both as a rationally, whole person. The atheist cannot say the same thing because there is no ultimate meaning to either life or death, which is both irrational and unwholesome, if not simply pathological.

Sorry Paul, but attacking a bigot with bigotry isn't how it goes.

An example of his bigoted writing can also be found in the article Helpful Comebacks or Misleading Pretenses which Paul wrote about the Watchtower Society and said that "they are vacuous in the sense that one must contrive or manipulate people into doing something for all the wrong reasons, which is either misguided guilt or unnecessary fear. They are disingenuous because it makes liars and deceivers out of the Witnesses."

While looking around on Christian Forums, I found an extremely bigoted comment that Paul made about Mormons, so it looks like he also has some bigotry towards this religion.When a Mormon forum poster made this statement in a thread:

Unfortunately, the history of the human race shows that many, many humans are FAR from reasonable. What happens when, one day, a Hitler rules the world?

Paul retorted with
Or worse yet, a Mormon!

So, this guy thinks that a Mormon ruling the world would be worse than Hitler, a man who killed millions and wrecked havoc in Europe. If you want to read more of Paul's bigoted nonsense, you can check out his his blog.

Paul, your ministry isn't one of love. It is a ministry of bigotry, misinformation, lies, and hate. If there is a Christ, I'm certain that he's ashamed of you.

Here is Paul's contact information:
Paul Derengowski
7317 Savoy Dr. #1002
Fort Worth, TX 76113
Email: paul.derengowski@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (817) 423-1307

18 comments:

On Vacation said...

Please note the convenient lack of personal information on the part of the blogger, so as to avoid personal criticism and/or a possible lawsuit. If hiding in anonymity, as one cravenly libels others, is not an act lacking in personal integrity, or simply a bigoted act itself, then it surely demonstrates a lack of credibility on the part of the blogger. May God have mercy on his cowardly and libelous soul.

oceancoast said...

Had a similar encounter with Paul on a Christian Apologetics web site, where he made the following statement that he was ...

"Staunchly opposed to everything the Mormon Church stands for and advocates."

When I asked if by everything the Mormon church "advocates", would that mean a belief in God, Jesus, morals etc.. He replied and said..

"I stand by what I said."


Kevin Shelley said...

"...as one cravenly libels others?"

I wonder if ole Paul knows that "libel" refers to something that is not substantiated as being a true statement?...It doesn't just mean something negative about a person that the person doesn't want others to know about.

Christian Apologetics Project said...

By way of rebuttal, the anonymous character known as "oceancoast" is nothing more than a disgruntled Mormon hack, who when confronted with producing the actual statement behind his allegation, has continually failed to do so. Therefore, he, like the anonymous character who started this blog, has simply chosen libel and slander as his defense, rather than actually addressing any given subject.

Christian Apologetics Project said...

In response to Mr. Shelley, I'm very well aware of what libel is, and everything one sees in this blog, whether about me—or of those I know personally that the author has chosen to libel—are "unsubstantiated" and untrue.

Instead, what one sees are either fabricated or twisted comments that the author has conveniently chosen to engage in, for whatever bigoted reason he is trying to make.

Kevin Shelley said...

(I'd never have thought to check back here, except for seeing a new hateful blog by Paul at: http://www.pal-item.com/section/BLOGS)

Ah, a reply! See, you can do that on here, Paul, because no one feels they are in a position that requires them to have to censor you.

So, you think you have been liabled. Why don't you sue? Think about it, the money paid would teach those who've wronged you a punishment, and the money you receive could go toward your favorite cause/Crusade. Seems like a no-brainer.

Of course, if you really don't have a case, you'd open yourself up for counter suits...at very least, legal fees and lost wages. But surely that's not the case, right?


I'm betting a religious leader finds it highly frustrating when unable to manipulate people via fear of an imagined threat.

oceancoast said...

In response to Paul’s’ continued denial and personal name calling as I am hardly a “disgruntled Mormon hack”.

The offending statement that Paul D has hereto denied was memorialized via an automatic E-mail at 5-22-2008 at 2:15 Pm PST by the Apologetics web site CARM where he posted it, complete with the transactional audit trail leading back to the CARM servers. It was within the context of a dialog regarding use of the term “Anti-Mormon” and his objection to it in reference to his apologetics.. Here is the actual exchange:

-----quote-----

OCEANCOAST
As for Anti-Mormon. Well the shoe fits doesn't it? Especially for those who are Antagonists of Mormon Beliefs. If you supported LDS beliefs wouldn't you be a Protagonist of Mormon Beliefs.. a Pro-Mormon?

PAUL D
Actually, no, it doesn't fit. I am no more against you, as a person, as I am trying to imitate you, which is another meaning for "anti." I am, however, staunchly opposed to everything the Mormon Church stands for and advocates , and have provided thousands of posts stating why.

-----End quote-----

This objective confirmation has been provided numerous times to Paul in the past confronting him on the issue and his response has been to passively ignore the evidence and continue to deny the claim that he said this remark.

Furthermore, when simply asked to deny the content of the statement, that is make a positive statement to deny that he is “Staunchly opposed to everything the Mormon Church stands for and advocates”, he refuses to do so, leading us to believe this is truly his position even though he denies saying it despite evidence to the contrary.

Is this a case of cognitive dissonance? In light of the denials despite the obvious reminds me of that Iraqi Minster of Information “Baghdad Bob” during the 2003 Iraq war, who despite what one could visibly see was actually happening all around him was on the TV denying it.

Kevin Shelley said...

Oceancoast,

Hi. I've been calling Paul D on some of his lies and hypocrisy on another forum, when someone there turned me onto this one.

Speaking of his lies and hypocrisy... If he lied about you being a “disgruntled Mormon hack,” then isn't he guilty of the very liable that he claims others are? Isn't it also a little hypocritical for Paul to claim that OTHERS are engaging in personal attacks (especially when they are not, and this is his excuse to not respond to them when they expose his faulty positions)?

MusaabM said...

In the name of Allah, The Compassionate, The Merciful
Hello Professor Paul,
My name is Musaab M., and I am a 17-year-old high school student and a respectable member of my school and community, largely due to my religion. I read your article titled "Islam Exposed; More like Catered to," and I have some objections and questions. This is not hate mail, so please do not believe it is. I am wondering how a man of religion such as yourself could so insult Islam. Yes no Muslim is perfect, but neither is every Christian, Jew, Buddhist, or Mormon. We all have faults, but what makes us all great is the fact that we try to make ourselves, and each other better. Here are a few ayat (verses) in the Quran refuting your accusations:
Chapter 5 of the Quran, The Table Spread (al-Maeda) disproves your views on the "hate" that Muslims harbor for Christians.

5.82. "...and you will find nearest in love to the believers(Muslims) those who say.'We are Christians.' That is because amongst them are priests and monks and they are not proud."

The Quran does not only not urge violence against Christians, but calls them "nearest in love" to us Muslims.
Chapter 25 of the Quran, The Criterion (al-Furqan), came to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) when he was still a preacher in Mecca, before the Meccans became so hostile and bloodthirsty that the Muslims had to leave for the nearby city of Yathrib, which became known as the City of the Prophet (Madinat an-Nabi) or Medina.

The Criterion gives us a vision of the pious believer, not the angry, vengeful one. The verse has to do first of all with wishing others peace.

25:63:

The worshippers of the All-Merciful are they who tread gently upon the earth, and when the ignorant address them, they reply, "Peace!"

MusaabM said...

(Continued from my other post)
So I say peace to you, Professor. To become a truly religious man in my limited knowledge means to try to make others better, not cause rifts and hate between differing religions. Another thing, one of Allah's names is Al-Rahman,or The Merciful. We Muslims worship Allah, so we are expected to show this divine attribute in our lives, meaning the killing of innocents is in no way portrayed at any time in Islam. All of Muhammed's (Peace be Upon Him) teachings define our community as peaceful, wishing even our enemies peace, and as forbidding bloodshed except in self-defense. This was the case when the Jews of Medina plotted against the Muslims in the Battle of the Trench and attacked the women's camp from behind whilst the men were away at battle. The Jews were of the tribe Banu Qurayza, and were enlisted by the Quraysh tribes to attack the Muslims, constituting treachery since the Muslims were at peace with the Jews. Then, all the men, other than the ones who converted were indeed killed, but the women and children were not. ( M. Th. Houtsma et al., eds., The Encyclopædia of Islam: A Dictionary of the Geography, Ethnography and Biography of the Muhammadan Peoples, 4 vols. and Suppl., Leiden: Late E.J. Brill and London: Luzac, 1913-38.) This reference is just another one , but there are plenty more Islamic texts, which I did not cite for I do not believe you would appreciate them fully, or at all.

But do not by far expect that Christians do not "massacre" others:

* St. Bartholomew's Day massacre is the day where the Catholic church ordered a massive massacre of the Protestants.
* The Spanish Inquisitions
* The Crusades
* Queen Elizabeth I murdered Jesuit missionaries at Tyburn


These are just a few Professor Paul. You raise very valid points, and I hope I have answered some, or at least made a case for my religion in your eyes.I have been Muslim all my life, and I have never, in all my years, neither at home or at the masjid (mosque), been taught hate and violence. I understand that the media has been portraying Muslims as bearded killers and spies, to whom murder is a path to heaven, but except in extreme cases, that is not true. All humans, regardless of religion,are the same.We all have the same emotions, we all laugh when happy and cry when sad. Everyone is capable of violence. (Christians killed tens of millions in the course of the 20th century, much more than did the Muslims). Please recognize Islam for the religion of peace that it is, and do not judge Islam by the actions of broken, misunderstanding people. Peace and mercy again Professor. Please feel free to reply, and thank you in advance for taking the time to read this email.

Sincerely,
Musaab M

P.S. You are not an infidel, neither is any Jew or Christian, since a close study of the Quran shows that kafir means "ingrate," and refers to the polytheists of Mecca who harrassed the Muslims. We Muslims call Christians and Jews "People of the Book."

To my Mormon counterparts, I totally sympathize, and believe that NO ONE has the right to insult you as a person for your religion. Salam. And Dr. Paul, I emailed you many weeks ago, and still have not gotten a response.

MusaabM said...
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MusaabM said...
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oceancoast said...

Kevin Shelley,

I can say in the affirmative, Paul not only promulgates bigotry but he is quite hypocritical. In as much as he is lying about me being a "disgruntled Mormon Hack" and continues to deny his statement regarding his opposition the everything the Mormon Church advocated both publicly and privately despite having been show the PROOF of his statement, but has now resorted to truly libelous personal attacks on the CARM website. Making suggestions that I I am engaged in felonious domestic violence. Hypocrisy seems to be the MO for many at CARM, the Mos Eisley of apologetics.

As for him lying, as I pointed out he has proclaimed that he is staunchly opposed to everything the Mormon Church advocates, and honest is among the attributes the Church advocates. So by his own proclamation he is opposed to honesty.

So to any and all that read this.. Beware of the wolf in sheeps clothing.

Kevin Shelley said...

Oceancoast,

As easy as it is to just engage in schadenfreude at the downfalls of people like this, the better part of my nature reminds me to feel sorry for him and for the harm that cult-mentality has done to him. I really don't need to go see more examples of Paul's sad behavior.

Perhaps you will be interested to know that the venue in which I encountered Paul first (my hometown paper, the Palladium Item in Richmond, IN, www.pal-item.com) seems to have banned Paul for violating their TOS, specifically on the "Hate Speech" transgressions. I think this happened from a blog he wrote suggesting that all Muslims (this week it's the Musliims) be registered and routinely searched (one harkens back to Nazi Germany).

Anyway, ALL of Paul's blogs, comments on articles/other blogs/forums, and forum posts....even his profile...have all been deleted by that website.

Schadenfreude or not.... :)

Kevin Shelley said...

Oceancoast,

As easy as it is to just engage in schadenfreude at the downfalls of people like this, the better part of my nature reminds me to feel sorry for him and for the harm that cult-mentality has done to him. I really don't need to go see more examples of Paul's sad behavior.

Perhaps you will be interested to know that the venue in which I encountered Paul first (my hometown paper, the Palladium Item in Richmond, IN, www.pal-item.com) seems to have banned Paul for violating their TOS, specifically on the "Hate Speech" transgressions. I think this happened from a blog he wrote suggesting that all Muslims (this week it's the Musliims) be registered and routinely searched (one harkens back to Nazi Germany).

Anyway, ALL of Paul's blogs, comments on articles/other blogs/forums, and forum posts....even his profile...have all been deleted by that website.

Schadenfreude or not.... :)

Silvia Garcia said...

The only reason you all are speaking negative towards derengowski is because you all know he speaks the truth and you all see him as a threat. Grow up and give him a break. You only show how childish you are by giving his information. If he wants people to know his 411 he would post it up himself. You are showing how much of an importance he is in you lives by the way you are obsessing over what he says. You should at least show him a little respect for standing up in what he believes in.

Kevin Shelley said...

@Silvia,

That is always very interesting "logic," everytime I hear it. It is something rational people hear all the time (it's always along the lines of, "you only put energy into what you are saying because deep down you know you are wrong").

Funny, though... I have only ever heard this extremely lame excuse for denial from the type of folks who gather together once or twice a week to continuously convince themselves that the imaginary things they believe are real (it's big business too). Such irony.

Tell me, do you believe all bigots on this site are only on here because they have "the truth," or just the one you agree with?

No, people are not persecuting PD (the typical defense mechanism is to just claim persecution complex, and face no reality) out of hatred for some truth that he has sold you he has. As for this particular site, for example, there ARE actual definitions for bigotry.

What you have said is absolutely no different from what other bigots (and their supporters) would say about them too. We could go to the KKK's website and hear how they are not a hate group; we could go to Al Qaeda's website and hear how they too have "the truth" and are a religion of peace; we could talk to Westboro Baptists and...(I just realized I have no idea if any examples could speak to you as 'bad' examples, but I hope others will get the idea).

What you think about PD and the things he spews into the human condition...having closed your mind around the religion you were born to...is not at all different than any other hate group (except perhaps more mainstream and "normal-seeming"). The names of the gods and dictates of the religious leaders have some differences...mostly inconsequential.

oceancoast said...

It's been a while since I perused this blog, I was led here by a chance finding that Paul Derenowski wrongfully accused me on his site as being the founder of this Blog. I am not, and I am only affiliated with this blog as that of being one of the many who have posted comments, nothing more.

Mr. Derenowski needs to remove his libelous accusation from his site.