There can be no doubt that this presidential election has divided this nation unlike any other in our recent history. Here on ExChristian.Net emotions have been flaring and jibes flying on both sides of the political fence - and frankly, I'm glad to see that happening. Why? When I was a Christian, I was always strongly encouraged to vote based on such things as a candidate's stand on abortion or some moral issue, regardless of what else the candidate supposedly stood for. If I were to vote for the candidate that supported abortion or gay rights, I'd be condemned from the pulpit mercilessly until my very salvation would be brought into question by my own conscience. If I were a Christian now, voting for Bush would be what would be expected - it would be nearly mandatory. Now that I no longer believe, it is not mandatory that I vote for Bush. However, unlike the Christian, I do not now have a requirement to vote for any particular candidate, regardless of their

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sent in by Ficino I thought readers of Ex-Christian might be interested in this expression of atheistic sentiment from the 5th cent. BCE in Athens. It's a fragment of the play, Sisyphus, attributed to Critias or Euripides. I'd send it in as a "letter" but I don't know how to do that. I tried sending a message to the webmaster but, as happened at first with my testimony, I don't think it went through. Maybe the Sisyphus fragment isn't germane to the interests of the website, but if you think it is, here's a link to an e-text: http://www.wku.edu/~jan.garrett/302/critias.htm Here's the text written out: The Critias fragment from Sextus Empiricus, Adversus Mathematicos ix 54 (trans. R. G. Bury, rev. by J. Garrett) I revised Bury's translation a few years ago when I was translating a book on Aristotle by Richard Bodéüs, who discusses the Critias fragment in chapter 3. The book has been since published by State University of

Speakable Joy I think therefore I am Why should you give a damn Are you jealous that I am free Free like i'm suppose to be Why is your face scary rotten green with envy Afraid of being wrong I see I am Atheist-Humanist standing tall and proud In a large crowd I stand out Because i'm also African-American I escaped mythology's slaveries I love the fact that I abolished them from my system for me Rising out of the ashes into a new birth of Ex-Christianity Emotional the journey has become For the first time I am actually being challenged Challenged to become a better and better and better me I am human in a human's clothing Instead of mythology's blind ass wolf with a sheep's appearance I delivered myself from the fiery pits of imagination's "heaven and hell" Read my lips oh religious one If you try to assimilate me again, watch will happen You will not be happy at the end of the day As you are not happy right now that I left the game That&

Jason Gastrich, or someone using that pseudonym, used to post here regularly. I doubt that person was authentic because his style differed markedly from Gastrich's stuff on sermonaudio.com. Regardless, I've decided to make available a podcast of Dan Barker's debate with Jason Gastrich. If you take the time to listen, leave a comment or two. On semonaudio.com Gastrich was praised as the clear winner (would you expect otherwise?). A poll of who wins a debate is worthless when the only the choir is polled, but it would be interesting to get some feedback here with opinions on which arguments were the most thought provoking. Leaving specifics is most helpful. Those who would like to purchase or read some excerpts from Dan's book, please click on this link: Losing Faith in Faith