Dear Believer
by Dan Barker Dear Believer, — You asked me to consider Christianity as the answer for my life. I have done that. I consider it untrue, repugnant, and harmful. You expect me to believe Jesus was born of a virgin impregnated by a ghost? Do you believe all the crazy tales of ancient religions? Julius Caesar was reportedly born of a virgin; Roman historian Seutonius said Augustus bodily rose to heaven when he died; and Buddha was supposedly born speaking. You don’t believe all that, do you? Why do you expect me to swallow the fables of Christianity? I find it incredible that you ask me to believe that the earth was created in six literal days; women come from a man’s rib; a snake, a donkey, and a burning bush spoke human language; the entire world was flooded, covering the mountains to drown evil; all animal species, millions of them, rode on one boat; language variations stem from the tower of Babel; Moses had a magic wand; the Nile turned to blood; a stick turned into a snake; witches, ...
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Incidentally, the site managers there put up every review they find including the negative ones. I seem to recall the review 'Nony referenced being posted there, but I can't find it. Unfortunately, the full text at The New Republic is a subscription-only item, but it can be found here. I've sent an email to the RD website to let them know about it just in case I was mistaken.
I'm still in the middle of reading Dawkins' book, and while Dawkins may be writing more as a man than a scientist lately, I can honestly say it's rivalled only by Sam Harris' work. Most of the negative reviews miss the point entirely, raise irrelevant issues, or mischaracterize the book (and the man) which should come as no surprise to those who are familiar with the antics of religious writers. There are also a few atheists who criticize his work too, but tend to focus on Dawkins' abrasiveness rather than content.
At any rate, thanks for the reminder 'Nony. I don't know what you think you've accomplished, but you have my gratitude.
Looking forward to the day we can toss Christianity into the heaping pile of trash of gods who have lost
their usefulness.
Richard, Sam, and Dannel have armed the public with usefull truth.. empowering us with excellent dialog to debate and demoralize the abusive dogmatic religiosity (which is easy to do because religion is morally bankrupt)
But, the most important thing these authors did for me was to let me know that my thinking was right all along. Even when i was called insane and part of the lunatic fringe when i denyed that there was/is a personal god who loves me.
43 years of that bullshit shoved down my throat.
happy happy times for me.
That's a good point, Anon 6:27 PM....so maybe Zeus does exist after all?
1. Religions tend to be violent.
2. Are dogmatic.
3. Are bigotted.
Now, sir, aren't we lowering ourselves adopting their same attitudes when proposing "atheism"?And believers, Dr. Dawkins, are not monsters or whatever. I have plenty of friends among them. Even Muslims I find them good company. Islamophobic I am not. It is one thing to propose atheism, I don't mind. Is another promoting bigotry against believers. That I am not, Dr. Dawkins. And I fear you are promoting it. A No-No, sir.
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