Received 2.6.2002

Donald Morgan put a lot of work into those pages on Biblical inconsistencies, absurdities, etc. Of course these only pose a problem for those Christians who take the Bible as the literal word of God. For the large, but very quiet, majority of Christians, the Bible is as fallible as the people who wrote and compiled it, so inconsistencies are no more a cause for alarm than they are in any other mythological tradition.

I do disagree with him on one though. I don't see "GE 4:9 God asks Cain where his brother Abel is." as inconsistent with God's all-seeing, all knowing nature. God knows exactly where Abel is. He's just trying to make Cain sweat.

Plus I don't see my favorite inconsistency documented. Adam and Eve are the first human beings, and at the time of Cain's banishment, he is their only living offspring. But he goes off to the land of Nod and finds a wife (Gen. 4:16-4:17)! Where, exactly, did she come from?

All in all I like your website, very well done.

Dave

Received 2.1.2002

Hi,
I have been agonizing over how to express exactly what I have read on your site. I am relieved not to be alone in my thoughts.. and fears. Only those very close to me know what I disbelieve. Most assume I am Christian to some degree and I would endanger my very public career had the truth be known.

In my search for meaning and guidance, I have found no counselors for my godless life. I am alone searching to find understanding in final death, grasping for hand holds in the maelstrom of madness and addiction. I am proud of the courage of choosing atheism, but it is a lonely prize.

I was writing to you because of the "closet concept" for there are many sites I've seen but you struck a chord in me. Maybe you feel as I do, unable to relate to believers and isolated from like thinkers (except in print). I, of course, need to keep my privacy and request you withhold any information about me, except my words.

Received 1.20.2002

Dear CA:

I was searching your site and reading some letters written to you and people always seem to mention whether their state is religious or not. Well I have lived in Wisconsin my whole life except for one year, in which I lived in Topeka, KS. Well in KS if there were four corners, three would be churches and one would be a bar. In WI, one would be a church and three would be a bar. Damn I love WI. Your site is excellent. Keep up the great work!!

Rachel

Received 1.16.2002

Dear CA,
Its nice to finally see a smart site on atheism. Many of the sites I look to, I've found are merely places where people are condescending and uses instances of rare religious idiocy to stereotype a whole
people. Thanks for the intelligence.

An Out Atheist

Received 1.7.2002

Dear Closet Atheist:

I just love the site. "Closet" is such an appropriate title. I usually use the "not religious" description
when people ask. I suppose I could have more of a backbone and use the "a" word, but I hate debates. Of course, if I'm not up for a religious discussion at any given moment, it is assumed that I am unable (rather than annoyed and unwilling) to prove that there is no god. I also find people tend to leave me alone in the long run (meaning I am saved from the hassle of being on someone's "must convert" list) One more point, I have been an atheist since I first heard the word (10 years old). But now that I have young children, I almost always choose the "not religious" answer. I worry that they won't be allowed to play with their little friends if it is discovered that their mommy is an A------ They are at an age now where they will agree to worship the Easter Bunny if it means being invited to a birthday party.

-Karen

Received 1.5.2002

I just want to share my gratitude with the bravery and educated intellect you have exhibited when responding to the vast amount of criticism you get and have posted on your website. Your website has been the most refreshing atheistic site in respects to content and it's nice to see a individual up there on the stand defending free thought. Disbelief can sometimes be a terribly lonely position as we are outnumbered and the rampant criticism we receive from arrogant dogmatists wallowing in ignorance and self-assurance which can at times be quite cumbersome.

I can imagine how terribly lonely it must have been in the days when God was assumed by just about all to be an absolute truth. Actually, here in the U.S. in almost seems that way. I admire the incredible bravery exhibited in the works of Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Sartre, and their willingness to cast aside the convenient relaxation of false certainty and question the held beliefs and values of civil society.

I lament the fact that people use religion to over-simplify human nature and it's great that a new school of science called Psychology is asking questions such as "why". The further we progress in our understanding of human nature the more enlightened we are to the realization that religion is a superficial utilitarian product which allows the mentally lazy to cope.

I'll leave you with a passage from Nietzsche that had a great impact on me and once again I appreciate your cause.

Jeremy

"The falseness of a judgment is not for us necessarily an objection to a judgment; in this respect our new language may sound strangest. The question is to what extent it is life-promoting, life-preserving, species-preserving, perhaps even species cultivating...To recognize untruth as a condition of life-that certainly means resisting accustomed value feelings to a dangerous way; and a philosophy that risks this would by that token alone place itself beyond good and evil."

Received 1.4.2002

I just wanted to write and to say thank you so much for your site. I am a 21 year old female atheist living and attending college in Ohio. It is very hard to be an atheist here, because I feel that I do not connect with anyone. I am constantly surrounded by very religious people on a daily basis. I am a member of the dance team at my college, and somehow, everyone on it ended up being extremely religious. Even though we are a public, state school, they do not at all hold back at all from practicing and preaching their religion to everyone. Before we go out for a performance, we pray. (I guess I should say "they" pray). Whenever we have an important even coming up, they pray. Everytime our advisor sends up a group e-mail, she includes a verse from the bible at the end and reminds us that God is Good, and that through God all things are possible, and to accept what we are given because that is what God has decided for us. Everytime I open up my e-mail there is at least one forwarded message from a member of the team that ends up being a religious lesson. And through all this, I just sit quietly and don't say a word.

It didn't used to be so frustrating. At one time, I had a friend on the team who was also an atheist. We found comfort in each other when we felt that we were being overwhelmed with religion. But she is no longer on the team, and now I feel so much more alone. I have never said a word about my beliefs because I know that would make me even more alienated from the team than I already am, and would create tense situations between the ones who are extremely religious. And yes, I am afraid. I've had the experience once of announcing to people that I am an atheist. It was my senior year in high school and I was in government class. We were studying different religions, and for some reason, I decided to share my beliefs. I remember a girl on the other side of the classroom looking at me and shouting, "Freak." I was humiliated. I did have one friend in the class who happened to be a Christian. He told me that if she was a good Christian herself, then she would not judge me. I wish I could have him stand up and make that statement to other Christians who judge other people for having beliefs that are not like their own. Ever since that day, the people in that class treated me differently, and it's not fair.

I don't ever want to put myself through that experience again. I will probably go through my entire college career keeping my mouth shut about my religious beliefs, and about my strong beliefs for the separation of church and state, and how wrong I think it is for my team to pray before events. Luckily, I have a sister who shares my views. I get to talk to her every once in a while, but not too often because she lives in another state. Also, I am engaged to an agnostic man. He doesn't necessarily believe in a higher power, but he won't say that there isn't one because no one can be sure. Unfortunately, he's not someone I can find comfort in talking to about atheism because he doesn't have a strong of beliefs as I do.

I am so glad to have found this site, because now when I feel frustrated or alone because of my religious beliefs, I can look here to find that there are other people like me. I can find that I am not alone, and that there are other people that face the same religious pressures everyday just as I do. Although I can't talk to them, it makes me feel better.

Thank you so much for providing a site that makes atheists like me find comfort in knowing we aren't alone. 

Received 12.26.2001

Dear Closet Atheist,
Thanks for providing this forum for "godless heathens" such as myself. I've been struck since the tragic events of September 11th by the ignorance regarding atheism and atheists that pervades this country. Belief in God is touted as a patriotic duty. The word atheist has been used as a slur and applied to the hijackers and their collaborators. While I have long been aware that right wing Christians confuse atheism with satanism (a real logical gaff!), it appears that more of the general public sees the word atheist as a pejorative than I had thought. 

I'm pleased with the efforts to separate the acts of a few zealots from the religion of Islam. Just like the American public needs to be educated about Islam, we need to promote a dialogue about the 10-15% of us who don't believe in God. We tend to be more educated and intelligent than the mean. We are also significantly underrepresented in prison populations compared to our numbers in the general public. We love our families, volunteer to good causes, and are patriotic Americans. 

I am very aware of the stigma attached to being an atheist. I live in a conservative area where belief in God is unquestioned. Fortunately, I am part of a community of natural resource professionals who have views similar to mine or accept and respect my stance. I don't think that my car bumper is the place for announcing my religious beliefs or condemning the beliefs of others. Still, I am generally honest and open about my atheism. I would encourage other atheists and agnostics to be similarly open regarding their beliefs. It is easier to misunderstand and condemn those hiding in closets.

Received 12.18.2001

Dear Closet Atheist,
Kudos on the fine site. It's succinct, informative, and great to see you debunking so many religious arguments.

I am an author, Devin Hansen, who has put many atheist messages in my books. I also "come out" when I do readings. The reactions range from hostility to laughter.

For those people who say Atheists have no morals, I say, "I have seen Atheists that act more Christian than Christians do." For example, I am a vegetarian and practice non-violence because of my belief that there is no afterlife and we should not kill unnecessarily. I volunteer at a battered 
women's shelter, and as a humane investigator (investigate animal cruelty). I have also been married for 7 years and been faithful to my wife every wonderful day. We also practice simplicity. Giving away possessions we don't need, giving extra money to charity, and living without the luxuries of 
life such as DVD players, or two cars, blenders, etc.

I also know that we should spend our time volunteering and physically making this world a better place instead of wasting hours begging some fictional gawd to do it for us.

Thanks for the site. Glad to see your in business.

devin hansen
author of "Sponsored By"

Received 12.11.2001

hello there,

well where do i start...
i admit that there are many Christians out there that give us bad names.. but im not one of those "Religious" Christians who do the good deeds and hope and prey that they go to heaven...

I have a relationship with the one and only God. Thats what its all about. Its not doing good deeds thats going to get us to heaven, and its not just praying, or going to church.. its the relationship.

As some one who tryed to deny God at one point in my life, I came to the conclusion that we as humans cant prove God with science, we cant. God is beyond that.. Hes not physical.. Hes spirtual.
Science doesnt prove anything when u put God in to it.. He created science, He created the atoms, He created the world... everything u see and can not see He created.

Chris

Received 11.29.2001

Dear Closet Atheist,

I was very impressed by your opinions in "You Will Be Assimilated." I feel very much the same way, being a former Christian/raised Catholic living in Oklahoma. I often resort to telling hardcore converters, "I'm Catholic." That seems to shut them up...most of them around here are Baptists, and don't like Catholics. But I don't like to lie, so I often sit through more one-sided religious sales pitches than I care to admit. Thank you for so concisely stating what so many of us feel.

Jennifer Schooley
Tulsa, OK

Received 11.11.2001

I found your web site very interesting and very accurate. I too am a closet atheist living in the Bible Belt and believe me, it's very lonely. I've been one for the past 7 years after about 10 years of struggling with
ignoring what logic and reason was telling me. Since my marriage my husband and I (and children) went to church on a regular basis but thankfully we have slacked off the past few years so I don't have to sit in church and feel like a hypocrite. I'm sure though if he even suspected we'd start going again on a regular basis or I'd have a dozen Baptists beating a path to my front door to pray for me. Just wanted to drop you a line and say Thanks, Keep up the good work.

Kay

Received 10.29.2001

Dear Closet Atheist: I am so glad I found your site-- it's always a real treat to find an atheist site without gratuitous antireligious hatemongering, and with many well-thought-out writings. I really need this kind of thing-- an atheist can be pretty lonely here in North Carolina, even in Raleigh (a major city and university town). Your site is one of the 2 or 3 best I've found-- if not number one. I am a college-educated blue collar man (BA Religion) and a native of rural NC. I was brought up progressive mainline Protestant but dabbled in fundamentalism as a young adult until I read a good dispassionate book on the search for the historical Jesus. Practically overnight it really hit home that 1.Gods are invented to collectivize the customs and prejudices of particular peoples, and 2.The real Jesus would roll over in his grave if he could see many of the things said and done in his name. In a nutshell, a book about Jesus made me an atheist. Actually, I sometimes waffle between atheism and deism-- I have not completely ruled out Intelligent Design-- but I do not believe that ID hears and responds to prayer, or watches out for fools and drunks, or reacts to human behavior. Did you ever notice how traditional gods bless some people sometimes when they're lucky? I'm also an amateur atheologian, and I could go on & on-- but that's enough for now. Thank you & keep up the good work!

SAM Jr 

Received 10.20.2001

If you truly want to understand the point of view of Christianity, I would suggest you read Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

I respect your philosophy and would like to better understand it, but by presenting it through ridicule and mockery of Christianity you do a tremendous disservice to your subject. Don't be afraid to let the facts speak for themselves.

Respectfully submitted.

Received 9.1.2001

Hello;

I could really relate to your feelings about sharing your atheism. I've kept acquaintances and would be friends at arm's length because I felt telling them about my atheism would alienate them.

There was one old friend who was extremely kind to me after my father died. We had not seen each other for years. When we were youngsters we went to Sunday School together. His family was very religious. I was religious then, as was expected of me. Today he is as devout as ever. When he spoke of religion recently, I kept quiet about being an atheist, because I didn't want to alienate him. Of course, our renewed friendship tapered off to nothing, because I did not share my true beliefs with him.

I want to find the courage to admit to what I really believe, and let people put me into a category if they must. After all, the friends I might lose would not have been worth much as friends if that friendship were based on a misconception. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share this.

Jim

Received 9.1.2001

 Hello CA,

I am a 48 year old recovering Catholic and I just started a new job for a large company recently. I like the people I work with and it seems like a good place to stay. I have one office mate who has Christian crap all over his cubicle (books, coffee mug, picture frames with bible quotes, etc,) but he is a nice person and he has been inviting me to take coffee breaks with him each morning. Well a couple of months have passed and the nice guy, out of the clear blue, asked me if I have heard of the Promise Keepers. Naturally I mumble something like, "oh yeah" and I wait calmly for the other shoe to drop. He informs me of a conference in San Jose in September and invites me to go, telling me how great the last six conferences have been for him. You know, 15,000 men and some really inspirational speakers. I know I looked pretty sick (grim) when he was mentioning it and I told him I would think about it. I suppose I will politely decline his offer and let it go at that, I certainly don't want to smile and tell him I am an atheist, as he would probably freak out. 

The biggest issue I have with him and those sheep he runs with is that Christians are always in your face. They can't just leave their godman at home but they must bring all that crap to work. How offended would he get if I brought my Ingersoll books and my Dan Barker "Losing Faith..." to work and kept them on my desk? I am offended by their juvenile notion that they must tell everyone about the godman, as if I was not smart enough to seek it out if it was truly something I wanted. 

Thanks for letting me vent and I enjoy your site very much.

Brian Mulvey

Received 8.29.2001

Hello, I love your website. 

     I am glad to see that other people use the closet statement besides gay people.  I am just writing to say that I totally despise when individuals assume that I chose being an atheist like I chose being gay.  I have to insist that neither one are choices that I saw the light.  Every since I was five and realized than neither santa claus nor the tooth fairy exist neither did god.  I felt that my step father continually showing favoritism to his kids and not me was not the divine wrath of god but man.  I felt if man kind can make up santa why not a being who lives in the sky.  Also, I despise how individuals who had traumatic events in their lives they want to say god was bringing me back to his loving arms wrong! individuals who were abused mentally, physically, or sexually feel that god is the reason why they are now saved, I personally feel like this is a crock of shit.  Xtians claim it was gods divine love that rescued them well from a life of sin I say where was your god when you were being attacked by that sick bastard or were on drugs.  And especially those NA and AA idiots both of my parents mother and step father are recovering addicts.  My mother is an NA addict (the metaphor of replacing one addiction with another.) My stepfather relapses into his habit.  It takes him to be in jail to come back to christ then give him three to six months and he is back to his habit.  I feel that shit happens if that is the case where was god when a newborn baby suddenly dies, an innocent child is molested by their own uncle, a person is shot and killed for just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Then last but not least my family feels it is a part of my legacy as an african american and especially because I am a man. That I should believe in god.  No way! How can any moron who was once enslaved because of the bible want to follow such a belief?    When I think Xtianity or any other theistic belief I think murder, deceit, enslavement (that of the jews and the blacks), murdering in the name of god (the crusades and the wars in the middle east), and unevolving into the beings we are today (although the world has witnessed technological marvel xtians are still small minded individuals).

Anwar

Received 8.29.2001

So.. I was reading your header thing about Jesus and not selling our things to follow him, why do people not do that anymore.. Well they do.. it is to Cult people like Heavens Gate and the Waco people ... It is all cults I tell you.. Crap.. Man Crap!

Jennifer Manning

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