By dharma ~ N ot long ago I decided to share a few of the inspiring testimonies from this site. I posted them on my Facebook page. Now anyone who really knows me knows that I would not join an on line community for popularity purposes. I am not inclined to kiss any of the gluteus muscles of the fad-following, misinformed majority. Nope, I join a community to find like-minded people. Yet, my non-believer comments to a couple of fellow de-converting xians instantly drew a bit of righteous criticism. Now, I am sure you have guessed that this criticism came from xians. These xians who chose to befriend me do not like my opinions. Shocking, isn’t it? So I was forced to delete a slew of xian propaganda posts from my wall. Then I responded rationally to my sister-in-law's naive and condescending remarks. And this was not easy, given that she chose to use my deceased Dad, whom I loved dearly, as a weapon against me. She told me that I may not care to see my father again, bu...

by dharma ~ While sorting and packing a few things recently I found this poem scribbled on a napkin. Please keep in mind that I use the term ‘poem’ very loosely. I wrote it years ago. But as I read it from a new perspective, I suddenly decided that maybe it was meant to be in print. Maybe others could appreciate the pure frustration I was suffering from at the time. Please allow me to apologize for some of the language. Keep in mind that I was in torment. And the angst that had built up within me over the years demanded a certain amount of raw emphasis. This poem is a ‘peace’ of me and I do hope you enjoy it. Abide ~ A Happy Place Image by Cheo70 via Flickr I ’ve turned the other cheek so many times my face is numb and so is my mind Sweet solace I find in these frustrated rhymes A precious refuge in the worst of confines You say the grass is somehow greener on the other god damn side I say you’re full of shit looking for another place to hide Another place t...

By Dharma ~ I recently found myself thrust into the unnatural habitat of the xtian jungle. And unfortunately I was privy to a cult ritual commonly carried out by so many of the xtian tribes. First, allow me to give a little back story. I will try to keep it tasteful. And I sincerely apologize for any confusion I may cause by starting somewhere in the middle, but at the beginning of the end. I sat in my chair hugging my knees to my chest and trying to watch one of my favorite evening shows. From the corner of my eye I could see him lying on the couch with one hand down his lounging pants. This had become the routine. Every evening he would lie on the couch and scratch all things below his waistline, while pretending not to read the steady stream of texts on his cell phone. Every now and again, he would glance in my direction to see if I was looking and then he would run his fingers under his nose and continue texting. Occasionally he would make a random comment about the c...

by dharma ~ A s a child, I had my share of imaginary friends. These imaginary friends were perfect. When I was terrified in the dark, thanks to the bible stories I had heard in church, these imaginary friends helped to ease my mind. And when I was punished for having done something typically kid-like my sight-unseen buddies were naturally exiled to my room along with me. Oh yes, we were ‘as thick as thieves’, as my aunt used to say. However, even as a child I understood the difference between fantasy and reality. So I was not surprised when I started school and my imaginary friends did not protect me when a bully took my lunch tokens or my book bag. My imaginary ‘friends’ were nowhere to be found when some much larger kid threatened me with future bodily harm as he shoved me to the ground and took my skateboard. Image by Dom Dada via Flickr Even as a child, I knew these ‘friends’ were created by me. I knew I had dreamed them up. I had given them names, physical characteris...