By Mriana ~ D ue to some recent events in my life, this story was originally going to be a comparison of theists and non-theists concerning “judgment and forgiveness”, but it was a great struggle for me to write such a story, in part because as a former Episcopal licensed lay minister, I feel I fall into a trap of preaching. That is not something I wish to do, but I still want to tackle the subject and the various elements it involves. However, I was a very bad Episcopal licensed lay minister, in that I would often rant about Christianity in the office of the priest, under which I served. I make a far better lay humanist minister and after posting this inspirational story, in different ways, on a couple of forums, it finally occurred to me, this is the story, because it touches on many things that are very human- regrets, sorrow, grief, inspiration, joy, love, fears, encouragement, perseverance, human frailties, risk taking, and even living on after death. All those things make...

By cjmybad ~ I remember reading another post about ‘Tired of the Anger’ and we Atheists wouldn’t have so much anger if the religious people didn’t give us things to be angry about! Case in point: Image by Psycholabs via Flickr We saw my sister who lives 8 hours away and she and her husband recently became really, really born again baptists. They weren’t really religious before just regulalr kind of cathloics attending on holy days and holidays. Then some things happened in their lives and they hit rock bottom. So that’s when they turned to be saved ‘by the lord’ and I just said ‘whatever - just stop trying to jam your beliefs down our throats’. I was just starting my deconversion and had things going on in my life as well but I wasn’t getting any of my prayers answered. We finally made a truce in the family not discuss religion at all when we get together but we keep noticing differences in my sister. He won’t let her drive unless absolutely necessary, she can’t talk on the ...

From L.E.E ~ I am on the fence about whether or not I am a liberal christian or an atheist. Image by kh1234567890 via Flickr I was raised by liberal christian parents in an overly conservative Nazarene church in Ohio . So, I was taught by my parents to help the poor, be pro-choice , and support gay marriage . Then at church, Republican beliefs were crammed down my throat! At church I was taught that it was wrong to have an abortion or even give women the right to decide what to do with their own bodies, and that anyone who was gay was hell bound. It was very confusing, even now. I know in my heart that I am a liberal and I just feel like I cant be a liberal Christian, because I feel like it's an oxymoron!! I feel like the only reason I feel a need to stay in the Christian faith is because of fear, fear that if I do not, then this god will give me a horrible life and I will end up in hell. Please help. I really do not know what to do...

A Question from Seage V ~ I have a family gathering on the 17th of August that I'm organizing, and I've just found out that my dear older sister has fallen into the Apostolic Xtian ways, which is her own calling, but her three young daughters are also involved. I love my nieces dearly, and I am not their mother, but they pray every night at dinner and I, quite obviously, do not. Last time we were together my oldiest niece, (seven at the time) asked why I was not religious. My sister immediatly pulled her away and told her not to ask that. I then over heard her explaining to my niece that I was going down a dark path and to be cautious around me. It hurt me so much to hear that going into my niece's head! I'll be seeing them again so soon and I want to explain things to her in my own way, so that she can see the good in Atheism, but how do you correct the wrong that is being done here?

By Andrea ~ I remember walking into a church sanctuary on Christmas eve, 2008. I was eighteen at the time and had been going to church all my life but this service really got my attention in a new way. I had been been to plenty of services where they warned of Jesus bringing punishment to the earth and basically just being really pissed at everyone and everything. He seemed pretty cranky back then.;) This church though was different. They talked about Jesus and how he was going to come back end the world,but end it one big happy ending. They said it wasnt really a big scary return full of punishment but that he was coming to ''restore'' all things. Whether or not you bought into it, you had to admit it was intriguing. This was a new church that my family had joined,so I came with them, and it seemed be everything a person could want. They had no mention of a severe God but only one who wanted to be your friend, your best friend,and save you from all troubles. Of co...

By Jimmo ~ I recently had the pleasure of spending half a day relaxing in a spa. At least that was the intention...relaxing! As I was sat sweating it out, reading Scientific Mind magazine , a guy came into the sauna cabin and asked me what I was reading. This began a very pleasant and progressive conversation about all manner of things. Until I asked what he did for a living. (I should have known better, but hindsight is the clearest vision). He belonged to a local charismatic church and regularly preached open air in the town centre. (Not a mis-spelling...I'm English). I contemplated for a few moments and eventually summoned the courage to say "I used to do that too. But I no longer go to church." To which he replied, "Oh, you're one of the lost of Israel." Ouch! That really hurt! With one throw away comment he managed to touch my deepest neuroses. All of a sudden I was facing the fear of hell, guilt of abandoning Jesus and the faith I had held f...

By Jet ~ I am someone that never really examined the bible and what it really says. I knew the christian belief in Jesus was based on the fact that we were all "sinners" and deserved to be tortured forever for violating the laws of the god of the bible. Image by lindz graham via Flickr One day I happened to listen to the fanatical ravings of Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron 's " Way of the Master " program, in which they hold up the laws of the bible and demonstrate that everybody has lied, stolen, commited adultry in their heart and therefore they are completely guilty and deserve hell. But that the god of the bible made a provision that if they accept Christ they will be forgiven. I thought, Wow, i cant argue with that. I have lied and stolen and commited adultry. I was guilty of violating the law and understood why i needed salvation. I became a full-fledged christian, but then one day I thought of something: How can a law be just if absolutely nobody ca...

By Marsha the escapee ~ (In poetry form): W e arrive too late for Sunday School so my parents hurry me into the sanctuary of Trinity Methodist Church . We settle in near the back, radiating apology, and my mother whispers down to me Now you be quiet and listen. Oh!, I think, I can do better than listen! I grab for the pencil in the holder in front of me. I’ll record the whole service on the offeratory envelope. Embellish where needed, put in illustrations during The Moment Of Silence . But my mother says, Quit fidgeting and put that pencil down. Needing new occupation, I appoint myself judge of the weekly Methodist fashion show. Four rows ahead, a deep pink flowered scarf doesn’t belong with a tan cotton blouse. I scan the room for possibilities. Finally, I find her, three rows over and slightly behind us. The woman in the bright fuschia sweater should be wearing that scarf. I look back and forth between the two women to calibrate the color match. And my mot...

By CatBallou ~ "I f god wants you to get married, you’ll get married,” was Pastor Steve’s answer. I couldn’t admit it to myself at the time, but it was clear that Joao, with his doubts, got to Pastor Steve before me. By “God,” Pastor Steve meant “Joao.” Whatever decision Joao makes, he makes on behalf of god. Joao is a spineless fraud and does whatever the hell he feels like doing, but his decisions – and indecisions – are divine. I hate God. Cat Ballou brought me some hope. I saw my own situation in that tragic comedic western from 1965. Trust in the authorities and public office. Expect people to be responsible while they in turn corrupt the innocent. Cat responds by seeking justice but gets revenge. Revenge. It’s something I see on the other side of a glass wall. It’s available, but I cannot quite grasp it. By including real names, I am striving for it. I no longer am compelled to leave vengeance to god. Cat Ballou offers some liberty from my prison. I imagined my suicid...

By Carl S ~ This is a letter I might have written, were I a younger man: M y son, the reason I am in Afghanistan is that thousands of Americans were killed by men who believed they would live eternally by killing them. So, the first thing I will tell you is that nobody lives forever. Don't listen to such eternal life nonsense; many lives have been destroyed by believers who cheapened the only lives we have. It is said that those who caused the 9/11tragedy were "extremists," but that is just a polite way of labeling those who completely believe what their religions teach. With their belief in an eternal life, this life on earth means nothing to them, and beware the man who has nothing to lose. They value their beliefs more than human lives. Image by Spatial Mongrel via Flickr You may wonder why I write to you about religious beliefs. Some guys think my criticisms are unwarranted, but here, a few months ago, some of our men were killed while observing a funeral of a...

By Glenn ~ I am not a church member of any denomination. I write as an individual, based on nearly 50 years of research and experience as a former member of evangelical churches.  To write down every scripture in this essay would waste space and time (I think the reader may understand this). One tip to readers and any Bible student, is to  read the whole context  and come to their own intelligent conclusion.  This series of essays is a result of my mediations and prayers over many years; the reader may find them interesting, stimulating, hopefully not offensive, but above all honest. They are not unique ideas, intended to be dogmatic or a part of any known doctrine, and the reader is free to appreciate, disagree, argue or whatever. All I ask is the essays are read with an open mind just to consider that maybe there  is something that will trigger change to acquire a deeper understand in the quiet and stillness of the mind.    “Is it f...