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In my meandering on the web, I ran across this wonderful post:
It is a great post and a heartfelt apology from Rechelle, a former Christian.
Unfortunately comments are closed on the blog, so I was unable to contact the writer or ask her permission to copy the first lines of her points, but I don't think she will mind as I am directing readers to her blog. Please click on one of the links for the full text.
1. I apologize to all the homosexuals. I am sorry that I believed in a religion that condemns you......2. I apologize to everyone on the face of the earth that has not accepted Jesus christ as their personal savior because I believed that you were all going to hell...3. I apologize to all my former Sunday school students because I taught you that the bible was the word of god...4. I apologize for giving money to the church...5. I apologize for believing all sorts of mad things that are seriously messed up and incredibly hurtful to my fellow humans...6. I apologize to my kids for being a passive aggressive christian mom...7. Finally, I apologize for allowing my faith to numb my response to the problems of the world...
7 comments:
Did you click on her "hate mail font"? Funny that I don't get hate mail--do you?
I wish I could write to her too. If she's getting all that hate mail, she could no doubt use a friendly note.
Snowbrush,
Thanks for your comment. I found an email address for Rechelle and sent a message with a subject line that I thought she would open, and she did. The reason she gets so much hate mail is that she advertised her blog on a web site that she didn't realize was mainly accessed by home schoolers ---thus most of her readers were devout Christians who, despite their lip service to "love thine enemy" have written very hateful comments.
I've had an occasional nasty comment, but I have a comment disclaimer, so I have no qualms about deleting comments that are abusive or preachy and rarely post comments from "anonymous." But lately I've had a ton of spam --which I also delete. I don't mind someone who disagrees in a respectful manner.
If you write to Rechelle again, please share my blog address with her. If she would care to share her email address with me, I won't publish it, of course.
I don't accept anonymous comments. I used to, but then noted that they were almost invariably from people who didn't want their identities known because they only wanted to say hateful things. Maybe you could cut down on your SPAM if you too blocked them altogether.
I'm reading Bryan Le Beau's "The Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair," and am finding it a fascinating book, which I will recommend. Since I knew her and Robin, at least slightly, the part about their murders has probably upset me more than it otherwise would. As it is, I can scarcely get it out of my mind.
I admire that woman for being able to do that.
Snowbrush,
I also knew Madalyn, Jon and Robin. In the 80s, I was very involved in the local chapter of American Atheists ---and they visited occasionally and I attended one conference (1982 in D.C.). I agreed with most of what Madalyn had to say about religion. She had a soft side, but she could be incredibly abrasive, too. Considering the lowly status atheists held (& still hold) in the eyes of most, I thought she often set us back rather than moving us forward. When she disbanded local chapters, I dropped my membership and joined the FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation) instead.
But I understand your feelings ---reading about the murders of people you knew. I have actually known 5 murder victims, including the 3 Murray-O'Hairs. The problem with these murders was that, because of who they were, no one much cared when they went missing. And everyone was quick to assume they had absconded with the organization's funds. If Pat Robertson and other members of his family disappeared suddenly, I'm sure the police would be on it immediately.
(I passed your message on to Rechelle.)
I just read an excellent biography of Madalyn. She was indeed an amazing woman both in ways that were good and ways that were bad. My understanding (from the book) is that the Oregon chapter left American Atheists following a letter Jon wrote to the New Jersey chapter in which he defamed Jews.
"The problem with these murders was that, because of who they were, no one much cared when they went missing."
The police only got serious about looking for them after her other son reported them missing. I have no idea why none of her associates raised the alarm. I suspect they were afraid of her.
P.S. Here's a new blog by a young atheist in Alabama who could maybe stand a little encouragement.
http://the-fire-olympus.blogspot.com/
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