Openly Blasphemous
Against An Almighty God
Vivian Haney
From: "Vivian Haney"
To: Positive Atheism <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 10:59 AM
I am writing in response to Paul Jones ridiculous article on "10 Reasons a Beer is better than Jesus". To be very honest, I feel so sorry for all of you. My heart hurts at the fact you are so openly blasphemous against an Almighty God (by the way, that's spelled with a capital "G"!) who created the world and everything in it.
This will be the last time I ever visit your website, but before I leave I want to have you think for once. You love to make it sound as if we Christians are so stupid. Well, let's just suppose you were right and I was wrong. What if there really wasn't a God? What profit does your belief give me besides an empty life and the thought that when I die, it's all over?(When in fact, you will spend eternity in hell!) But what if the Bible were right and you were wrong. What profit does the truth give you? It gives you purpose on this earth knowing how you got here, why you are here, and where you are going. It gives you joy beyond explanation knowing that you have a God who loves you and will never leave your side. Best of all, it gives you the promise that if you put your trust in Christ alone, you will spend eternity in heaven after you die!!
An empty life ending in hell or a fulfilled life with eternity in heaven....hmm! you tell me who's so stupid!!!
From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "Vivian Haney"
Subject: Re: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 7:15 PM
Dear Vivian,
Our target audience is atheists. Theists are welcome to browse and participate, but we don't tailor our presentation to meet the needs or desires of theists. It's tough trying to keep atheists happy; besides, we have nothing to say to theists.
We are sorry that you take the tale of Christ so seriously as to be hurt by humor that clearly responds to the claims and acts of some of the less desirable Christians our world has endured. Positive Atheism's Official Pastor says that while it may offend some, most would get a chuckle out of it (though he reminds us that #5 is not true in the state of Texas).
The "Beer vs. Jesus" bit was a rebuttal to an anti-non-Christian T-shirt. We see no God, but His followers torment us daily.
Meanwhile, almost every item in the "Beer vs. Jesus" T-Shirt accurately reflects upon elements of the Christian message or its history: its religious wars and persecution; its obsession with sex; its unashamed proselytization of very young children; the so-called hiddenness of God. Also, groups that help you adjust to leaving religion are systematically suppressed and driven out of existence.
So, instead of apologizing, I would like to thank you for giving myself (and our readers) a newfound appreciation for this piece, whose only fault is that it has made the Internet rounds too many times and more than a few of us veterans have grown tired of it.
Cliff Walker, Publisher
Positive Atheism Magazine
P.S. All English language style manuals demand that a writer capitalize the proper noun designating a fictitious character, such as Pinocchio or Old Yeller or Bonnie George Campbell or William Wilson or Bygmester Finnegan of the Stuttering Hand or the biblical character that some people have chosen to name God (or simply G*d). We follow this almost universally accepted practice if and only if the context makes it clear that we are dealing with a deity whose name is "God." But we likewise follow the modern custom of setting the word god in lowercase when it is a simple noun (synonymous with the word deity) and not a proper name. Modern style no longer demands that we capitalize all occurrence of the word "god."
Thus, we apply the same rules of syntax to all fictional characters.
Although this is Positive Atheism's editorial and writing style, we do not correct independent writers when they commit this or other grammatical errors; we only correct when it is obvious that the error is an unintended typographical error. In our Letters section, we will correct someone's typos if the writer is cordial, but only to make the letter easier to read. However, we usually print a letter verbatim if the letter displays an arrogant or abusive tone.
Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.