Letters from Critics (and a few nice people too)

Over the years, I've received lots of interesting emails from people about this web site.  Here are a few of them.  (Spelling has not been corrected.)

One thing I want to make clear: I welcome criticism.  I learn a lot from it.  So don't take this page as "Ha-ha, look what those crazies wrote me, now it's my turn to get even!"  Although I disagree strongly with some of my critics' beliefs, I don't wish for any of them to go to hell.  That is why I've put this web site together.

It actually all makes sense now..I just visited Daniels page.  Its amazing to me how lost people in life can just latch onto this incredile book of fables, written for one reaon only. To keep HUMANS in line. Written by other humans, to keep HUMANS in line. It was the only natural response to intelligent HUMANS of the time, in order to devise a way to control, maintain order of, and threaten HUMANS.

And one note on conscience. If you were to take 55 infant babies, put them isolated on a desert island, with no contact, no religion, nothing at all but their companions. They inherently would NOT have a conscience in any way shape or form. Would they think it was wrong to kill another? No, they would not. They might realize after killing another, that now that person is gone, and not able to help them hunt, or what have you, but they would not know it was "wrong", and they certainly would not have any idea they are going to "hell" because of it.

I am not endorsing murder in any way shape or form, just using it as an example. I realize that you are probably sitting there reading this with a smile, thinking "this poor person is going to hell". Well, I have studied religion for the past 17 years, and these are just my opinions. Anyone that really has researched your so called "religion", knows that its laughable, and that the only reason it exsists is because in the day it was written, it was the only tool in which to keep HUMANS in line.
Its just a shame its still keeping HUMANS inline, and wasting peoples lives here in 2002.

Keep up the good work; now if only most of the declared Christians only lived up the human/humane side of the story of Jesus' life, rather than the hyperconservative belief that only Christianity provides a means for the salvation from man's innate(and incorrigible) defects.

Again, remain optimistic.  Some Christians are indeed human.  There is yet hope for humanity.  I don't know if there is yet hope for Christianity.

Well I have been a Christian for a little over a year now and it is amazing how much the Lord has Blessed me. There is one thing I have learned and it is very hard sometimes to be a Christian, but I can always feel the lord kicking me in the Tail when I start to lean on my own understanding.

Here is a short Testimony:

About October of 2000 my wife and I started sending our 4 year old to a pre-school program that a friend of my wife had heard was really good.(Wife has been a Christian since she was 14(26 now) but she did not go to church or anything, but I knew she was). It just happened to be a Christian Pre-School Program at the Nazarene church up the road from us. Well we started sending him there. Well about a month or so later he was coming home repeating scripture that they were teaching him. The first one that he told me was Depart from Evil and DO good(Psalm 34:14) The next month he came home with another and so on.

Well about that time I decided I was going to go get my son a Bible and My wife one also. It was around Christmas by that time, and I also started going to church. You know something funny my first sermon at church was about tithing and that gave me all the fuel in the world to say. "See honey, I told you that all churches want is you money!!" But some reason I did not stop going. The first bible that I bought for my son was a Bible Man Bible. Well I started reading and I know now that the Lord was calling me. Well on Jan 18th of 2001, I came across a cartoon looking picture on how to ask Jesus Christ into you heart. I asked him into my heart. The funny thing is allot of people tell me that when they got saved they did not notice a difference in them, but with me. The next morning there was a peace and a comfort that I had never felt before in my life. It was the coolest thing that I have ever felt.

Before getting saved I have a real problem with the pornography on the internet, cursing, drinking, and smoking. Jesus in a matter of months took away the porn, cursing, drinking, and smoking. I do stumble and find Satan trying to get me back in his path, but I do not allow that to happen. Right now I have stumbled into smoking again. I do realize one thing. I AM FREE IN CHRIST now and all the burdons (sp) that I carry I give it to Him to carry. I will be free from smoking if I could just get Proverbs 3:5,6 to stay in my head.

One thing I have learned about tithing now though is. Give God what is Right not what is Left. I have learned that and my business has increased buy 16% this year and during last year I was up 26%. I Lost an account and that same day I got another on that is bigger. We had a little bit left in our checking account and a check for 938.62 came in the mail from a past employer of my wife's. I do think that is one thing that many Christians do not believe in. They do not understand that God has given us all this stuff on a lending program. It is his and he has trusts us with it. Why not give some of it back to him. Cool thing about it is that he gives you more!!!!

When I get my new business cards made up on the Back of the Card I am going to put 2 Corinthians 4:18 on the back of it. With a Fish and sign it like it is from Paul. You know something else. If you are looking to witness to people on you sight put a link to go to one of the bible web pages or to one of the Listen to the Bible Pages. Going to run, but will talk to you later. You know sometimes we may never see the fruit that we plant, but I think we will be amazed when you get to heaven who we have touched in one why or another.

your way to young to worry so much about god he resides in all of us we are god god is us give it a rest and get a girl friend

Daniel:

While I'm a good enough Christian not to slander you as a person, I must say that your misuse of the concepts of "proof" and "evidence" is both obvious and embarrassing, and even most respected theologians would have to dismiss your conclusions. Furthermore, while "consciousness" is clearly an evident part of the human condition, "conscience," as you use the term, is merely a romantic notion, much like the terms "love," "soul," and "heart." Simply put, your site would be more convincing if you just plain avoided any scientific concepts at all. Have you even studied logic, reasoning, or basic philosophy at all?

That said, since God's existence is indeed the fundamental starting point for any arguments you make for your religious world view, you will need to refine your vocabulary. As it now stands, your site makes serious Christians look like idiots and does a great disservice to those of us who have taken the time to educate ourselves in the areas of philosophy, rhetoric, and theology.

...I find it hilarious that one critic said you are too young and your explanation of Christianity is too simple, embarrassing, and would be dismissed by a "respected" theologian.

Now, if Christ's plan couldn't be explained simply, THAT would be embarrassing!

Christ was talking to people like that when he said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Daniel,

First off, AWESOME website!!

Second. I am struggling with all the different religious people and messages around me. It in the media and news on a constant basis and on the Internet, chat rooms, advertising, talk shows, prime-time shows, bathroom walls, everywhere................Whoever is into a specific religion (Catholic, Mormonism, Muslim, Christian Science, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, I could go on for hours ....) they are convinced that they are right and have the only true religion. If you are NOT a believer of their ideas and teachings, you will perish or burn in hell, or whatever that religion teaches that will forever torture your soul.

I believe this is why we are at war ~ which stemmed from the beliefs of a group of men ~ which in turn caused the actions of 9/11. Believers against non believers. No matter what you believe, it's not the same as the next person therefore you are a nonbeliever to them.

How does a child know which way to go when everyone is so convincing that there way is the only Way. I was raised as Christian but I don't believe that the answer is that our "WAY" (Bible) is the only way because it's the oldest book in town.

Daniel,

I did something I will forever regret. Something that will be in my mind until my body dies. I believe in Jesus and that he came here, died, and rose again for us. This was proved to me in a near death experience, where I was dead from anorexia, and met Jesus in Heaven. He was so kind, so compassionate, I could not be in His presence and not cry. He told me simply, "it will be alright." This after I told him of the torment I went through with others, who judged me so harshly because of my anorexia. I was made fun of, called names, and became house bound before I had this experience due to kidney failure. Jesus hugged me and told me to go back and tell everyone what I had seen. While He was hugging me I was falling extremely fast and slammed back into my 62 lb. body. The very next day the anorexia was gone, as were the thoughts of it. Today I weigh 130. So now here I am, knowing and loving Christ as I do, knowing what He did for me that day, and still I have sinned. I pleaded for his forgiveness also. I have done so for a week now. But I need to know. Does He forgive all things if we ask? How can I go on with my life acting as if I did nothing? I still feel tremendous guilt which weighs me down, day after day, wondering if He believes that I am so totally sorry and wish I could do things over. Please tell me your thoughts if you can.

...in a time where religion is dividing people from one another rather than bringing them together. Your site even goes beyond to define character as someone who must believe in god. To use your words, character is essentially loving others and seeking their highest good, period. You abviously are unable to do this since your next paragraph states that anyone who doesn't believe as you do will go to hell. By making these statements you are passing judgement on others and how would your god see that? Why must our belief in a god or gods represent what type of people we are. Believe it or not there are many wonderful, giving people out there who do not share your belief and believe me, whomever god it is would not send these people to your created hell. Doesn't god teach acceptance of others not like you. If so why must you change them. This idea was created by churches to insure thier survival. Come on guy, use your own head and think for yourself.

Religious Fanatics tend to believe they really are more focused on the important things in life and pity those who do not choose the same lifestyle that they choose. Spending so much time telling others what to do seems a bit childish, and I would leave it to god to tell people what's in their hearts, not people like yourselves who make websites to rationalize 9/11 in a sick preverted way. If you want to help people, donate to charity, do community service, volunteer for an organization, don't try and lecture people on things you only think you know a lot about.

Hello Daniel. I ... came across your witness and testimony pages, and I felt I should write you a quick note to let you know that I got a blessing out of it. My testimony is similar to yours in several ways (I asked Jesus into my heart and understood and accepted His sacrifice as payment for my sins when I was nearly 7 years old, however I did not fully surrender control of my life to Him until I was 25--after much pain and aggravation and learning the hard way! He has blessed my life incredibly since then. God's way is the best way and you'll never go wrong following His plan!) I found your pages to be very articulate and thorough. Mostly, they were just plain sincere and honest, and I think that's great. I also liked your 4 point argument of reason--it is a good "thermometer". I think kids that grow up in a Christian home are oddly disposed to a slight disadvantage because things can become so jumbled, making it hard to distinguish between "head knowledge" and "heart knowledge".

How will you apply the Bible on other planet? To make my point short her it goes…. Religion has nothing to do with God and never will. Anyone can believe in God without joining the club.

Most Cardinals would dethrone God him self if they new how. Egyptians sure tried. If you want to preach, spread the word of God not the Club you belong to. From your picture I know you are young man.

But when you fully graduate to understand the Religion and God you will call your self Buddhist.

Just a messenger

Markus

You would appreciate Rule of Law if you had ever lived in a country where there is only Rule of the Bully, Rule of Personal-Connections, Rule of the King, Rule of MY God, Rule of the Dictator. I have lived in all such countries and, believe me, Rule of Law (a law DEMOCRATICALLY defined) is a blessing of god (not an affront of god). There is no difference between you and Osama bin Laden---except perhaps that he carries a gun. Both of you are religious extremists. Both of you believe you represent god on earth. Both of you claim to have a holy book. Both of you are obsessed, believing that YOU know the truth. Both of you have such SMALL ideas of god. And neither of you can prove a damn thing you say except to hold up your "holy book". Both of you are captured by ink and paper.