Jerry

From: Jerry

To: Steve Locks

Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2001 11:09 PM

Subject: Your Websit

Steve,

You've saddened me tonight. My wife and child are in the hospital tonight and I was looking for something interesting. I haven't read your entire website because I simply don't have the time. It would be pointless anyway. I believe in Christ and hold dear many of the truths you believe to be false at best.

I commend your skill and perseverance in your crusade though, which is also what saddens me. What do you call what you're doing exactly? I've tagged it a "crusade" because that is what bests fits for myself. Are you truly searching for the truth? Why is it important to destroy Christianity and the Bible if your intent is the truth?

I won't try to persuade you and I'll ask you to do the same for me. In fact, if you choose not to respond, I'll more than understand as I'm assuming this will fall under the category of "repetitive" for you.

I was compelled to write out of the sadness I spoke of. I'm sad that a website like yours exists. It speaks to the state of the world at large and it's a hopeless statement. I believe in Christ because of the things I've seen in my life that I believe are because of Him. I believe the Bible is the inspired word of God and is also the most misquoted book(s) ever written. I hope one day, you'll find the Truth you're searching for and the ironic part of this is that tonight, I'm going to pray for just that and you.

In His Grace,

Jerry

From: Steve Locks

To: Jerry

Sent: 13 July 2001 20:35

Subject: Re: Your Websit

Hi Jerry,

I'm sorry to hear your wife and child are in hospital and I don't want to stress you out with opposing views and arguments, so I'll mostly just point you to a couple of calm articles I wrote that I think will answer your queries.

A friendly Christian journalism student asked similar questions to you and we had a very cordial exchange which I think you will find interesting. It can be found in my feedback but the direct link is http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/feedback/ashley_coogan.html

In summary, rather than being a crusade against Christianity, my website is primarily a support site for other ex-Christians, and from my feedback it seems to work quite well in that regard. Ironically the arguments against Christianity have been mostly shaken out of me by Christians who write to debate. Sometimes I initiate a debate for subjects that really interest me though, but nevertheless I think you will appreciate that a complete change of world view is likely to leave one interested in examining it and what makes people tick on both sides of the fence.

I'm sorry that my website makes you feel sad, but there is really no need for that. Indeed a vast improvement in mental health and fascination with the world is a common hallmark of people's discovery when they cease being Christians. I write about this at a number of places on my site (peruse my feedback for details) but a summary is in the quotes from ex-Christians at http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~slocks/quotes.html

Frequently churches tell Christians how unspiritual and unfulfilling a life outside of Christianity (or "without Christ" etc.) will be. However this is quite contrary to what ex-Christians find, even when our experiences as Christians were deemed to be very good by us at the time.

Also you may find my summary of use in clarifying the results of my researches so far at http://www.eclipse.co.uk/thoughts/slocks.htm

I hope that is at least interesting material and your sadness will soon lift when your wife and daughter return from hospital, and also that you may see others as more interesting than sad. Remember too that there are many of different religious persuasion (e.g. convinced Muslims) who may be mourning for both my and your "lost states." As I said to Jim Moretz I really haven't lost anything in my inner life since I left Christianity and there is no need to mourn me, just as Muslims, Hindu's and Hare Krishna's need not morn my lost state (or yours). You can see all this in detail on my site. None of us can please all those of different viewpoints, so I am already reconciled to always being mourned by somebody somewhere. The common reaction to this is to claim that I (and all the other ex-Christians) couldn't have been "real Christians" in the first place. If you feel this way then see seek and ye shall find? and my conversation with Dr. Garrett.

I hope this helps and that all goes well for you and your family, and I thank you for being open enough to read opposing views and give them thought. Whatever our views, for me the main thing is that we can all get along and find each other interesting rather than a sad case!

"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him."

Galileo Galilei

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. "

Albert Einstein

and just incase that looks too heavy...

"I am not young enough to know everything."

Oscar Wilde

"A witty saying proves nothing."

Voltaire

"I hate quotations."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

:-)

Best regards,

Steve

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Leaving Christianity