SLD

Maybe it's time you converted, FTR. You once told me privately that you had serious doubts about the truth of Christianity. (don't worry, I won't expose you to those who know you.) But I'm curious if you've modified your position at all since I invited you to this forum or whether you've read some of the other articles or explored the other forums such as the Biblical Criticism/Archeology thread.

Living in the South and trying to come out is very difficult when all around you are fundamentalists just assuming you believe the way they do and putting enormous pressure on you to conform to a religious belief. What's surprising to me is that as I have more and more ventured out of the closet how many people don't confront me but confess that they too have serious doubts, even from people I thought were dedicated fundies. It just goes to show you the grip that fundies have on so many people - they're afraid to express their doubts except to those who they know also share those doubts. When I've attended Jury Seminars, the view is often expressed that juror bias against injured plaintiffs is a mile wide but only an inch deep and that once they are educated about the truth (sorry FTR) that they quickly come over to the injured Plaintiff's side. I suspect that analogy applies to a lot of Christian fundamentalism as well.

Nevertheless, it can be social suicide (possibly economic as well) around here to be too upfront with your lack of belief. I only come out selectively.

R/

SLD

fromtheright

SLD,

With all these folks confessing to you, maybe I need to pay a visit to the "priest of atheism" in Birmingham. What works, "A couple of 'Hail, the Goddess of Reason', now go and sin some more"?

One of the things I do value about Christianity is its reliance on moral absolutes grounded in something other than speculation (OK guys, I'm really not trying to invite a philosophical debate on ethics), plus I do see some very real contributions by Christianity to civilization (no, not a debate on history either). While I do have some very serious questions about some of the doctrines of Christianity (the gross injustice of a concept of Hell, as well as original sin), I do have some faith (sorry guys, there's that word) and hope that I will better understand it "by and by". Also, and I know this sounds like a backwards approach, I am convinced of the truths of conservatism and I think they rest more securely on Christianity, though I know there are conservative atheists such as James Burnham. While some say they derive their conservatism from Christianity, I would reject Christianity if I felt it inconsistent with conservative principles (and I am more than aware that conservatism has various and sometimes opposed strands.

Nice try, and I do appreciate the effort, my friend.