I spent the first 23 years of my life as a fundamentalist christian, and I can confirm at least part of Radosh's thesis: Christians live in their own bizarre, parallel world. I can remember sincerely believing that about 80 percent of the worlds population was hellbound, that going to hell when you die was a birthright that could be escaped only by "accepting christ as your personal savior". It took me more than a decade to recover from that deeply soul-damaging belief system. I could not begin to describe the ways in which that belief twisted my perceptions of the world around me, and distorted my thinking on just about every subject.

I've been an atheist for more than twenty years now, and I can honestly say that I am a more compassionate, caring person than I ever was as a christian.

Of course, there are more alternatives besides fundamentalism and atheism. . . . :)

I think it's easier for people to convert from religion to atheism/agnosticism and vice versa than to convert between religions. If you don't believe the stories with no concrete proof that your parents tell you, why would you believe stories that a stranger tells you?

Exactly. Which may explain why no one remembers anything they learned in college. (Or if they do, they remember it wrong!) They hear all these stories about Napoleon defeating Water Lou and Abraham Lincoln shooting that guy, but they see no concrete proof, so they simply memorize it, regurgitate it for the final exam, and forget it.

Wait a minute! I thought Walter defeated that Boney Parts guy! I'm going to have to dig out my college history book and refresh my memory!

Well, your "compassion," and "caring" are the exception for atheists, and certainly not the rule.

As documented quite thoroughly in the book, "Who Really Gives," by Arthur C Brooks, Christian conservatives give more on average than liberal atheists not only at the church, but also to secular charities. Christian conservatives give more of their time. Christian conservatives give more blood, and more to their families and friends. Christian conservatives tend to be more honest, and are more likely to return excess change accidentally given to them by a clerk.

Christian conservatives are happier. But don't take my word for it. Read the book yourself. Arthur C Brooks grew up a liberal, and he admits that he EXPECTED the results to be exactly the opposite of what he found, based on years of lies by liberals claiming "compassion" and generosity.

These are the same liberals who call butchering 1,000,000 innocent unborn babies every year a "CHOICE".

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California, please remember that one book does not create absolute truth. I would have certainly checked out Mr. Brooks book, however the absolute filth that you spew at the end of your post (the link to www.abortionno.org resources page featuring inappropriate pictures) completely undermines your statements claiming compassion and caring remain solely the purview of the righteously conservative.

Not only did you do nothing to elevate debate, you posted deliberately offensive pictures that were completely off topic. I find your form of compassion and caring unsettling at best and deeply disturbing at worst.

Come on, CaliforniaDreamin, we all know that Christians give money at church because of peer pressure. If you went to church every week and never gave them any money, I guarantee you would get some subtle (or not so subtle) hints about your tightfisted ways.

And let me guess: this Arthur C. Brooks must be a Christian conservative, right? So obviously he's simply promoting his agenda with skewed data, because he knows people like you will happily buy into it (BUY being the key word), and he will make lots of money by telling "Christians" what they want to hear, even if it isn't supported by the facts.

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californiadreaming/nanotick.pr­edicto, are the same sick fuck terrorising other "non-believers on the fray.All the while claiming to be persecuted because others try to defend themselves against his attacks.Claiming that a comment posted by c.d. is not true is the sams as calling his god a childmolester.DO NOT FEED THE TROLL.