Here’s a random sampling of email received throughout the year.

From: brilab45(at)aol.com
Subject: [blank]

Hey GB,

You have me quoted on your site. I’ve never aligned myself with a particular God. Yes, I am receiving emails from the quote you placed by me from your website.

I am a secular human being that cares about other human beings above and beyond the questionable.

Please be a human first. You declare you are above all people that are inclined to religious belief. Prove it. I’m a loving human being without regard to an invented God.

God probably does exist…..however, we don’t understand it. It is not a him or her or a thing that we can understand. It just is.

All energy transforms. Thank GOD that when I die that my energy will go back to the universe as probably nothing with a conscious. I’m grateful for that. I do not want to be ME forever. I’d rather be dead.

Stop being mean.

Still love you,

Brian

Editor’s Note: You’re a mess, Bri. I don’t even know where to begin with you.

First, if you took the time to actually READ the site instead of merely REACTING to it, you’d know that I honor all anonymity requests. All you had to do was ask. But it does state quite clearly that I reserve the right to post any email received.

At any rate, what I find most disturbing about you is your stunning intellectual dishonesty and bet-hedging ways.

You don’t want anyone to think you’re a lunatic who believes in patent myths (“I’ve never aligned myself with a particular God…”), but you’re a bet-hedging coward (“God probably does exist…”) who doesn’t want to be hindered by rules and damnation (“Thank GOD that when I die that my energy will go back to the universe as probably nothing with a conscious…”). You’re a fucking child. Grow up.

You wrote “You declare you are above all people that are inclined to religious belief. Prove it.” I never said or implied any such thing. In fact, I stated with crystal clarity the exact opposite. It’s even in my FAQ. Now you’re just making stuff up, or more likely you’re just seeing what you want to see. But do feel free to prove that I said any such thing. Just copy and paste.

Stop being stupid.

P.S. GodlessBastard.com loves that you love us.

From: flemp2000(at)yahoo.com
Subject: [blank]

Saw your site and like it. I don’t particularly care if you post my comment or not, but I would greatly appreciate remaining completely anonymous, as these are dicey times and there are lots of tightly wound people on hard times who find little else to ease the pain besides their religion. I was raised in a culturally jewish home as yourself, but not religious at all. I did not even have a Bar Mitzvah. I can’t in all honesty say I am an atheist, because I have no friggin idea at all why anything should or even can exist. Instead I refer to myself as a non-theist. I just don’t believe in any knowable God. The truth is that whether or not there is a God is something man is not capable of knowing. If we find out when we die, so be it. If the religious people are correct, and there is a God who requires our worship, and we are hellbound, then good for them. All it means is that they were born with a component in their psyche that allowed or belief, whereas we were not. I have tried to believe in God, but if I am to be honest with myself, and what’s the frigging point if we are not honest with ourselves, it has never taken. I just don’t believe, period. Anyway, my real comment is this. I cannot think of anything meaner or more cruel then the story of the resurrection that Christians believe in, if it is true. I am not speaking of Jesus rising from the dead, but of the resurrection of the rest of us on the day of judgment. I could believe in a merciful God if unbelievers just stayed dead as a doornail for eternity. In other words, if those of us who for whatever reason could just never honestly believe in Jesus, we miss out on eternity in Heaven with God. We miss the glory, we miss the fun. We miss out on all the best existing in this fucking insande universe has to offer. Ok, I could live with that. After all, if being dead means no consciousness at all, there is really nothing scary about that. An example I use is the time I had my wisdom teeth out. The oral surgeon gave me an IV and after a few seconds it was lights out. I awoke in the recovery room in what I thought was a few seconds later, but was actually several hours laters. There was nothing but a total blank for hours. No memories or thoughts at all. If death was like that, so what? I was not terrified when I awoke, just because I drew a total blank. No existence may mean you miss the all the good, but you miss all the bad also. Here is why the resurrection, if true, and non-believers go to hell, convicts God. Imagine a scheme where your “father”, who supposedly loves you, cannot just let well enough alone. Imagine a scheme where your loving father cannot just leave you alone. No, he cannot just say to himself, ok, he or she did not make enough of an effort to understand the gospel, but, now he or she is no more. He or she is dead, in the state before I created them, or nothingness. No pleasure but no pain also. But this is not good enough for this merciful God. Instead, this loving, merciful, all benevolent God who knows every hair on my head, and who grievs over a baby sparrow falling out of its nest, has to collect the original atoms of my fleshly body, however scattered to the winds, however many centuries have past since I died, and reconstruct me atom by atom, and actually bring me back to life, back to consciousness from the blessed calm of non-existence, just to send me straight to Hell where I can write in agony for eterminty, with no appeals process and no chance of mercy ever again. This alpha and omega, no beginning and no end, all wise and full of grace, omnipotent “papa”, cannot just give our poor befuddled, confused, and weary souls an ounce of real mercy and just leave us fucking truly dead. No, just because we never found the ability to accept something that on its face is very hard to accept, a man born of a virgin, a man who walked on water and raised the dead, a man who loved the enemies who hated him and wanted him destroyed, we are condemned to eternal tormet, and not only that, but Papa will gather our dust atom by atome to insure that we don’t somehow squeak by and miss out on bloody agony. What could be more revolting than that, if true?

From: dlodgded(at)roadrunner.com
Subject: just found your page

Hey. Since you seem to have some experience in this area, I thought I’d let you know. For 25 years I have kept my mouth shut out of a sense of politeness, a live and let live thing. However over those years the Christians in America have become more and more vocal. Sick of this, yesterday I placed nine bumper stickers on my car, all anti -religious, three are harsh, and six are supporting the three with quotes from the founding fathers who, by and large, were not Christian.

I see no one in my area saying anything different, hence the bumper stickers, (t shirts and hats too), my kids expect violence but I don’t think most have the spine. My son expects my car to be vandalized (which seems more likely), but fuck them. I fear a whole new generation getting brainwashed simply from never knowing there is another way. I hope to inspire lots of Google’s from the youth who never knew President Jefferson was not a Christian, never mind that he re-wrote the bible minus the miracles.

So my car is now an anti-religious banner, and I am curious to see what happens if anything. If you have any other ideas I would appreciate them.

I just want you and others like us to know I have raised a flag just in case the crazy bastards shoot me.

You can find me on Facebook, my daughter set me up.

D.N. Blodgett

From: aldebaran(at)comcast.net
Subject: Freakin’ awesome

Greetings Mr. Bastard,

Excellent site man. I’m enjoying it immensely and I’ve barely scratched the surface. In a world full of delusional hypocritical double thinkers, it’s such a refreshing change to interact with the other 7%.

I do have to say though that there was one good thing to come out of Christian dogma:

“…and the truth shall set you free”.

How right indeed!

And therein lies the wickedly orgasmic irony: the only valid revelation to ever come out of this false Christian doctrine turns out to be utterly lost on Christians… and visible only to atheists.

Ted

From: [withheld]
Subject: Just General

Hey,

What have you been up to lately. I know I promised you another report of that damn crazy church I used to attend before I saw the light of their bullshit. Well, my life has been turned upside down in the last year, caught the lady screwing around, the bitch had me arrested twice for revenge and I lost my job of 35 years. Just going to take the summer off and enjoy life.

Oh, by the way, had a crowd of those bible thumpers come to my door a few weeks ago. What is it with these people? They will not take fuck off as clue to leave. I finally threatened to call the law and have them arrested for trespass. That got their attention.

Just checking out the website. You have added a few new things I want to check out.

Take care,

P.M.

Editor’s Note: Come on. Tell me my fans aren’t like the best fans ever?

From: tylersnoboarder9(at)gmail.com
Subject: Hello

I stumbled across your site, and having read some of your articles wanted to send you a quick e-mail. Many of the beliefs you hold about christians and their beliefs seem to be heavily influenced by the few zealots in the world that take things to the extreme and truly know nothing about god. I would ask that first before you criticize, you actually read the bible and see what it says. It seems as though you have gleaned all your information only from talking to christians and observing them, and I will be the first to admit we are just as sinful and wretched as any other man. A true study of the bible and the doctrine behind the teaching is the only way to truly understand it. And you yourself referred to christianity as a tool for the weak, a crutch even. I would not refer to christianity as a crutch, but as a stretcher. See, none of us can limp into heaven. We all have messed up, and are all royally screwed, even that lovely little catholic lady who lives down the street. She deserves to go right to hell when she dies. But see the thing is the only difference between people who get into heaven and don’t is that one has a asked god for forgiveness, and the other has not. I don’t pretend to be perfect, and frankly I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not, but I’ve been forgiven, and in the end that’s all that matters. I have an affinity towards science, and have studied anatomy extensively. It seems the more I learn about the human body, the more impossible it seems to me that we originated by chance. I’ve heard the odds compared to a bomb going off in a junkyard and it creating a 747. Chaos does not create order, and in the same way primordial soup does not give way to human beings after billions of years. Put enough monkeys in a room with typewriters, and no matter how long you wait you will never get Shakespeare. To me this points to a god, a creator who gives order to chaos, a shape to the world. I would really love to discuss this with you further, and if you have any questions that you want answered from a clear and biblical standpoint, one not convoluted with zealotry, bigotry, and idiocracy, please ask me. I am very passionate about this and would love to have a cordial debate if you will.

-Tyler Jensen

From: [withheld]
Subject: An apology

Hello, I am a Christian and I just wanted to apologize for the hateful remarks by so-called Christians on your site, especially the ones threatening violence and using profanity. People like this do not represent all Christians; in fact they are violating the commandment to “love one another.”

Thank you for reading this, and have a good day.

(P.S. – Please do not publish my e-mail. Thanks)!

Editor’s Note: I reserve the right to post any email received, but I do honor all anonymity requests.

Out of the Mouths of Babes Winner!

From: dolphin-dreamer-13(at)hotmail.com
Subject: God.

HI

welll…….i’m a 17 year old girl living in New Zealand and i proudly believe in God. I don’t mind if you don’t, i mean…it’s one less person crowding up heaven when i die…..right?

But i kinda was curious as to why, as an atheist….you spend so long and so much effort trying to convince the world that a person you think is not real…is fake…..

I just don’t get it, why waste your time and energy (prehaps even money) when you could be doing better things with your life. This isnt even a christian value…..it’s just being human…..could you not be out and about actually helping someone or helping yourself. When i think of you……i kinda think of a middle-aged guy who either hasn’t moved out of home yet or is really insecure about himself. I hope i’m wrong though, because i think that everyone should be out in our world helping some one else and having fun.

Goodbye.

Sydney,

God Bless…..well…..i guess if you don’t believe in him….then just….Bless You and know that God will always love you..no matter how much and how long you hate him and he will always be ready to take your hand and forgive you.

From: lrusty55(at)yahoo.com
Subject: Website

How I feel about the website, are you kidding me, this is the best. Right to the point, of the crap that comes from so called religious people. I don’t care what or how people believe, its the point of why are they doing it. Most of it goes on blind faith, the other is because, the worst one, because their parents do it. So I will writing in soon. Are their different topics, or is it a free for all, I got plenty.

Thank you

Rusty Lee

From: m.sanchez20(at)ymail.com
Subject: message from a literate atheist

Hey dumbass,

It’s not “minutia,” it’s “minutiae.” And your site sucks. Let me know the minute you’re ready to start making interesting arguments, and not just regurgitating slams against the dumbest Christians among us.

M.

Editor’s Note: I wonder if such literacy has enabled you to know that while both spellings are acceptable, minutia is the preferred spelling in the United States. GodlessBastard.com thanks you for your ongoing support.

From: [withheld]
Subject: It was you who started it all

Back in 2007 I emailed you an inane piece of bullshit letter. I lived in a religious world, was new to the internet, and the fact that atheists even existed baffled me. Well, you thoroughly tore it apart, and so began my journey. Here I am 4 years later, unable to finish reading that old letter, embarrassed for myself and the utter stupidity of humanity. It was you that allowed me to start thinking differently.

I’m now at university, enjoying life without fairy-tales, and doing my best to help others along the way as you have done for me. So from a fellow human: thank you. Thank you very much.

Also, you had my name and didn’t publish it. I owe you for that as well. I would not have my youthful naivety haunt me forever.

[From a subsequent email:] There’s something more I would like to add. The leaving of religion behind was more then just a one-time deal – it’s what started me on the process of learning. When everything I believed was rooted in one book I was blind; but now a world has opened up. The Bible has been replaced by an eclectic collection (Marcus Aurelius, Carl Sagan, Bertrand Russel, etc) and I feel truly free to learn and grow. I owe you (and others who contributed this process) so much.

Nature, art, literature – it’s all fascinating to me. And I don’t need god for any of it. Life has become more vast, more interesting. I could have missed out searching for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but it was here all along. Maybe I sound cliche; like a love poem perhaps. But in the same way those in love try to write poetry – though to outsiders they appear only silly – I attempt to explain the feeling of the world anew. This is why being an active proponent of atheism is a good thing, and why I appreciate those who preach the truth. Christianity is more then a single belief or a relationship. It becomes a world-view, and a wretched one at that.

And yes you are welcome share my story. Please send me the link if you do.

Hall of Shame Editor’s Pick!

From: brilab45(at)aol.com
Subject: God

Hi GB,

Lets place an H in between those letters and have some fun!

But frankly, I look into the outer cosmos and try to understand quantum mechanics and all I can come up with is God. M-Theory, String Theory and Hawking’s theory of everything.

You are definitely fun, logical and honestly a good guy. I’m placing my bets on a God figure that is a bit more pliable than the religious freaks that are placed into current society.

There is no reason for our existence with exception to a God like figure. God is a complex creature and we are all part of it. It is a silly notion that we exist without purpose and without merit. I’m pretty sure that there is a universal platitude in place. Yet, we are all born and die in a material world (so we think). However, we do not understand the micro or ethereal world. We don’t even understand why atoms stay cohesive.

With all said, I like you and your arguments. The only reason I believe you disqualify a greater existence is because you lack understanding. Your logic is sound, but it lacks scientific reasoning. A God figure can not be proved or disproved. Fact.

When you come up with scientific reasoning beyond your current understanding, I will listen. Just have to say, you do not have the intellectual skills to justify your position.

Again, I admire you and find you interesting. However, I think the reason you dislike religion is due to the fact that humans make religion seem extensively outrageous and oppressive. They do and I despise them.

Your a good guy and I do admire your logic. There is more out there for you to study. Grasp onto theories that affront your bleak outlook on the existence of life.

You make me laugh heartily from your logical view points. Thank you. Now give me some deeper quantum mechanic’s understanding of the existence of life.

Your Friend,

Brian

Editor’s Note: Poor Brian didn’t fail to do as predicted – as Christians do every single time. Check out my standard prediction here (under the heading Because Christians Are Predictable).

From: schmorf(at)denyjesus.com
Subject: dude!

great website. just wanted to let you know, to let more people know about your website, check out atheistsites.com, when you’re listed there, it shows your website, and you can put a ‘vote for me’ button on your web page(s).

no, this isn’t some commercial spam, I thought it’s a good idea and something you can use. I use it myself on my website. denyjesus.com

From: wenchster1(at)yahoo.com
Subject: stuff

Hi there. I guess this is just like many other emails you receive, yet I feel compelled to send it anyway. After reading some stuff on your site, I sent you a friend request on Facebook, but I quickly withdrew it after thinking about it a little more. Most people who know me are well aware of my atheism, but I decided I don’t want to go there on FB. I am in no way ashamed of it, though. It’s just not the right forum for me.

What I want you to know is how much I desperately miss the fun I and some of my friends had at the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster site beginning back in 2006. Oh, the hate mail! It just killed me. It changed my life, really. I found out that I am now, and have always been an atheist, and I’m no longer going to apologize about it.

What I need is a place to vent my spleen about idiotic Christian and their nonsense, or at least live vicariously through someone else doing so. I live and work with so many fervent, frothy Christians that it almost seems to even me at times that god must be trying to reach me. Alas, I do not hear him. I’m too busy blaspheming and snowshoeing.

So there you go. Peace.

Diane

From: evan.stawnyczy(at)cibc.ca
Subject: have you seen this?

hey there you glorious bastard. have you seen this shit?

www.proofthatgodexists.org

Regards,
Evan Stawnyczy

From: ster_fry(at)hotmail.com
Subject: Here’s a site to add to your favorites

Hey, I was browsing the web and somehow came across this website:
www.behindthebadge.net/apologetics.

It seems like many of the sites you have already posted under your favorites, overall the writers logic seems pretty normal (for a christian). Also I’d just like to say that your website seems to shine a light for all of those still in the dark ages (although they are in modern times) of logical thinking, and provides those intelligent enough to enjoy the stupidity of others who refuse to see the light.

From: dietzsj(at)susqu.edu
Subject: Your Opinion. Please read, not Hatemail. Love your Site.

First off, this seriously isn’t hatemail, I love your site. I’m an 18 year old born and raised Catholic, who stopped believing in God the moment I was introduced to knowledge. I grew up and was confirmed, but only did it because I wan’t about to challenge my parents when they’re paying for my college education. I’m not gonna write much other than I really appreciate your site mostly for saving MY time and prevent MY frustration when talking to people who refuse to step out from behind their curtain of stupidity. Many of (but not all) of the ideas expressed on your site I have already formulated on my own. Being raised Catholic though, believe it or not, I feel we are raised to actually choose to believe in god. In the past Catholics were relentless and most definitely the worst (or maybe a close second) when it comes to killing people for not believing in their god. But the few people I’ve told about not believing in god (I prefer not to say atheist to them cause it’s like saying fuck instead of sex, just being polite) that are involved in the church typically don’t pressure me at all. Maybe it’s just the community you might say? well maybe, I have moved twice before and it’s the same each time so it’s possible that I’m very lucky. Now i’m not speaking to the priest or anything but still…

A small possibility for this may actually be because Catholics are ridiculed by Christians as is. The gullible mind of a Christian apparent can’t even find out for itself anything and immediately believes such things.But that’s not important. I did want to mention something to aid you, or maybe just inform you. Perhaps you already know? or just straight up don’t give a shit. I just wanted to tell you because being wrong in an argument with a Christian even once about the smallest thing automatically defeats the purpose of ever speaking to them about the possibility of god not existing. In the section of your site, where you talk about why Christians should just go ahead and end their lives to embrace their Paradise and what-not, the Church already thought of that. To them, suicide is murder, and there-fore a sin. And that means hell.

But this is were our opinions may differ slightly. While I don’t pity anyone for not believing in a god or believing in a god, what ever your preference, I do believe that being raised under a faith is good for people. You see, I choose on my own to not believe in god, but I was raised to a standard as a human being from the Catholic church and having a faith helped in my development. It gave me good morals and about the time I began to realize that it was a lie I stopped and looked around at the others around me. They are being raised as sheep but none the less, good sheep. Sure they’re being lied yes, but at least they are turning into people with morals. What I’m saying is, that to enlighten them, is hypocritical. I haven’t finished every section of your site, but most atheists I know force their opinions on other religions as much as Christians do them. I don’t know if you feel the same way or not, but would you agree that if these religions are raising people to have good morals and be good people, then who gives a shit if they’re lied to. It’s okay to introduce them to the idea of god not existing but if at this point in life they haven’t made that clear to themselves, then they aren’t going to move into the truth very easily are they? I was wondering what your opinion was on all this. Do you feel its good to push back at Christians? If not, perhaps consider this a world where Good and Bad has a lot more grey area. Bad, is when you do something that directly harms another person or persons. Good, is well, still the same. And grey is just more densely populated. By just letting people follow their religion, causing them to be the mindless zombies they are (I know thats a bit harsh, but you understand my point), is it so bad to just let yourself be the bigger person and walk away from it all silently knowing you’re right? Please respond, I’m hoping this is a very educated discussion, send as many references my way, if you need any since this isn’t really where references are needed. I’m always eager to learn more. And considering you have a similar background as me, should be interesting.

-Shamus

Editor’s Note: You’re a really smart kid, Shamus. By the way, I’m probably older than your dad, so I get to call you a kid.

It makes me feel good to see someone so young be so incredibly centered. You will most certainly go far in life. When I was your age, I didn’t even know what side of my playpen smelled the worst.

But maybe if you’re were a bit older you’d have a better sense of adult sarcasm. Everything on my site fundamentally represents my true feelings and opinions, but the presentation is admittedly nasty and offensive and insulting (and I think quite funny) to make a point. I don’t really pity anyone who believes in god. The way I look at it, the VAST majority of people who believe in god are a lost cause. I can’t win ‘em over to rationality, so I might as well get under their skin. Getting under their skin riles them up, and when they’re riled up they shoot off their mouths and invariably contradict themselves and get sucked into circular reasoning. Plus, it’s just fun to piss them off. They’ve been doing it to us for millennia; this is just equal time.

But we do disagree one one major point that we’ll probably agree on several years from now. I can’t know for sure, but I’d wager a nickel that when you get a bit older you’ll begin to see that while (as you say), “…They are being raised as sheep but none the less, good sheep…” they’re still part of the problem. Shamus is a good sheep, and he’s a good sheep without a silly sky god holding a gun to his head. The point being, Shamus can life his life this way, so can they. But the far bigger issue is that this kind of stone age, superstitious thinking is bad for our species. It hurts us all in a big picture kind of way that you’ll understand later in life. It’s not about being “good” (i.e., a good sheep). There are people in this world who make terminally bad decisions that affect themselves as well as others based on fallacious beliefs. I, personally, had a friend who is now dead because she refused to see a doctor for a routine follow-up exam. She was convinced that god was watching out for her and protecting her from a relapse of cancer. I could go on and on giving examples of how “good sheep” make bad (if not stupid) choices based on very strange and wholly irrelevant doctrinal beliefs. Bad thinking begets bad thinking, and it hurts society on a whole.

You wrote, “Sure they’re being lied [to] yes, but at least they are turning into people with morals.” There are two problems here. First, who decides what moral is? Second, who cares? There are good, decent Christian Scientists who refuse their children (who are too young to comprehend theology much less make such decisions about their personal beliefs) life-saving medical treatment. Yes, they are doing what they honestly believe is right, and are thus being moral by their standard of ethics. So what? Moral, immoral, whatever. They’re allowing their child to die because of some very stupid superstitious beliefs. So let me ask you this, “…is it so bad to just let yourself be the bigger person and walk away from it all silently knowing you’re right?” Answer: Yes, it is bad. Granted this is an extreme case, but it does happen all the time.

But we don’t even need a dying child to make this point. There are people all around this world who pray instead of acting. You and I know that their prayers fall upon deaf ears, yet they’re convinced that god is bringing them wisdom. All they’re doing is talking themselves into a theologically satisfying answer, and invariably their subconscious processes present bad advice that affect the welfare of others. I find it decidedly convenient that god always tells them to do what best suits their needs and interests. It’s the way god wants it, and who are they to question god, right? It is the ultimate absolution of personal responsibility and accountability. I had a friend many years ago who hated her job, and she desperately wanted an out. And so she prayed. Wouldn’t you know it, god told her to pursue another job. And so she quit. She was a single mother with 3 kids to support, and without income she ended up on public assistance. You don’t do that when you have a family to support.

At any rate, these are fun things to discuss. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the site.
 

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