Hi Rebekah, I noticed that you answered my letter in the Star Phoenix and I would like to comment on your answer. I don't think the Star Phoenix would publish two of my letters in one month so I hope you don't mind if I email my response to you. First of all, I find your passion for what you believe and your honesty refreshing even if I do not agree with your viewpoint. Many people go through life never giving any thought to what they believe or why they believe what they do. What really stood out to me in the letter you wrote were the two words “hell” and “fear.” As someone who has given my life to Jesus, fear and hell are the farthest things from my mind. Being friends with my Creator removes any fear I have the future because I can trust God with my life and future. It’s like resting in the arms of a loving Daddy who would never do anything to hurt me. Romans 8 says that NOTHING can separate me or you from God’s love and I rest in that promise. If God and heaven and hell do not exist, then I guess you could consider me a misguided fool—happily living my life and putting energy into things you would not consider important but I do love my life! If God and heaven and hell do exist, and I believe with all my heart that they do, then you have chosen to reject the God who loved you enough to die for you and you have chosen to live your life encouraging other people to reject God also. This would be a scary and yes, fearful place to be! You say a freethinker wouldn’t advocate eternal punishment for a questioning nonbeliever such as you. Isn’t this a double standard? If Jesus exists as the Bible says he does, then both heaven and hell also exist. Jesus says he is not willing for anyone to perish in hell which is why he died and rose again to give us a choice to either follow him or not follow him. If you make the choice to reject God when he is actively calling you—why are you surprised that you have chosen to reject eternity with God also? You have not asked for it, but I have been praying for you daily that you make wise choices. Thank you for listening,

What a surprise to get an email from you yesterday. I'm glad you saw my response to your letter -- though I'm saddened that you have misread much of what I had said in it. You wrote that the two words of my letter that most stood out were the words "hell" and "fear," and then for much of your email you position me as if I'm fearful of hell. That's just not the case.

My original letter to the editor was meant to address your claim that Jesus was the greatest freethinker of all. My letter said that the Jesus of the New Testament is far more notable for his "fearthought" teaching than freethought. In fact, the only time I mentioned "fear" and "hell" were in the context of Jesus's teachings, as he was the first to introduce the concept of eternal punishment for nonbelievers (like myself). I'm NOT afraid of hell, because I don't think such a place exists. As far as I can tell, the only reality of hell is its function as a control mechanism to either keep believers in the faith or scare others into it.

I see you're using the metaphor of a loving parent to describe God:

It’s like resting in the arms of a loving Daddy who would never do anything to hurt me.

I remember hearing that metaphor quite a bit when I was in the church -- I grew up in the faith, and most of my family are still highly religious. I still remember all the lingo and the reasoning behind defending the faith. Yet the more closely you examine the rationale behind these platitudes, and fully extend these metaphors into practical terms -- the more they lose their luster and persuasive appeal. Now that I'm gaining more and more parental experience, whenever I consider the metaphor of God as a loving parent, it falls even more flat.

I'm a parent of a rambunctious 2 and a half year old little girl. As her mama, I can't imagine ever purposefully putting her in a place where she would have the potential to be seriously harmed. I can't imagine her doing or saying anything that could make me love her less. I can't imagine holding something against her, something that would force a separation (eternal or otherwise) between herself and I. I can't imagine forcing her to make a choice of either loving me OR facing punishment if she didn't love/adore me in a certain way.

But while I can't imagine doing all these things as a parent, God has done and is doing them -- well, at least according to your theology. Sure, God sacrificed himself to appease ... well, himself ... and I understand that he's supposedly offering forgiveness because of this sacrifice -- but the last time I understood the definition of forgiveness, there wasn't a trade involved in the process. In order for me to be forgiven and accepted by this "loving Daddy", I have to accept this gift and its consequences -- whereas true forgiveness doesn't have such strings or hoops attached in its exchange. Forgiveness is freely given, freely received.

You said in your email that I have "chosen to reject the God who loved you enough to die for you and you have chosen to live your life encouraging other people to reject God also." Well, you're half right -- I have rejected God. I reject anything or anyone so oppressive and insecure that he has to dangle eternal punishment over my head in an attempt to have me love him. I have rejected faith because I don't see how it's necessary or relevant in my life. I'm just as moral, happy, and hopeful as I was when I was a believer -- if anything, my eyes have adjusted to appreciate the world around me even more, particularly since I don't have an "eternal life" waiting for me. I just have the here and now -- and you know? It's enough for me.

Where you're wrong in that statement above is where you say I'm encouraging others to reject God. Not the case. I'm encouraging others to THINK for themselves, to challenge the cliches, stereotypes, and platitudes that are spoonfed to them from pulpits, and I challenge believers to not harm others as they practice their dogma. I won't stand in anyone's way if they choose to believe in invisible, supernatural friends -- but I will raise one hell of a fuss once their dogma starts infringing on others' human rights (for example, the same-sex marriage issue in the states).

So, here's my long response to your response. I'm always open to dialogue, though I'm not so keen on any conversion talk. I am curious about how others think, and even moreso, I'm passionate about letting believers know more about us nonbelievers. I don't want the label "atheist" to be a scary word or a put-down -- so I'm willing to be in these kinds of conversations to break down misdirected stereotypes.

Take care.

Rebekah