Chad says:

Larro, thanks for the comment and thoughts. Lots of messed up forms of Christianity out there, many of which have little resemblance to the life that Jesus called people to live (which was not really just being a “moral” person). The book talks about the paradox of what the author calls a “Christian Atheist,” which is someone who believes in God, but doesn’t live their life any differently because of their belief. Another way to say it could be someone that believes intellectually in a God, but shows no evidence of this belief through their lifestyle, quite the opposite of what Jesus taught (he ripped some peeps in the scriptures for this).

No one is trying to dog the atheist name or you. The book is written to religious people who claim the name of Jesus, yet don’t follow his commands in life (things like loving others, helping the helpless, or bringing justice for the poor where there is no justice for the poor – all of which happen before life on earth is over). Those that live this way, the way of the “Christian Atheist” (me for a good part of my life) sort of ruin it for everyone else, even though everyone else ultimately falls short of perfection in one way or the other (hence the need for forgiveness).

I also didn’t say that all atheists live immoral lives. I’m sure you picked this up from loud religious majorities somewhere, but I personally don’t believe Christians have a monopoly on morality. If anything, quite the opposite seems to be true in that real followers of Jesus are in essence admitting that they can’t be perfect through morals alone. I know lots of decent men and women who are moral people, but are not followers of Jesus. Still, I believe that no one can truly be “good” by their own measure, I haven’t met a person like this yet (we can all watch a 2 year old in a temper tantrum for a couple of minutes and pick this up reality).

Seems like you, like most of us, have seen a lot of the following: Religion, not relationship. Hurting others, not helping. Talking it, not living it. I hope to change this perception through the way I live my life, as imperfect as it may be. Hope you come back some time. Does this mean you want to be entered in the contest to win the book?