Hi Ken,

Welcome to the site. I think you'll find many interesting people and thought provoking posts here. Two of the authors that you mentioned are among my favorites: Randel Helms and Carl Sagan. In particular, I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend both "Gospel Fictions" (Helms) and "The Demon-Haunted World" (Sagan). They are both marvelous. I wish that everybody could be exposed to the ideas in Sagan's chapter titled "The Fine Art of Baloney Detection" (chapter 12) at some point in their lives. It's essentially a simple easy-to-understand guide to critical thinking. It's also infused with wonderful quotes from the likes of Francis Bacon.

You also mentioned that you are a Bright. I've been a member of that movement (see this link) essentially from the start. Like many others, I have some trepidation about the moniker "Bright", but the idea of the movement is long over-due, in my opinion.

As with most threads here, it's likely that your post will begin to attract a few proselytizing believers who feel that their experience somehow trumps ours. I urge such posters (futiley, I know) to first ponder whether they understand the position they are attacking. In my experience very few do; indeed, the vast majority seem to have only been exposed to one side of the argument, and are only dimly aware of the vast literature that undermines their position (such as the books I mentioned above, which are an infinitesimal sample). I very frequently ask such posters if they have read anything that critically examines Christianity. I believe I've only gotten one "yes" to that question thus far (after repeatedly asking the same question many times), but as yet, not one Christian visitor has been able to name a single such book that they have read. But I'll keep asking...

Looking forward to hearing more from you.

"I got a subscription to Playboy magazine. Along with the hot babes, I discovered that you could actually read the articles."

Sure, That's what we all say. LOL

There have been several people in my life that have been tutors, leading me to freedom. Two of them were -Former- catholic priests.

The first was a high school teacher named Mr. Yeller. He opened my eyes to the world around me. He was wonderful at setting point against point and letting us decide which way we should go.

The second was Gerry who I met in 1981. Very very bright, and a audacious sense of humor. We are friends to this day.

If we are open to it, people come along to make a difference in our lives. I am thankful that I have had a few that love me for who I am, and have encouraged and taught me along lifes path.

Onanite

"I very frequently ask such posters if they have read anything that critically examines Christianity. I believe I've only gotten one "yes" to that question thus far (after repeatedly asking the same question many times), but as yet, not one Christian visitor has been able to name a single such book that they have read. But I'll keep asking..."

i get that same problem. i also agree with you when you say they dont try to understand the other view.

ive tried to read popular christian books such as "the case for christ" with an open mind. but logic and just plain ol' common sense kicks in saying "this is wrong!"