Miscellaneous stories
Viewing comments for Chapter 41 "Exhortation to the Faithless"Fiction and non-fiction prose
9 total reviews
Comment from seaglass
This is well written. My favorite statement is ..."that there are good and bad people who are atheists, and there are good and bad people who claim to be Christians." Respect between people of all beliefs is most important.
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2015
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This is well written. My favorite statement is ..."that there are good and bad people who are atheists, and there are good and bad people who claim to be Christians." Respect between people of all beliefs is most important.
Comment Written 30-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2015
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Thank you, seaglass, for checking out my story, and thank you for your kind words. Much appreciated, Craig.
Comment from Mark Valentine
I like this one - it is reasoned and logical and avoids ad hominem attacks. Mostly though, I think it puts forth a basic truth: One side is never going to convince the other side (or at least, almost never) through clever argment alone. Good luck in the contest
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2015
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I like this one - it is reasoned and logical and avoids ad hominem attacks. Mostly though, I think it puts forth a basic truth: One side is never going to convince the other side (or at least, almost never) through clever argment alone. Good luck in the contest
Comment Written 30-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 30-Jun-2015
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Thank you, Mark, for taking the time to review my entry, and also for your very kind comments. They're much appreciated. Craig.
Comment from ~Dovey
Do you always put a period after signing your name? I'm only asking because I don't :) Otherwise, this letter looks, as it was intended, to be the perfect piece of correspondence between those with atheist proclivities. I'm thinking that the creator (of this contest) probably assumed the letters would be from Christians to atheists. However, I believe your approach is unique, to which you should be commended. I hope that will happen in the voting box for you. Good luck!
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2015
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Do you always put a period after signing your name? I'm only asking because I don't :) Otherwise, this letter looks, as it was intended, to be the perfect piece of correspondence between those with atheist proclivities. I'm thinking that the creator (of this contest) probably assumed the letters would be from Christians to atheists. However, I believe your approach is unique, to which you should be commended. I hope that will happen in the voting box for you. Good luck!
Comment Written 29-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 29-Jun-2015
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Period removed, thank you :-)
The contest states that it is to be a letter to atheists about "how they have been treating Christians", and I believe I addressed that. Also, the contest creator specifically states that atheists are permitted to enter provided we play nice - "be respectful" was the term used, I believe. In spite of my heathenistic inclination towards barbarity, I've tried to comply ;-)
Thanks for your kind words and good wishes Kim.
Craig.
(oops, yes I do!)
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
I enjoyed reading your story, you did a great job developing the characters and the plot; also, I like the attractive format that enhanced the story. Good job!
reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
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I enjoyed reading your story, you did a great job developing the characters and the plot; also, I like the attractive format that enhanced the story. Good job!
Comment Written 28-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
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Thank you, Gypsy Blue Rose, for checking out my story, and for your kind words. Much appreciated. Craig.
Comment from dmt1967
This is good. I believe in God but not in the church. I also believe in gay marriage and being who you are. This goes against the church and, as one Christian informed me, if I can't see the wrong in that I will be damned lol. Good luck in the contest and thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2015
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This is good. I believe in God but not in the church. I also believe in gay marriage and being who you are. This goes against the church and, as one Christian informed me, if I can't see the wrong in that I will be damned lol. Good luck in the contest and thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 27-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2015
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Thank you for your comments, and for your good wishes. I assure you that even if we disagree, I won't damn you to hell :-) Craig.
Comment from giraffmang
Hi there,
I thought this was a great piece and a different approach to the topic. There is a lot of truth contained within it.
I don't think atheism is evangelical as Christianity is. I liked the balance of the piece and the sensible approach taken.
Well written and should be thought-provoking.
All the best
GMG
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2015
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Hi there,
I thought this was a great piece and a different approach to the topic. There is a lot of truth contained within it.
I don't think atheism is evangelical as Christianity is. I liked the balance of the piece and the sensible approach taken.
Well written and should be thought-provoking.
All the best
GMG
Comment Written 27-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 27-Jun-2015
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Thanks for your kind comments, GMG, they are much appreciated. Craig.
Comment from I am Cat
'I'm not sure that you can do much to alter their opinion on this. One thing you could try is to ask them if they hate (for example) Thor. They are likely to see this as a ridiculous question. Obviously they don't hate Thor, because Thor doesn't really exist. If they are observant, it might dawn on them that for exactly the same reason, you don't hate their God. It is pointless to spend your time hating something you assume to be imaginary.'
well... lol... I'm still chuckling over this one. lol.. quite out loud at this point. Thor. that's good. That's REALLY good.
' How much of a step is it for them to go one god more? Live in the hope that one day, when they understand why they don't believe in these myriads of gods, they will understand why you don't believe in theirs.'
You know... we could be fast friends, you and I... sit around a fire, light up a... n alpaca... yeah, that's it... and talk about this sort of thing... yep.
"What both Christians and atheists need to understand is that there are good and bad people who are atheists, and there are good and bad people who claim to be Christians. Somehow, I think almost everyone on both sides does know this in their hearts, but we seldom act as if we do. There are far more important things that define us as people than our religious beliefs, or lack thereof."
WTF? A REASONABLE human being? No.... say it isn't so. lol
or shall I say, ANOTHER reasonable human. "take me to your leader" :)
I would plaster a SIX on this in a New York Minute... in fact, I might revisit it next week with one... just for kicks... I have no idea how they disappear so quickly....damn... I just couldn't wait... "Reviewus interruputus"... you know how it is?
I just couldn't wait.. .i got far too excited reading this.
You're a friggin genius, you are. lol
Cat
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2015
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'I'm not sure that you can do much to alter their opinion on this. One thing you could try is to ask them if they hate (for example) Thor. They are likely to see this as a ridiculous question. Obviously they don't hate Thor, because Thor doesn't really exist. If they are observant, it might dawn on them that for exactly the same reason, you don't hate their God. It is pointless to spend your time hating something you assume to be imaginary.'
well... lol... I'm still chuckling over this one. lol.. quite out loud at this point. Thor. that's good. That's REALLY good.
' How much of a step is it for them to go one god more? Live in the hope that one day, when they understand why they don't believe in these myriads of gods, they will understand why you don't believe in theirs.'
You know... we could be fast friends, you and I... sit around a fire, light up a... n alpaca... yeah, that's it... and talk about this sort of thing... yep.
"What both Christians and atheists need to understand is that there are good and bad people who are atheists, and there are good and bad people who claim to be Christians. Somehow, I think almost everyone on both sides does know this in their hearts, but we seldom act as if we do. There are far more important things that define us as people than our religious beliefs, or lack thereof."
WTF? A REASONABLE human being? No.... say it isn't so. lol
or shall I say, ANOTHER reasonable human. "take me to your leader" :)
I would plaster a SIX on this in a New York Minute... in fact, I might revisit it next week with one... just for kicks... I have no idea how they disappear so quickly....damn... I just couldn't wait... "Reviewus interruputus"... you know how it is?
I just couldn't wait.. .i got far too excited reading this.
You're a friggin genius, you are. lol
Cat
Comment Written 08-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 08-Jun-2015
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Save your sixes.... I've wanted to give out so many and couldn't... they disappear so quickly. I'm just happy that you got a kick out of reading it. Needless to say, I'm not expecting too many rave reviews ;-) And NO smoking the alpacas, I'm quite fond of them! I look forward to checking out everything you post :)
Comment from Dean Kuch
I took no offense at all, Craig. In fact, I kind of enjoyed the rather tongue-in-cheek nature in which you approached your essay.
Hey, I'm a Christian, and proud to say so. However, it is not my responsibility to cast judgement or aspersions upon those who don't believe exactly the way that I do. One with a far broader reach and far more powerful than any human being could ever hope to become has already taken that particular task on Himself. What Christians should do for their atheist friends is simply pray for them, that one day their eyes will be opened to the truth. But is that my purpose here as a fellow member of the human race? No, I personally don't believe so.
Sure, God tells us in scripture to go out into all the world and proclaim the gospel. Okay, I have no problems with that. But there's also a big difference between the words "preaching" and "proclaiming". There are enough well-trained, ordained ministers, pastors, priests and rabbis (just to name a few) who are more well versed than myself to do so. Not to mention all of the televangelists cluttering up the boob tube airwaves these days. That's what they get paid for, not me.
Good stuff, and good, error free writing...~Dean
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
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I took no offense at all, Craig. In fact, I kind of enjoyed the rather tongue-in-cheek nature in which you approached your essay.
Hey, I'm a Christian, and proud to say so. However, it is not my responsibility to cast judgement or aspersions upon those who don't believe exactly the way that I do. One with a far broader reach and far more powerful than any human being could ever hope to become has already taken that particular task on Himself. What Christians should do for their atheist friends is simply pray for them, that one day their eyes will be opened to the truth. But is that my purpose here as a fellow member of the human race? No, I personally don't believe so.
Sure, God tells us in scripture to go out into all the world and proclaim the gospel. Okay, I have no problems with that. But there's also a big difference between the words "preaching" and "proclaiming". There are enough well-trained, ordained ministers, pastors, priests and rabbis (just to name a few) who are more well versed than myself to do so. Not to mention all of the televangelists cluttering up the boob tube airwaves these days. That's what they get paid for, not me.
Good stuff, and good, error free writing...~Dean
Comment Written 07-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
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Thanks again for your kind comments, Dean. I remember when I was in my early teens, I read a book called Screwtape Proposes a Toast, by C.S. Lewis (of Narnia fame). Basically, my recollection is that he was speaking through the devil giving an address in hell (but he was, of course, promoting a Christian viewpoint). Whilst writing this "letter" is not really the same thing, for some reason it reminded me of that.
Comment from --Turtle.
I read through your letter, Great voice. Thoughts were connected, was smooth as climbing a ladder. I challenge a few of the 'to be' use of strong verb, and I think a few 'that's' could be killed. But those are nit pick's really. This was really, really strong. I loved the tone, so rational and easy with trying to establish common ground and build from there all the while, still establishing faith as the impossible to pull apart by force Chinese finger puzzle. This is so devil's advocate to the intent of the contest and in the same breath, fits the contest intent like a glove.
Really good work here.
(I'm not an proclaimed atheist, that's neither here nor there as I'm just mentioning that for your perspective on where I'm coming from in my compliments to your writing, thought flow. Meaning... I'm not just complimenting the writing here because I think the same way, I'm complimenting the writing here because it was really solid, believable, easy and impressive.
(I don't usually hand out 6 stars.)
My Dear Atheist Friends,
Most atheists, as you know, believe that holding something [to be](as?) true in
(I say "apparent" deliberately, so as not
(I chuckled at this 'pssssst' within a letter. As if the reading Christian won't see that and be offended. Eve's dropping eyes are kinda being patronized, and then you pointed it out)
more likely [to be as](is this to be as needed?) a result of introspection rather than
something [that] you assume to be imaginary.
(might be able to delete 'that' that)
peace, gods of war, gods of love.... y(Y)ou could fill books with their names (as a
I believe, if you use 4 elipse dots, you are implying the end of the sentence and are starting with a new sentence... i.e capitalize the Y.
What are we ... what? I am trailing off my.... Hey, new thought.
(see the difference)
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
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I read through your letter, Great voice. Thoughts were connected, was smooth as climbing a ladder. I challenge a few of the 'to be' use of strong verb, and I think a few 'that's' could be killed. But those are nit pick's really. This was really, really strong. I loved the tone, so rational and easy with trying to establish common ground and build from there all the while, still establishing faith as the impossible to pull apart by force Chinese finger puzzle. This is so devil's advocate to the intent of the contest and in the same breath, fits the contest intent like a glove.
Really good work here.
(I'm not an proclaimed atheist, that's neither here nor there as I'm just mentioning that for your perspective on where I'm coming from in my compliments to your writing, thought flow. Meaning... I'm not just complimenting the writing here because I think the same way, I'm complimenting the writing here because it was really solid, believable, easy and impressive.
(I don't usually hand out 6 stars.)
My Dear Atheist Friends,
Most atheists, as you know, believe that holding something [to be](as?) true in
(I say "apparent" deliberately, so as not
(I chuckled at this 'pssssst' within a letter. As if the reading Christian won't see that and be offended. Eve's dropping eyes are kinda being patronized, and then you pointed it out)
more likely [to be as](is this to be as needed?) a result of introspection rather than
something [that] you assume to be imaginary.
(might be able to delete 'that' that)
peace, gods of war, gods of love.... y(Y)ou could fill books with their names (as a
I believe, if you use 4 elipse dots, you are implying the end of the sentence and are starting with a new sentence... i.e capitalize the Y.
What are we ... what? I am trailing off my.... Hey, new thought.
(see the difference)
Comment Written 07-Jun-2015
reply by the author on 07-Jun-2015
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You have seen straight through me, and I thought I was being so sneaky! I really do appreciate the trouble you have taken with the corrections, and I have put pretty much all of them into place. It's about 40 years since I did any study whatsoever on grammar, so I really am grateful for your help. Also, I'm so glad you pointed out that my original effort looks like there was a fire sale on "that"'s. It's funny how I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. I've removed the ones you mentioned, and a couple of other bits of excess verbiage; there might even have been others I could have removed, but they seem to be something of a security blanket.
I'm absolutely knocked out that you would give me a six when the work is far from perfect, but I am exceedingly grateful! I'm especially impressed since, as you say, you're not necessarily in total agreement.
Thank you so much, Turtlestage5, for your very kind comments, and your exceedingly helpful critique.