Part III
Charlie D. invites our resident Atheist back to the interview table for another round of questions, answers, e-mail and understanding.
Hello, All. It's your friendly neighborhood ranting-n-raving, recovering Charlie D. at your service. We're back to bring you another interview with James T. who is one of our staff writers and an Atheist in Recovery.
My recent interviews with James triggered a massive response from all over the country. This section of the RecoveryWorld web site has received more hits than any other section we feature.
CHARLIE D.: James, what do you think all of all of this attention? More hits, more reaction, more requests...
JAMES T.: I saw the stats at the meeting the other day and was blown away by the numbers. I think this says that people on either side of the fence want to discuss the topic of faith and the lack of. They are hungry for conversation.
CHARLIE D.: What's are some of the reactions you've been getting? I heard you received some really positive e-mails. You've actually developed a fan-base!
JAMES T.: Yes. Lots of people are writing in to thank me for speaking up. Then... there the usual hate mail. This always surprises me. I've always felt that people in "the rooms" were a tolerant sort, and I still feel that way, but some of the email is just plain hateful. But, I'm okay with it. I understand how their conditioning and a lifetime of brainwashing can trigger these negative reactions.
CHARLIE D.: Okay...here we go. Brainwashing?
JAMES T.: Sure. All religions capture their youth and brainwash them from an early age. This sort of conditioning is difficult to crack once this child becomes an adult. Just look at our US President. This guy has got to have access to some of the most top secret stuff around. He's got hotlines to some of the greatest minds in this country. He has all of this information at his fingertips and he's still yammering on and on about faith-based initiatives, supernatural beings, the power of prayer and telling us the Atheists are not patriots. So, here I am on a popular 12 step web site speaking up for Atheists and it's pissing off some of the religious people in our step-community.
CHARLIE D.: I've never felt I was brainwashed. I've always felt that God has been there for me and guides me on my path. That doesn't make me angry at you because you reject God. I feel sorry for you.
JAMES T.: Y'see? This is hat I'm talking about. Religious people look down their noses at Atheists all of the time. Reject God? I hear that so often. What do mean reject God? Whose God? Yours or the other guys? I don't believe in any God so I don't feel there is anything to reject. You've rejected all of the other available Gods out there and nobody is sending you hate mail because you "rejected" their God. And , please.... with the "sorry" crap. I can't believe you actually went there. (Laughs)
CHARLIE D.: I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I get it. But what do I have to do to get you to see my side of the coin. I believe in God. I believe that God is in my life. I gave up my will to him and let him guide me every day.
JAMES T.: Why?
CHARLIE D.: What do you mean why?
JAMES T.: I'm serious. Why does this God of yours deserve all of this? Have you even read the book he's supposed to have dictated? He mass murders people by the thousands, he's angry, he kills children, babies, and even his own son. He tortures his most faithful and is in no way forgiving.
CHARLIE D.:You're taking the stories of the bible way too literal.
JAMES T.: What stories am I supposed to take as fact and which ones am I supposed to ignore?
CHARLIE D.: I don't know... a lot of these stories are just tales to teach us a lesson about God ...about morality ....about how to live our life.
JAMES T.: You mean like the story of JOB? Faithful guy. Good family. Nice land. God and Satan hanging out placing bets on just how much torture poor Job can take? Kills his family, level his crops, whip a little disease on him... that sort of thing? Is this fact or is it trying to teach me something valuable? Is this the God you're giving up your will to?
CHARLIE D.: Well he does restore Job back to health in the end.
JAMES T.: Did you read that story? Are you telling me what God did to that poor man was okay? Is the moral of that story "it's okay to torture someone who loves and trusts you unconditionally as long as you set them free at the end?"
CHARLIE D.: JOB is just one story. There are so many others.
JAMES T.: How about a Jesus story? You're a Christian, right? Give me a good "Family Values," Christian story.
CHARLIE D.: I feel like we're arguing.
JAMES T.: We are. But that's okay, right?
CHARLIE D.: I'm game. No hard feelings. Let me think..... Jesus gathered together his faithful and created a family unit. He gave to them his blood, his body, his life.
JAMES T.: These are your family values? Take a closer look at your book. Your "Prince of Peace" actually tells his followers that he arrived carrying a sword not peace. He suggests they do the same. His own mother comes for a visit and he gives instructions to send the woman away. He suggests that his group do the same to their own family. Send them away. If the guy that is written about in that book existed, he actually told his followers not to bother with family because the end of days were coming any day now. What? The only thing missing in this story is Reverand Jones and the tub of cool-Aide. If you weren't a Christian you would see how cult-ish this all sounds.
CHARLIE D.: Look...let's get back on track. Let's talk program. People who come to this site want some program talk. The 12 steps are based on the Oxford 6 steps to Spirituality. This is a spiritual program, man. You can't deny that. How does an Atheist make this program work?
JAMES T.: I've mentioned this before and it's worth mentioning again. To all of you, out there in web-land... take what you like and leave the rest. You may not like all of us. You may not believe everything you hear. You may love some of us, you may hate some of us, but we all have one thing in common. It's through the sharing, support and relying on each other that gets us through another day. I never had to believe in God. I just had to believe in my brothers and sisters in program. Together, they are a higher power. Religious or not.
CHARLIE D.: Oh... I feel like we should end on that high note for now. Let's do this again, okay?
JAMES T.: I need a drink....
CHARLIE D.: Don't even go there.....
JAMES T.: I'm parched!! Lemon Aide...Diet Coke.... something. Let's go.
CHARLIE D.: Right behind you.
Read the Original Interview: Can Atheists Find Recovery In a 12 Step program?
WANT MORE JAMES T.? HE'S BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
Have some comments you would like to share with either Charlie or James? Write to:
staff.contact@RecoveryWorld.com and put either JAMES T. or CHARLIE D. in the subject line otherwise your e-mail will be deleted automatically.
Interesting
Links: Major
Religions of the World
Ranked by Number of Adherents
