Heterodoxos, official mascot of Matt Wallace's The Compleat Heretic, the personal web site of an economic and social conservative, Republican, Teamsters union member, moral traditionalist, pro-life, U.S. Army veteran, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Secular Humanist atheist Header for Matt Wallace's The Compleat Heretic, the personal web site of an economic and social conservative, Republican, Teamsters union member, moral traditionalist, pro-life, U.S. Army veteran, NRA Benefactor Life Member, Secular Humanist atheist

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The Compleat Heretic's Guestbook Archive:
Volume 1 (23 Feb 1998 - 5 Nov 1998)

This page was last modified on 28 November 2013.

NOTE WELL: The entries in this guestbook reflect only the views of the individual signatories. As I
welcome any comments my visitors may wish to offer, I must insist that you refrain from any activity
that could be considered harassment of my guests. Of course, I reckon you can make your own entry.


Kelley Rose - 11/05/98 03:27:34
My URL: http://members.aol.com/lil3rthqks
My Email: kbluerose@aol.com
Location (City, State, etc.): NY
How did you find me?: Prolifers Against Clinic Violence
Do you like my site?: It kept my interest
Will you visit again?: Possibly...
Recommend site to others?: I don't know any other atheists as conservative as you are!
Do you think I'm insane?: No more than the rest of us

Comments:
I first saw your entry in--where else?--the Rightgrrl guestbook, and then I noticed the "Prolifers Against Clinic Violence" banner on the another page, and somehow ended up here. While the only issue I agree with you on is abortion, your site was well-presented. If atheism is a non-belief, you sure spend a lot of time on the subject; I'm not religous myself, but I would question a decision I made at age 13. Anyway, you seem like a decent person; intelligent, and certainly unique! Peace. :-)

Webmaster's Response:
The theist explains the Cosmos with reference to whatever deity or deities he believes in; theistic metaphysics is based on forces outside the natural world, thus outside human experience and understanding. The atheist rejects the theistic hypothesis and explains the Cosmos with reference only to itself; atheistic metaphysics is based on forces within the natural world, thus within human experience and understanding. While atheism is a nonbelief, that is, an absence of belief, it isn't a "nothing." Atheism is the absence of belief in theism. Atheism is the rejection of the "supernatural" view in favor of the natural, thus is a belief in itself and a perfectly suitable topic for discussion. If I seem to "spend a lot of time on the subject," it's probably because my atheism is the foundation upon which rests everything else I believe. Finally, I know all too well that doubt is the beginning of knowledge and subject my beliefs to rational scrutiny frequently. The process that led me from Christianity to atheism also led me from being "pro-choice" to pro-life.
-- The Compleat Heretic


Bad Bunny - 10/26/98 20:05:28
My URL: Visit Me
My Email: Email Me

Comments:
Just surfing Thanks


Kachina (Donna) - 10/21/98 20:49:13
My URL: http://www.angelfire.com/co/RightSide/index.html
My Email:
schoenro@gisco.net
Location (City, State, etc.): Ft. Drum, NY
How did you find me?: My fav site, Rightgrrl!
Do you like my site?: very opinionated. so Yes!
Will you visit again?: sure thing
Recommend site to others?: yes
Do you think I'm insane?: no, quite the riot actually

Comments:
Hi! I saw your posting on Rightgrrl and decided to check out your site. Quite humorous and entertaining. Unique site. You will probably think I am a pest but have you ever checked out this site...The Evidence Of God From Science? http://www.jps.net/bygrace/index.html Anyhow, take care and blessings Love in Christ, Kachina :-)

Webmaster's Response:
Actually, both as an atheist and a materialist, I've always thought it ridiculous and futile to use science in an attempt to prove the existence of God. Science deals only with the natural world, and God, by definition, exists outside the natural world which is a concept as meaningful as dividing by zero.
-- The Compleat Heretic


James - 10/19/98 18:05:50
My URL: http://www.storm.ca/~decarlo
My Email: decarlo@storm.ca
Location (City, State, etc.): Ottawa, Canada
How did you find me?: chance
Do you like my site?: Yes
Will you visit again?: Good chance
Recommend site to others?: Definitely
Do you think I'm insane?: Definitely not

Comments:
Great site - I can empathise with some of your experiences having decided tentatively at age 12 and firmly by age 14 that I am atheist. I spent my time in my roman catholic high school debating with irrational christian cultists my position and views (to no avail of reason, of course). You gotta admit though, they are fun to get going :) Cheers.


Joey Bechtel - 10/16/98 04:34:05
My URL: http://members.aol.com/jemiliani/index.html
My Email: JEmiliani@aol.com
Location (City, State, etc.): Waco, Texas
How did you find me?: Through viewing another guestbook
Do you like my site?: It's quite unique.
Will you visit again?: It's possible...
Recommend site to others?: I'll tell others about it... Then, they'll have to decide for themselves whether to visit or not...
Do you think I'm insane?: No....

Comments:
I just wanted to stop in and say "howdy"... I especially like your site design and navigation. Your page is rather unique... I think you are intitled to express yourself and to be yourself, regardless of how others see things... This is what keeps the world turning round and round... I wish you all the very best from Central Texas...


Kman - 10/14/98 18:18:41
My URL: http://freeweb.digiweb.com/entertainment/messageboardlinks/enter.html
My Email: exchangemaster@hotmail.com
How did you find me?: Saw Your great comments at rightgrrl guestbook
Do you think I'm insane?: could be but thats the kind of people I get along with!

Comments:
Hi, Great site you have here. I enjoyed my visit. Come by my page and ADD your URL to the FREE 4 all Link Pages. Don't forget to stop by The Webs Only ~Uncensored~ Message Board! You'll love this place! Free expression on any Topic! Also Remember to Sign my GuestBook so I know you dropped in!


Sir Hoagy - 10/11/98 22:30:56
My URL: http://www.netmeg.org/~hoagy
My Email:
atheist@anti-social.com
Location (City, State, etc.): Kalamazoo, MI
How did you find me?: Atheist Web Ring
Do you like my site?: Sure do!
Will you visit again?: Surely!
Recommend site to others?: Already did!
Do you think I'm insane?: Damned close to it!

Comments:
How strange it is to see a conservative Atheist out there in Net-Land! I certainly am not conservative (I'm so left, the Communist Party looks like a fascist right-wing organization), but share the Atheist perspective! What an entertaining debate we could have. Already we've dismissed with the so-called "religious morality" and could banter back and forth on our respective positions without hostility or appeals to faith or the masses. Very good site. I shall visit again!

Webmaster's Response:
Actually, I retained much of the "religious morality" when I abandoned Christianity for my atheism. Of course, I wholeheartedly chucked Christian metaphysics; utter nonsense!
-- The Compleat Heretic

Webmaster's Addendum:
Hmm, in my response, I appear to be claiming adherence to Christian morality which is an error I must correct...

For the record, though my personal ethical code reaches conclusions similar to those of Christian morality in some instances, any characterization of my ethics as "Christian" would be truly perverse coming from an avowed atheist and a declared anti-Christian. Even where Christianity appears to get it right, it does so for the wrong reason. Christians value real life only in so much as it serves their desire to attain some purported eternal life. Christian otherworldliness renders all of Christianity's valuations suspect. (Please refer to Christian Nihilism in George Herbert's "Death".)

On the contrary, the starting point of my philosophy is the fact that real life, our here and now, from our beginning to our end, from conception to death, is our only life, in all its glory and all its horror. The only alternative to existence is nonexistence, and being is always preferable to not being. Thus, life has value and meaning in and of itself. This value and meaning exists independently of all human rationalization and is animated by the innate creative force that is the Cosmos given the very nature of the matter which composes it. The fact that matter naturally combines to form the wonders that are life and sentience renders superfluous the human compulsion to create purpose, "meaning," and other contrivances. In a Universe otherwise unaware and uncomprehending of itself, that I am and that I know are enough to justify my life in that my being and knowing render me the consciousness of the Cosmos, albeit in my uniquely limited human way. Accordingly, the foundation of my ethical theory is:

Whatever affirms life is good and is to be embraced and defended at all times; and
whatever denies life is evil and is to be opposed always— and destroyed when possible.

On this foundation, I place the framework of a basic ethical theory:

There are things you do and things you do not do.
If you do the things you should do, you will increase your chances of living a long, healthy, productive life.
But if you do the things you should not do, you will suffer the consequences.

Of course, the challenge is determining which is which. And, all too often, the greater challenge is choosing correctly.

Even so, and at the risk of perpetuating the very confusion I'm attempting to clear up, I have long recognized that my moral code conforms with the religious metaphor of "following the path of righteousness" which is why I sometimes refer to myself as a "'Godly' godless heathen." A more poetic expression of my ethical sensibilities can be found in the Bible's old Hebrew mythohistorical tales, specifically Deuteronomy 30:11-20 (New International Version):

The Offer of Life or Death

11Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.
12It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and
proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask,
"Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 14No, the word
is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

15See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16For I command
you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands,
decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the
land you are entering to possess.

17But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow
down to other gods and worship them, 18I declare to you this day that you will certainly be
destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you
life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
20and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the
LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

In this passage, rich in its metaphors, Jehovah himself, Lord and Creator, that gorgeous Hebrew anthropomorphism of the natural creative force inherent in the Cosmos, reiterates his covenant with the Israelites just as they are preparing to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. He emphasizes the innate human capacity to know and to understand his will and distinguishes between the choices at hand and their consequences. Interestingly, even though he indicates his intended preference as a command, by describing the two options, he lays out a clear choice to be resolved solely by each human being. Most poignantly, he implores them to "choose life" knowing as we do that many won't.

I trust this discussion will prevent any misunderstandings in this matter.

— The Compleat Heretic, 21 September 2012


Scully22 - 10/10/98 13:40:41
My Email:
Scully22@Juno.com
Will you visit again?: don't know
Do you think I'm insane?: Let me comment on that

Comments:
Dear James, Please don't call yourself a heritic. You aren't one. A heritic is someone who claims to be in the LORD, but they twist the Scriptures to their benifit. But anyway I just want to tell you something that you've probrly been told before. I notice that you are Atheist, and I just want to tell you I don't think you're crazy. I believe that you believe there is a God, you just don't want to tell yourself. Why do you have moral obligations in your life? I'm not talking about things like the laws of the Land, but things that pertain to little things like affection for someone else. Or what keeps you from getting a gun out and spaying a bunch of innocent people? I used to be like you. Except I was a communist, and I didn't even know it. you could have told me and I would have denied it, and I thought I was living the truth, but actully it was a lie. I was under the influence of secular reasoning through the music that I listened to, and the news media, and also the Film Industry. I finally stepped out of myself and saw there was Truth out there. If I seemed to presured at this please forgive me. Scully22

Webmaster's Response:
Au contraire my dear guest, I am indeed a heretic and a rather adept one at that. Obviously you are confusing "heritic" [sic] for "hypocrite," but then you suggest that I am indeed a hypocrite. I am a strong atheist; I not only do not believe in "God" but deny the existence of "God." (I use "God" as a metaphor which refers not only to the Judeo-Christian concept but to all deities, supernatural beings, paranormal entities, etc.) Additionally, I am a hard materialist; I assert that only matter exists and that all phenomena have material origins and naturalistic explanations. If I thought otherwise, I would certainly "tell" myself. I have always been brutally honest with myself. I have never spared anyone or anything in my pursuit of truth, least of all myself. This is how one becomes a "Compleat Heretic." Of course, I find it rather amusing to be told what I am and what I believe by someone who claims to have been an adherent to a political philosophy and yet was completely oblivious to this fact. To quote a much more famous heretic, "Know thyself."
-- The Compleat Heretic


Debbie - 10/08/98 23:28:59
My URL: http://www.geocities.com/ResearchTriangle/Thinktank/1679
Location (City, State, etc.): Los Angeles, California, United States
How did you find me?: the Rightgrrl guestbook
Do you like my site?: Yes.
Will you visit again?: Yes.
Recommend site to others?: Sure.
Do you think I'm insane?: No.

Comments:
Right on, buddy.


Cindy - 09/25/98 12:47:56
My URL: [URL removed by webmaster in accordance with Yahoo! GeoCities Terms of Service]
My Email: [E-mail address removed by webmaster in accordance with Yahoo! GeoCities Terms of Service]

Comments:
Nice page.... please come visit my site :-) Thanks, Cindy

Webmaster's Response:
Sheez, a fella casually puts a notice on a pen pal list and gets a soft-core come-on from cyberpornographers; made me look though! ::hehe::
-- The Compleat Heretic


Wild Bill Nunnery - 08/20/98 21:32:04
My Email: redlineman@aol.com
How did you find me?: thru you
Do you like my site?: its all James Matt Wallace at his best
Will you visit again?: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Recommend site to others?: YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do you think I'm insane?: admit us now

Comments:
James Matthew Wallace, you are a true friend and old army buddie
(my roommate=the straight one). I may not agree with all of your beliefs but thats what makes this crazy world go around, i will be back and stay in touch, until i get my web site up and running!! Wild Bill Nunnery (not to be confused with the Panty sniffing Bill Clinton)

Webmaster's Response:
A "Rock of the Marne!" to ya Bill! (It's a 3rd ID thang; you wouldn't understand!) Play that Heavy Metal music white boy! "Kill your mother, kill your father, rape your dog, BURN IN HELL!" ::hehe::
-- The Compleat Heretic


Carolyn - 08/12/98 16:35:03
My URL:
http://www.gargaro.com
My Email: carolyn@interstat.net.nospam
Location (City, State, etc.): NJ
How did you find me?: You found me via my hate mail page :)
Do you like my site?: Yes!
Will you visit again?: Of course
Recommend site to others?: Definitely
Do you think I'm insane?: Sure - just like me!

Comments:
You know I like your site, but I will officially say it here for the world to hear! You have a great site! I knew there had to be pro-life Atheists out there. Gosh - you're conservative, pro-life, you're smart, you have a passion for writing letters to the editor like I do - who would have thought that a Christian and an Atheist would get along so well? :)

Webmaster's Response:
Oh Carolyn, you foxy cyberbabe, you make my old bachelor's heart go "pitter-patter!" Please, please, O mighty ring dominitrix, please let me be your virtual loveslave! ::hehe::
-- The Compleat Heretic


[Anonymous] - 07/26/98 19:10:49

Comments:
Please consider these links:
Kennewick Man: The debate that spans 9,000 years
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bones/
The Nevada Journal: Scalping Science: Sensitivity Run Amok
http://www.npri.org/nj98/02/cover_story.htm

Webmaster's Response:
What does this have to do with my web site? Children, the purpose of a guestbook is to give visitors a chance to comment on the web site it serves. If you wish to share information that you think will be of interest to me, e-mail is the appropriate medium.
-- The Compleat Heretic


Reg Reid - 07/24/98 18:21:41
My Email: phatic@rocketmail.com
Location (City, State, etc.): Palestine, TX
How did you find me?: atheists singles
Do you like my site?: Love it.
Will you visit again?: Yes
Recommend site to others?: Yes
Do you think I'm insane?: No

Comments:
[Taken from a contemporaneous post on the Internet Infidels' Freethought Singles list]
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Really extraordinary Haiku. But you should translate some of them into Esperanto. Then you will be a more Compleat Heretic.


|.Ravenn.| - 07/15/98 01:38:45
My URL: http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/3609
My Email: ravennfanzine@hotmail.com
Location (City, State, etc.): raleigh, nc
How did you find me?: Gargaro.Com!
Do you like my site?: Yes i Did but...
Will you visit again?: I won't be visiting soon
Recommend site to others?: nor will i recommend it to friends. at least not friends with similiar beliefs as me!
Do you think I'm insane?: Nope! =-)

Comments:
Interesting to see such a strange mix of beliefs that are generally held by such a diversity of opposing people. We're alike in that way. I'm not athiest, but I'm against religions, and I'm Pro Life. But other than that I'm an animal liberationist with deep convictions and I do not have anything against peoples sexuality. Take Care & Have fun with the NRA just keep those guns in safe areas!! That shit freaks me out my friend. Heh. =-)


[Anonymous] - 06/29/98 04:51:21
My Email: Aux47@aol.com
How did you find me?: Hotbot.com
Do you like my site?: yes
Will you visit again?: yes
Recommend site to others?: yes
Do you think I'm insane?: no

Comments:
Facinating combinations of dualities.


Tammy Alger - 06/02/98 04:11:08
My URL: http://www.clandjop.com/~salger/pro-life_telephone_service.html
My Email: fullquiver@hotmail.com
How did you find me?: pro-life web ring

Comments:
Thought that you might be interested in the Pro-Life Network phone service. Only 9.9¢/minute and 5% gets donated to pro-life causes. Check out our web site.

Webmaster's Response:
SPAMMING A GUESTBOOK! Children, the purpose of a guestbook is to give visitors a chance to comment on the web site it serves. It shouldn't be abused for advertising purposes; that's what e-mail is for. ::vociferous evil cackling:: As I agree with the cause, I'll leave this one up, but you have been warned.
-- The Compleat Heretic


KB - 05/24/98 02:29:56
My Email:
kbrauer@one.net
Location (City, State, etc.): Lawrenceburg IN
How did you find me?: www.gargaro.com
Do you like my site?: YUP
Will you visit again?: probably
Recommend site to others?: maybe
Do you think I'm insane?: YUP!

Comments:
Liked your letter-to-editor about the klinton's chinese problem!!!! Sometimes I can 'convert' atheists at least to agnosticism. Here are the obnoxious questions that I use to stir up trouble. Since it is a physical law that everything tends towards chaos, how do you explain the increasing order found in biological systems? It is my opinion that the evolutionary process flies in the face of the second law of thermodynamics. Whaddaya think??? HAVE FUN!! Dec 97 rightgrrl

Webmaster's Response:
Oh my, I haven't had anyone try to pull that Creationist nonsense on me in twenty years! Your "opinion" is based on ignorance of both evolution and the second law of thermodynamics. Also, though I am both an atheist and an evolutionist, they are intellectually independent views. Nice try, though thoroughly ineffective. The "atheists" you've "converted" must have been stupider than the people who think Slick Willie is a "good" president.
-- The Compleat Heretic


dementia - 05/03/98 18:02:59
My URL: http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Club/3492
My Email: dement@geocities.com
How did you find me?: Ring of Atheists
Do you think I'm insane?: aren't we all?

Comments:
Just wanted to say hello. Your site seems to be very well organized, and though my opinions may differ from yours in some ways, we have a fundamental lack of belief in common. Keep up the good work!


David Bleines - 04/21/98 20:33:18
My Email: xmw68@dial.pipex.com
Location (City, State, etc.): UK
How did you find me?: Ring of Truth
Do you like my site?: yes and no
Will you visit again?: Maybe
Recommend site to others?: No
Do you think I'm insane?: eccentric

Comments:
I think you are right when you imply that you have something to annoy almost everyone. You make your case well though, even where I think I have a better one. David (liberal atheist)


Chris Rice - 04/20/98 12:01:50
My Email: chris.rice@jpfinancial.com
Location (City, State, etc.): Greensboro, NC
How did you find me?: You Made Me
Do you like my site?: Love It - Bookmarked
Will you visit again?: see above
Recommend site to others?: Already Have
Do you think I'm insane?: Of course, that's why I like the site.

Comments:
Great website! Never stop writing.


Elizabeth - 02/25/98 02:12:17
My URL: http://www.riftwar.com/~shmi/
My Email: SilentMoor@aol.com
Location (City, State, etc.): Michigan
How did you find me?: You e-mailed me
Do you like my site?: Surely
Will you visit again?: Most likely, yes
Recommend site to others?: How much you gonna pay me?
Do you think I'm insane?: heheheheheheheh....noooooooo.......I'm the insane one!!!!! I NEED MY RICE!!!!

Comments:
Greetings, exalted one. (please tell me you have seen Star Wars and know where exactly that line is from) Fellow atheist! All right! Glad you liked my site but...where's the guestbook entry??? Do you think you put up that mascot thing in..you know, English? gee, thanks. I like the
owl. May the Force be with you. ::rice!::


Matt Wallace - 02/23/98 18:30:35
My URL: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/6995
My Email: compleatheretic@yahoo.com
Location (City, State, etc.): Greensboro, NC
How did you find me?: I'm the webmaster.
Do you like my site?: Certainly, though it takes much of my free time. (Poor baby!)
Will you visit again?: Do I have a choice?
Recommend site to others?: Yes, even past the point they threaten to kill me.
Do you think I'm insane?: Now who am I to answer this question?

Comments:
This is the obligatory webmaster test of the guestbook. Gee, this was fun. I suppose that it'll be even more fun when others sign it.


For other entries:

Proceed to Guestbook Archives: Volume 2.

See Guestbook Archives on the Compleat Heretic's Guestbook Central.


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