[Please note: This entry is adapted from an e-mail sent to the webmaster. — The Compleat Heretic]
[Name withheld] wrote on 4 December 2011, 19:48:00 EST
My E-mail: [Address withheld as a courtesy to the sender; take that spammers! — The Compleat Heretic]
My Location (City, State, etc.): [Location withheld as a courtesy to the sender. — The Compleat Heretic]
Comments:
Hello Matt,
Thanks for your web page!
I have a friend from work who, like me, is very conservative, yet is not religious in the least, and is in fact an atheist.
I am more of an agnostic than an out and out atheist per se, but be that as it may, I was telling my friend how frustrating it is to be conservative because many (if not most) of our fellow conservatives are Bible thumping non-thinkers! And conversely, many (if not most) of our fellow atheist/agnostic persons tend to be bleeding heart liberals. Thus we are heretics on all counts!
I was telling my friend that we need to have a web site where the rare individuals such as ourselves could find others of like minds. Looking for possible sites that my have already pursued this idea led me to your site.
Just wanted to say thanks, I enjoyed looking thru it. Perhaps if I get motivated enough to someday publish my own, I will send you the link.
I found your story "seeing the light" interesting. As you alluded, most (Christian) people would attribute such an experience to some sort of Godly revelation. I have found in my own experience in talking to Christians that have had some sort of similar experience, they continue to be very emotionally attached to their experience, and convince themselves beyond any doubt that their experience confirms that they KNOW God exists. I personally believe that such experiences do have a neurophysiological basis. Particularly interesting in this regard is research by Persinger, et al.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_helmet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Persinger
Take care,
[Name withheld as a courtesy to the sender. — The Compleat Heretic]
[Location withheld as a courtesy to the sender. — The Compleat Heretic]
Webmaster's Response:
I'm gratified that you enjoyed my site. A founding principle of Matt Wallace's The Compleat Heretic was the establishment of a rallying point for other politically freethinking atheists and nonbelievers. If you ever put up your own site or blog, be certain to send me the URL, and I'll post it on my Conservative Atheist and Agnostic Connections.
I'm most pleased that you specifically noted my conversion story, Seeing the Light; or, How I Became a Godless Heathen. My relating of this experience serves both to demystify Christian interpretations of the "seeing the light" phenomenon and to emphasize its emotional power on the "enlightened one" which transcends reason and renders the resultant "understanding" impervious to counterargument. One who has such an experience, doesn't so much "believe," but rather "knows." That being said, this is no reason for someone else to believe what the "seer" "knows" which is just as applicable to myself as it is to the Christians you mentioned. Even so, perhaps there is a most telling difference. Christians interpret their transcendent experiences as external events, as coming from something outside of themselves, as coming from something that was not themselves; I recognize my transcendent experience as an internal event, as coming from something within myself, as coming from that part of the Cosmos that I am.
— The Compleat Heretic
Jacob Sprague wrote on 14 August 2011, 01:22:48 EDT
My E-mail: jacob.sprague@aol.com
Do you like my site?: yes
Will you visit again?: yes
Will you recommend site to others?: yes
Comments:
I could not have written it better myself. I've actually recommended your current website right here. My spouse and I acknowledge the entire topic area is often not really as thrilling as your website, yet the application is actually a significant issue regarding me personally. My current post is literally related. In case I ever have my own homepage, make sure to feel free to leave me a review. Thanks once again regarding the great subject matter.
Illego Toody wrote on 26 May 2011, 09:11:44 EDT
Comments:
Great blog here! Also your website loads up very fast! What host are you the use of? Can I am getting your associate link in your host? I want my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
Webmaster's Response:
Matt Wallace's The Compleat Heretic is reliably and economically hosted by DreamHost!
Why not DreamHost your site, too?
— The Compleat Heretic
John T. Jernigan wrote on 21 May 2011, 23:46:49 EDT
My E-mail: aquaman2964@yahoo.com
My Location (City, State, etc.): Lake City, FL
How did you find me?: Cold-sweating, pants-shitting illusions in my sleep
Do you like my site?: Hate it.
Will you visit again?: Forget it.
Will you recommend site to others?: Naw, only publicly.
Do you think I'm insane?: He who is without sin...
Comments:
I can't believe you didn't have a piece on this yet, Matt. OK, so talk about the non-rapture on 5/21/11.
Webmaster's Response:
Hmm, while I could seriously mock the notion of the Rapture in general or any specific claim of a date for its occurrence, I would have to be in a very silly mood to take seriously any such silliness...
— The Compleat Heretic
Dean wrote on 18 March 2011, 08:55:15 EDT
My E-mail: kuari_garu@yahoo.com
My Location (City, State, etc.): GA
How did you find me?: about.com
Do you like my site?: yes
Will you visit again?: yes
Will you recommend site to others?: yes
Do you think I'm insane?: aren't we all?
Comments:
It's nice to see another conservative atheist in the world... Keep on brother! Who knows? We might one day get a conservative atheist for President! Wouldn't it be nice?
Webmaster's Response:
Hmm, a conservative atheist President of the United States of America; perhaps, but it won't be me...
— The Compleat Heretic
Debro Silk wrote on 13 February 2011, 00:22:14 EST
My Location (City, State, etc.): Trinidad and Tobago
Comments:
Pretty good. I just stumbled upon your page and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your posts. Resources like the one you have here will be very useful to me! I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful. Enjoyed reading/following your page. Please keep it coming. Cheers!
Zambia Burleson wrote on 18 January 2011, 10:35:48 EST
My E-mail: devilzcoming1@gmail.com
Comments:
Hey, possibly this post is not on topic but in any event, I have been browsing about your site and it looks really neat. It is easy to see. I am creating a new blog and I am struggling to make it look great, and supply excellent subject matter. I have learned a lot here and I look forward to additional updates and will be returning.
Norman Markus wrote on 20 September 2010, 05:32:22 EDT
My E-mail: norman.markus@t-online.de
My Location (City, State, etc.): Deutschland
Comments:
I am going to experiment my thought, your post give me some good ideas, it's truly amazing, thanks.
aka/ankhira wrote on 18 September 2010, 11:03:41 EDT
My E-mail: hledward@ncsu.edu
My Location (City, State, etc.): North Carolina
How did you find me?: cyber-stalking old acquaintance of yours
Do you like my site?: sure
Will you visit again?: probably
Will you recommend site to others?: likely
Do you think I'm insane?: yes, but I know you personally
Comments:
Hi! cute. Didn't realize you had developed online running dialogue!
Webmaster's Response:
Attention Jaran Robert Stratton, be afraid, be very afraid, your UPS past is following you!
— The Compleat Heretic
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