Howdy:

I agree with your article on homosexuality and atheism. I think you have the main focal point clearly and concisely presented. I think that, because of my struggle for acceptance by mainstream society, I have been forced to take a direct look at religion, especially Christianity, which I was raised in. I was told that 'God' would reject me, and torment me for ever. I didn't want to be tormented, so I did what many gays do, I denied my own sexuality, kept closeted, hated myself, became even more neurotic, and decided I was really 'str8'.

Then I reached a point when I said "okay, God - if you wanna play that way, FUCK YOU GOD" and I rejected "Him" and all the bullshit dogma that packages Christianity. I think it was a "blEsSiNg" that I was born (genetically) gay. It has made my life easier. I love being gay. I wouldn't become a nasty breeder for anything in the world. You mention the population crisis in your site...and hey buddy - homosexuality IS the pop control mechanism in nature. It's not really doing the trick, but it is seen (by myself) as a mere attempt perhaps...or maybe it's just a thingie meduber thingie, just like so much else in life. I don't care WHY I'm gay, I just know that I am, and that it made me realize just how screwed up religion is. So perhaps I should 'thank religion' for hating 'us' and forcing me to face the truth, honestly.

Maybe breeding atheists ARE a wee bit stronger (in regards to looking at religion honestly) than gays are...because we 'had genetic/societal help' so to speak. You are right. Maybe the reason there are so many gay atheists is because of that...and that may seem strange or peculiar to you, but who cares? Gays aren't going to go away, and we probably won't get any stronger either (in numbers). I suspect it'll remain just as it has, ever since evolution did it's gay jig. We're here, we're queer, we're atheists AND in some cases, decide to prove machism a little more by joining the military.

Gay is NOT bad...too much sTr8 is....

Sincerely, s

amax69@hotmail.com

Thanks for your comments. Although less of the name calling.

It is probably wise to beware of people who follow your creed because they have been damaged in some way. Ex-Christians and other damaged goods often make uncertain allies in atheism and I have to express my slight unease with dealing with gay atheists. I can see how people with religious leanings can become atheists if they are rejected by the religion. Obviously it is quite easy to see how a gay person could feel rejected by religion.

My own atheism is different. It is unsullied by any hard feelings. I have rejected religion rationally, it is not any form of revenge.

I can see that being gay then turning to atheism neither ensures nor prevents a person from becoming a truly rational atheist. It is a staged process, you discover that religion and your sexuality conflict, one has got to give, the more powerful influence triumphs. Then you have to make sense of the result of that battle. You can remain in that limbo state of being a reactive atheist or you can work on your beliefs and come to be comfortable with them.

You could say that I too was reacting to religion. I resented being a choirboy, resented religion and so sought an alternative explanation. I cannot prove that was not the reason I became an atheist. Setting aside the unprovable I am quite clear that I very rapidly made myself aware of alternative explanations for the great mysteries of existence. By the age of 12 I was quite clear that there was no such thing as soul, and that the experiences I was perceiving were the result of chemical reactions within my brain, nothing more. To what extent there was evidence to support that I was not clear, but as time went on I found more and more supporting evidence for my beliefs. I had little requirement for faith. "I don't know, yet" suffices for most mysteries.

If I was reacting to religion, which as I say is now unprovable either way, I very rapidly moved into a solid rational position in which I held little in the way of a grudge against religion, and none at all against God. What an absurd concept! Hating God? How could I hate something that has never existed? I no more hate God than I or any Christian could lust after Aphrodite or fear Thor.

As I believe that there will probably always be religion and there will always be gays it seems a fairly reasonable deduction that there will be a constant stream of gay religious rejects being generated. I suppose there are worse callings than preaching to them on the benefits of atheistic rationalism.

Martin