I have been viewing your page, as well as other atheist pages for the past three months. I've opened my eyes to "the truth". I felt that it was important for you to recieve as much positive feedback as possible from viewers of your website. I like the site. I didn't feel the need to get into any formal discussion of any particular issue dealing with the content on the site. I figured that a simple message would do.

I'm a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. I don't really fit the sterotype of the "typical" Marine. I may LOOK like one, but mentally, I have most others beat....at least I think so. I'm aslo homosexual, oh, and might I add NOW atheist. Pure atheist that is. I want to thank you for your reply, hoping that you'll reply again. I'd also like to thank you again for creating the best atheist website currently on the Internet.

What is it about faggots in the forces, are they all atheists? :-)

I know there are far more homosexuals among the atheists who contact me than there should be, statistically. Now I don't put that down to my photos on the site. I often wonder what the link is. Is it that gays are more out of mainstream American culture and so find it easier to kick the religion? I expect so.

Have you checked out Chris at the War on Faith?

http://members.aol.com/nogodhere/index.html [dead link]

and Kevin at

http://pages.prodigy.net/kgcarney/ [dead link]

There is definitely a trend for active atheists to have more than the average percentage of homosexuals. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, enough of that.

Thanks for the comments again. I don't know about being the best atheist website on the Internet. I am aiming to have a very good site that doesn't compromise the truth in order to do anything in particular. If I was aiming to have the best atheist site on the Internet I would probably have to do a lot more research and have a lot less fun. I am distinctly amateur in this, no particular agenda or game plan in mind, just do what feels right as I am doing it. I am glad that you are enjoying it.

Over the last few weeks I have done a lot less new material, I have been concentrating on drumming up new visitors, posting on a huge number of newsgroups. I would appreciate a little hint about the best and worst of the site, if you have the time, so I know what works for you. There will certainly be more material soon, I have a large pile of scraps of paper with ideas on them. I just need the motivation to make them into a new page.

Hello again: First off, I'd like to say "easy on the name calling"! I don't think it matters that there are more than "there should be" replying to your content. I think that the issue isn't who is viewing your content and who is not. Rather, I think that the issue should be that PEOPLE ARE viewing your content, people are people, regardless of what they do behind closed doors.

As for the military is concerned, I think that it's not that there are more serving, it's always been that way, and it WILL ALWAYS be that way, so nothing can be done about that. Might as well get used to it, "cuz, it ain't gonna go away no time soon buddy". I do think that your site is ONE OF the best atheist sites on the Internet. If you don't then that's your opinion of your own site. I want to encourage you to continue your efforts. WE all need people like you to say what IS right. One suggestion though, as I'm sure you have been told before, "lighten up" a bit, you seem to be a bit on the negative side. Since this appears to be the "only life you'll get", why be so negative and cynical? Have you ever considered being extremely happy? I mean, let the SHIT of the world roll off of your back, move on and laugh at the world. Allow people to be who they let themselves become, and don't be so concerned with it. You be YOU, and love life, live it to the fullest. Another thing, about RIGHTS, I know I have rights, and no one will take that away, not even nature. Now, I know that may sound silly, but if I don't claim my rights as a human, and nature surely won't provide them for me, what or who will? So, I claim my rights, I make my rights and nothing can take them away. Just a thought.

Smile my friend ,"God loves you" NOT!!!! Just kidding, I bet you're laughing, or saying to yourself "god this guys an idiot!" Believe it or not, your fellow man needs you!

Later, hope to hear from you again

The Marines must be PC to a much greater degree than I ever thought possible if a little gentle teasing like that registers at all. I have nothing against homosexuals, as the cliché goes, some of my best friends are homosexual, as much as I have any.

Have you seen the latest photo of me on the "about the author" page? That was taken by Daniel, our till girl, he is as camp as anything and I get along with him great. Everybody teases him gently and he loves it, if he wanted to be low key he could do any number of less exposed jobs. But I wouldn't tease his partner.

The problem with e-mail is that you have no idea how your words are being taken. Sorry, I had no intention of causing offence. My point was to see if you had any theories as to why atheists seem to be about four times more likely to be homosexuals than the general population. I suggest that it is the other way around, we are all born atheist and with a very strong likelihood of developing a particular sexuality, it seems easier for the heterosexuals to absorb the lies and hypocrisy of religion or perhaps gay people have a bigger fight with conventional thinking and so find it easier to reject common thought patterns than those who do not have as many questions forced on them.

OK? Has that cleared it up? I have found that most people don't question anything that they don't have to. I find that attitude quite strange, I enjoy questioning, especially when I am allowed to chose what to question and when. I don't like philosophy which questions everything at once, that is tedious. I also enjoy the puzzled look on my colleagues faces when I ask things like "Have you ever seen a male dog take a piss without doing it on a vertical surface, however desperate it is to go? I have a theory about this..." I like being thought of as strange and thoughtful. I want people to know that I have a brain and nobody else is in charge of it.

Being me is really about being free to be miserable and cynical as much as I want. I really hate the "smile, it might never happen" kind of advice I often get. I enjoy being happy when it happens, I find natural happiness to be far more satisfying than the artificial sort. I hate parties and discos, the stench of sprayed on happiness is nauseating. I take my satisfaction and pleasure when I come across it naturally. I get it from the same sort of things as most people; sex, companionship, feeling loved, being amused, stimulated, soothed. I just take it when it comes.

Rights. I am still working on this one, as you probably know from my site. I don't think they can exist in any real sense but they are probably still useful place-markers, we should be able to run our societies **as if** such ideas had the stamp of natural justice, as if there were such a concept. So go ahead, claim them, just don't actually believe in them too literally.

No offense taken. I think that this world is certainly a strange one. I mean, I've always been "a little" different than most people. I don't think that it's only my sexuality that has made me different. I do attribute much of my ability to resist common thought patterns to the fact that I have always had to deal with "them" shoving "shit" down my throat. Also, I find that most people in this world are idiots. I told this one Marine that I am an atheist (today in fact) and he just couldn't see how. He's just like most other Marines. "Blue Collar" and plain dumb. I am enjoying myself in the Corps. I've travelled the world, met SOME cool people, and have seen and done things that many people my age never get to do, and probably never will.

I don't know, I guess I am doing the "same thing as everyone else" by making plans to go to college (actually enrolled currently), and having the desire to make as much money as possible. The way I see it, it's just the way it has to be, and since I believe this to be THE only life we get, I'll make damn sure I get my share of things, and fuckin' take the world by the balls and "do my thing". I like to maintain a positive attitude, but SOMETIMES I allow myself to slip into a negative attitude just to let out the anger that usually builds up by having to live around so many "stupid" people. The Marine Corps is filled with idiots and people who have this false sense of reality. Many officers seem to live in a "pleasantville" world, everythings all nice n' pretty. Money, status and envy, it's all good! Being in the military certainly opens your eyes to alot of shit. Sometimes I wish there was a god, just to guide this strange society. Nature works just fine, it's us who need guidance. I think our lack of critical thinking has created a society that is jello-like. I mean, we rely on so many different things. We don't think for ourselves. We rely on MONEY and RELIGION to make things work. I don't know, this is just the perspective of a 22 year old fag in the Marine Corps. Perhaps I have much more to learn, but I know I have already learned alot, way more than many young bucks my age.

Well, enough rambling for now. I would like to hear from you again, it's good to have someone of your "design" to conversate with. You have a unique perspective on life, closer to the TRUTH as I see it than any other person I know......

Thanks...

You said that you rejected the idea of human rights. For the most part I agree with your logic, however, your rejection of human rights comes across in your passage as justification for treating people like crap. Instead of talking about human rights you may want to think about human responsibility. I can reject the idea of god but I still feel a moral responsibility to contribute to the progress of my society. I was wondering how you felt on morality in the absence of god. In my opinion, only by rejecting faith can one have a true moral belief system (I am doing this good, correct thing not out of fear or to appease a god, but because my own logic and morality tells me it is the correct thing to do.) I was curious on your thoughts....and, if you agree with me I would suggest an alteration to your passage on Human rights.

That is a good argument against faith and against the morality of the "God-fearing". I too have a sense of morality. It helps me feel guilty when I do things like accidentally drop paper in the street but it doesn't kick in when I get a lustful feeling about [at this point I am struggling to think of an internationally known amply proportioned woman, the fact that I can't think of one is a sad indictment, don't you think?].

I think I will have a go at that piece again. Check back, I might have improved it. I certainly think that the morality of the moral atheist is far superior to that of those people who are doing it to save themselves a seat next to God the Judge.

Dear Martin,

I just went to your web page from Phybernetickz. I thought his was good, but when I started reading on yours I knew I had found what I'd been looking for for years. Haven't had time to read much but will go back again and again till I read it all!

Must tell you when you asked if I, the reader knew what the biggest problem in the world was, I did know the answer. I know I am reading the writings of a genius and will be jotting much down to repeat if you don't mind. Credit will always be given and so will your page address. I wish the entire world could read it and understand and learn from it. I am a 50 yr. old woman, married to a closed minded catholic for 31 yrs. We have 3 (ouch) girls who believe now as I do. One has 1 child and will have no more and the other 2 will have none. All see the overpopulation. I use to be xtian but opened my eyes about 12 yrs. ago. Living with a man who attends mass every week is trying these days, but a good enough man to stay with. But needless to say he doesn't know what I've been reading on this computer. We just got it in June and it's our first experience with one. His whole family is devout catholic and I love to be able to say just a subtle little something now and then to make them stop and think. But I'm not quick witted and don't speak particularly well sometimes. Anyway just had to let you know what you've done for me today. I have a whole wonderful website to explore that is right up my alley of beliefs. I take it you are in England. There is no need for you to waste your time replying to me. Just needed to praise your site to you. If I had money I would send you a bunch of it just because you deserve it! Thank you a billion anyway!

ps. my address is private just in case you do reply

Dear Martin,

That someone like you could even read something I wrote and then reply so nicely really does leave me nearly speechless! Good grief you sound so normal! That meaning that you're a family man and all but still think like you do. That probably doesn't make any sense at all but never mind. So sorry to hear about your mumps but if that means computer time then that's probably a blessing (cough) in disguise. My husband messed up a finger badly just after we got this in June and was able to spend days on it which was great cause then he learned lots of stuff and also because I always knew where he was. ha That's a good thing for me since I seem to be walking on egg shells around him a lot. We have just become so different from each other the older we get. Sorta hard to explain. Oh, about the private address; yes it is private from him. I hate that he reads any of my correspondence. He can be a bully and just a bit mentally abusive which pisses me off big time and so caused fussing between us which I would rather avoid anytime. I take very good care of him, am nice to him and even love him in ways still, so please don't think he or we are all bad. Just weird. Nuffathat. Oh but one more thing, I would rather you not publish anything I say unless you do so without putting my name to it, or area. You see, I was going to ask you if it was possible for you to send your website address to my brother in law who is also catholic but has an open mind and studies things. If this is possible, his address is xxxxxxxxxxxxxx He and I get into discussions about religion etc. and I think he would read every word of your site as it should be read. But I absolutely cannot send it to him. I also can't sign your address book because I want him to read your site so bad. Please know that I truly meant the genius complement. I've only met I think 2 others but you could teach them so very much!

The ouch next to 3 kids was because of the number. But try to be on the rhythm method with a guy who has no rhythm.

You are right, I've not read the whole site yet. My mind seems to be like a very small sponge that fills quickly so I have to allow it to dry out in between. I went back to the site yesterday and started at the beginning. I can't remember which part I got into but think it was the one with the bullshit footnote page in it. That part was way too deep for me. I did read it all tho, and plan to try again on a better day. I had taken Imitrex for a migraine so wasn't 100%, and anything less than what I normally have is really a dismal percentage to be left with! But there is so much to read in there that I'm sure it will take me a few readings. Do you know whenever anyone goes there to read it? Or who they are somehow? I'm totally computer illiterate so if these are goofy questions that's why. Our area here is beautiful in the winter and spring but by May it starts to dry up and burn brown. Only green are the scattered evergreens and whatever someone waters. Twenty four years ago there wasn't another house in sight and now there are dozens. The first thing they do is rip out trees and plant a goddam street lite, which ruins my wine on the porch in the dark watching the stars evenings. I hate people these days. Also they get 4 or 5 dogs that must bark all day and nite. We are in the "boonies' out here and they think they can leave their manners under the bed or wherever. I would be a good hermit as you can tell. I want to be where I cannot see, hear or smell anyone. It's so easy for me to be a good neighbor but seems not too many others can. Why do they think it is ok for them to play their music so loud that I can hear it a half mile away with my windows closed? I hate rudeness and waste passionately. I'm so sorry to have gotten this so long but that's how it got and there it is. Thank you so much for your reply and all you've done to make the world a better place. The best of everything to you and yours and thank you so much for replying so soon. Waking up to mail from you felt like christmas! I still do christmas just cause it's so much fun and I love glitter and trees in the house and ALL of that. Anyway, so long for now, I will think of you and your family often and hope things are good.

Thank you so much for sending your site to my brother in law. Hopefully he will look in on it and knowing him as I do, I'm sure he'll read every word of it if he goes to it. I remember that he is very paranoid about opening attachments and the like and won't open anything like that. So who really knows I guess. Have been back to read a few more times. Liked your wager very much. A long way to go still but want to read every word you've written. Will let you off with a short one this time. Just wanted to say thanks. Also hope you are over the mumps.

Again, the best to you and yours.