By the by, much respect for coming to this discussion with a thoughtful approach.

I’m not evangelizing because I have nothing to convert anyone to, or any gosel as such. You see, I made a resolution that this year I would be out. Two reasons for this: I want to be who I am. Baptists have no problem being baptists, why should I cower in the closet?

Secondly, I hope that I can inspire others to question their religions, to question the world, and come to their own ideas about it. Notice how different that mindset is than the typical evangelist, who wants people to come around to HIS or HER particular theology, their way or the highway.

If there are other atheists in the closet, and I know there are, I hope I can inspire them to come out or at least know they are not alone.

I’m just being out, myself, who has been in the closet for years. I went through my Jesus apologetics phase in my early twenties, so I’m not particularly interested in that anymore.

I appreciate you taking the time to comment. I appreciate you wanting to understand.

Otherwise, I have lots of hope. For one, hpe people can shed the dogmas of the ancient religions and work to find a more equitable belief system. I think that has to happen if people are to survive instead of destroy themselves. I hope that one day we can live in a world built on reason instead of religion.

I will think about your other points a bit before I respond.

Jason,
Regardless of the fact that you and I may not agree on a lot of things anymore, I still enjoy reading your work like I did as kids. No doubt that you work hard. As I read your post, however, of course I have some objections. I don’t want to focus on those rather I would like to share my observations. First, I hate the fact that you have no hope. I hope you still have dreams, especially for your girls’ sake. Hope is essential, regardless of your personal view of deities, religion or the lack thereof. Otherwise, why wake up?
Secondly, to risk sounding crass, isn’t waiving the flag of atheism akin to religious affiliation? Reading evangelically atheist literature isn’t too far removed form studying scripture. Hitchens and his contemporaries are no different than evangelists. With my two degrees I have had to study a fair amount of these atheistic theologies. Aside from the obvious perpendicular origins, there are some noticeable parallels. At least in their approach.
“Think about how much time they waste hoping for something that I’m 99% certain doesn’t exist.” 99% huh? I would love to explore that 1%. Let me challenge you to look deeply into the theology your were raised in. Of the many people that I know that grew up in the denomination that you did, I can only recall one that is still involved. They have either changed to a denomination that makes more sense in light of God or like you they have left God all together. Instead of thinking about the wasted time, maybe waste a little time yourself, as a man with his own thoughts and perspectives, thinking about that 1%.
I hope I don’t come across as having all the answers. I surely don’t. I do have some of them though. They have nothing to do with religion, nothing to do the man-made side of Christianity that has messed it up. I have books that expose the relational, just, supernatural side of a Creator (the one Boz is referring to). I can point you in a direction that gives philosophical, scientific, logical, and rational evidence of God who is real. There’s no kool-aide, magic plates, space ships, or dress codes. Only Jesus as hard as He is to understand. You like a challenge though right?