Disillusioned With Oxymoronic
'Christian Value System'
Thomas Boyko
From: "Thomas Boyko"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: A thank you to Positive Atheism
Date: June 02, 2002 1:31 AM
Dear Editor,
I would like to start off my saying that my name is Thomas Boyko, and I am a newly -- shall we say, for the lack of a better word -- confirmed atheist. I have known of atheism long before now, but I have never taken a serious look at it, believing that I could find some sort of religion that supports my views.
I am against war, injustice, and fanaticism. I had the wonderful luck of being born into a household with a "heathen" (atheist) mother and a father who says he is Christian but cannot quite put his finger on why his religion was, and still is, deemed absolute truth by a belligerent group of drunks, inbreds, and con artists.
I was coerced into going to church from early childhood until I was in my mid teens. (only two years ago, seeing as though I am 18 now.) Ever since seeing televangelists, neo-Rightists (I'll put that as a broad category to include neo-Conservatives, hard-line Fundamentalists, and the far Right.) I have harbored an immense distrust for religion. I see it as a cause of war, as well as the "at home" effects of war (families torn apart, depression, etc.).
I recently had the opportunity to visit New York City, on vacation with my father. I was amazed at how none of the people preaching religion in the subway terminals seemed to have any sort of class. I am from Florida, specifically the gulf coast. Here, in Pasco County, I see "Jesus Saves" and "God is LORD" bumper stickers on cars that seem to be dilapidated to the point that any person with a sense of value would either repair or discard. However, these people, I guess, are too caught up in their Bible studies and beating their children (for not being a bigot like mommy and daddy) to realize that their '66 station wagon with the fake wood siding is ready to fall apart at the slightest touch.
I know I am ranting, but I feel I am venting, as wrong as you may think that to be, my disillusionment with the oxymoronic "Christian value system." I would simply like to thank you and your website for the explanation I was looking for all these years.
Thank you.
Thomas Boyko,
An Ambassador for himself.
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