Deconversion stories from The Skeptical Review
Atieno Odak
As wonderful as an orgasm...
I am a Christian, at least I was. I read most of your articles and debates with much excitement for it confirmed to me what I tentatively knew was true. I have been on a quest for truth for four years now, a search which started when I was fourteen. I have read the Bible twice through, and although I noticed many of the discrepancies I was willing to put them aside for the sake of psychological and intellectual security. That is the only thing that I am ashamed of now.
I cannot, in all honesty, say that I share your atheistic views, but the one thing that is certain to me is that if there is a god, she/he is definitely not the Christian God. Right now I am in the agnostic phase, which will almost inevitably give way to atheism. For now I revel in my doubts and ignorance.
I know you hear of this a lot, but I have to declare it simply because it happened to me and I am quite the egotist. The freedom from dogma and horrible theology that I have experienced is indescribable, almost mystical. If there was one thing that Jesus was correct about, it was that the truth would set one free. And the feeling is as wonderful as an orgasm. I do hope you are not the prudish type.
After that long discourse I would not be surprised if you are wondering why this e-mail has the above subject matter. Well, I caught sight of the word free next to subscription and I thought to myself how delightful it would be to get this wonderful magazine for absolutely nothing. Yes, I admit it; I am cheap. I am also a recent graduate (admittedly from high school) who earns minimum wage. So I hereby tender my application for a free subscription of The Skeptical Review. Thank you for your consideration.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A few have complained about publishing so many letters like this one, but a common fear that I hear from those who are in the early stages of doubt is that their lives will be filled with gloom and doom if they give up their religion. My own experience and the overwhelming testimony of those who have done the same is that the opposite will happen. The person who faces reality and admits to him-/herself that religion is just superstition will find much greater satisfaction living as a rational person.
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