Date: Tue Mar 29, 2005
To: <contact@killingthebuddha.com>
Subject: slayer

I am a big heavy metal fan and a long time fan of Slayer. My musical
interests however are not limited to heavy metal. As religion goes I
consider myself agnostic, only believing there is the possibility of a
"higher power". I stumbled upon your article on Slayer which lead me to
your site; I did not have much time to read all the listings, but I liked
what I saw, and will be returning soon to check them out. Anyway, to get to
the point of my letter, I have seen Slayer many times and from what I've
seen and read I believe that Slayer is so "satanic" for show purposes only.
I'm not saying that they are avid "bible thumpers", I just believe they
found a theme that worked for them and their style of music, and stuck with
it for all these years. If you've read or heard interviews or watched their
interviews/videos, they sound like fairly intelligent, normal human beings;
they don't carry on about how God hates us and the Devil rules. I could be
wrong in these statements, but from what I've seen it's all just show.
Thank you for the insightful website/magazine, I will be checking in later
when I have more time to read everything you have to offer.

**

Date: Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:43:03 PM US/Eastern
To: contact@killingthebuddha.com
Subject: general comments on your NPR show

Hello,

Thanks for approaching this subject. I was driving
through rural Wisconsin and heard your interview on
public radio.

I can't agree more with the comment about "being
flogged" until you admit you believe in god. The
problem, as you pointed out is that you do not believe
in the linguistic/cultural representation of god. But,
the concept of god you just might.

So I know what you mean, when an evangelical asks me if
I believe in god, I say no. I don't believe in that
kind of god.

But, I am searching for God too. I am stuck on a
couple of things now. First, Why was the universe
created in the first place? I can't figure out why an
omnipotent entity would create at all. If it was
complete in its being it would have not needed to
create a universe.

The second quandry is why human beings were created
with the ability to inflict so much suffering on each
other. A loving god would not do this. So, to wonder
that maybe god is indifferent or even sinister is
seriously depressing.

Believers have self-rightousness, self-assuredness, and
self-confidence that comes with faith. They say they
even get love and guidance from their projected
dieties. Honestly, I'm a little jealous. I want those
things too. But, I guess I'll have to keep searching...

Anyway, its nice to know that others are struggling
with these issues too.

Thanks!

**

Date: Sun Mar 27, 2005
To: contact@killingthebuddha.com
Subject: Unitarians?

I heard of your website while listening to "To the Best of Our Knowledge" on National Public Radio. I was intrigued so I surfed on over. I am an atheist Unitarian. I was wondering if you get a lot of Unitarians writing to you since so many of your ideas seem to be in line with ours.

**

Date: Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:52:35 AM US/Eastern
To: contact@killingthebuddha.com
Subject: Erik Hanson's Bible Porn

I read Erik Hanson's article Bible Porn tonight, and I must say that I'm impressed. This man is clearly the good kind of Christian. For the sake of clarity, I'll tell you that not only am I 'unsaved', but I prefer to think of myself as being more in the realm of 'perpetually lost to religion'--that is, I'm a hard-core aetheist. I have, in the past, debated proselytising Christians until they were on the edge of a very thin razor: Either I was Satan himself, or they were going to have to start doubting their faith. To be fair, I don't do this to be mean. I don't accost random believers and degrade their belief system. If they try to tell me that I should be saved, or that I'm wrong for not having faith, or that I should come to church with them on Sunday, then and only then is it time for the fireworks. This practice makes things work out alright for me; my best friend is just as much a Christian as I am an aetheist, but we don't try to convert each other. Mr. Hanson is clearly that good kind of Christian, who simply lets his beliefs rest comfortably inside his own skull. Kudos to him for this. This article is a chronicling of an excellent act; trying to keep impressionable people from being blindly inducted into mindless pseudo-faith. Please, pass on my thanks to him if at all possible.

**

Date: Thu Mar 24, 2005
To: contact@killingthebuddha.com
Subject: Manifesto

I just happened to come across your site while messing with my Yahoo home page, and it was one of the most delightful surprises I've had. I could not agree more with your point of view if I had written it myself. Several years ago I started following a path propelled by a type of Buddhist meditation called Vipassana, because I've somehow always known that the God I was seeking I couldn't know through someone else's experience. I just wanted to let you know that your site has reached another person ready to hear it, and I plan to recommend it to others I know who would appreciate it.

**

Date: Wed Mar 23, 2005 2:34:17 AM US/Eastern
To: contact@killingthebuddha.com
Subject: response to "Grace" prayer/statement & HepC

Hello. I believe in very few things : chaos (the
random interaction, even what seems to be purposeful
or directed) like as John Lennon said "Life is what
happens to you while you're busy making plans" - or
something like that AND compost. A churning planet of
recycled funk. Kinda' like "ashes to ashes, dust to
dust ..."

chaos and compost.

But, with the utmost respect to Earth's integration -
I have HepC. I want to kill them all. They have tested
my appreciation of Nature, and I guess I don't like it
all.

I don't feel guilty.