Hemant – Out of curiosity, how do you feel when people say, “Unlike Dawkins/Harris/Hitchens, Mehta _______.” Is it frustrating to feel like religious people are trying to divide atheists into different teams, or is it cool with you when they make statements like that? I’m curious.

It depends on the context. In message, I’d like to say all atheists are on the same page. We want to see more people having a rational outlook on the world. In terms of tone, we all do things differently. You can divide any group of people into separate groups if you want… but I don’t think I take offense if they put me apart from the others when it comes to approach.

Glad to hear I apparently have little to say and am a dingbat? Nice maturity.

Regardless, I liked kreading the book, I wouldn’t have finished it, or given any time to review it if I didn’t. I like books that make me think about stuff on a deeper level, this did that. I recommend the book to christians, and we sell it in the christian bookstore I work at.

And yea, I admitted to liking Kirk, and therefore was obvious bias when I wrote it, but if your going to write something and be bias, own up to it. I did.

Either way, it’s interesting to know a bunch of people have read my words now.. though highlighting the Kirk Cameron thing was kind of lame, it was more of a personal thing for me, the other things I gave criticism on we’re more important. I also never said I agree with the way Kirk witnesses, I think it’s kind of cool, but it’s not how I do things.

Kirk [Cameron] told him about how he grew up an athiest, and tried to witness to him. I think hemant was just bothered because he was directly being ministered to. He can’t be mad at Kirk for that, so him bashing Kirk in the book bothered me. If anything, Hemant came off as a bit defensive. I like something that was said in the interview by the way “You don’t think that the creation screams that there could be a creator” “no”. What? He says he is a logical thinker, but that’s illogical.

That wasn’t in the Hemant’s book was it? If it was, it probably wasn’t that important, esp if I don’t remember it. Now that helpline with an answering machine and other things like that, I do remember. I don’t think Hemant was defensive at all, but actually upfront and honest about the various problems. Apparently, what was important to me, was not important to this Christian and vise-versa. Obviously there is a value diffence going on there.

“You don’t think that the creation screams that there could be a creator”

What screams is that tired argument. It’s screaming the names of several logical fallacies.

… Mehta is very winsome

Winsome? My oh my!

the church can be helpful in things that atheists approve of, like relief for the poor and education initiatives.

Hey, at least he’s got the idea that atheists approve of poverty relief and education initiatives!

Apostate’s review didn’t go into detail, but it was unoffensive. The other two? Very young women without a whole lot to say. One thinks that “Heaven should be the country club for Christians”. (Where will the rest of us be? On the public course?) The other likes Kirk Cameron and admits to being “confused by atheism”. Please.

I wouldn’t let it bother me, Hemant.

Two things:

1. Did you really not know at the time what Christians are trying to save you from, or did you simply mean that they weren’t making it clear?

2. Is anyone else as sick as I am of Christians trying to use Einstein to validate their beliefs? I find it particularly offensive: A. It represents an extremely biased interpretation of his writings; B. They believe that he’s now in hell – but they still get to use him.