Hi Darren, you're right: a lot of skeptics can be fairly insensitive and 'tone deaf' to why people believe in and follow God, and a mocking tone was like nails on a chalkboard as I was trying to find my way out of the faith that had structured and sustained me since I was a young boy. That's why I recommended Neil to you.

I would also recommend that you give yourself a Christmas present and listen to Julia Sweeney's very funny and poignant monologue (it's on YouTube) "Letting Go of God". She speaks from a Catholic perspective but you'll still find it helpful.

And yeah, feel free to email me. You're not alone.

Merry Christmas! (Yeah, we can still say that! ;-) )

Hey Darren, welcome! After a lifetime as a devout Christian believer in a non-denominational church (well, that's what we called the Church of Christ in any case), a minor in Bible, several years in mission work and a life devoted to the greater glory of God, six or seven years ago or so I found myself just where you are. Now it feels like I've awoken from s confusing, suffocating dream—but back there it felt pretty scary and sad. The first person you should look up is Neil Carter, the author of the online Patheos.com blog "Godless in Dixie"; he was like us, and now writes honestly and compassionately about leaving the faith, better than anyone else I've found.

And feel free to contact me directly; I'll be glad to help you out in any way I can.

Your brother in the human race,
--Darrell
Dj@drjohnson.ca