Dear Ms. Snodgrass
Thanks so much for posting this link! It made my day- it was better than those "if you sprinkle when you tinkle, please be neat and wipe the seat" signs (there's this streak of extreme immaturity in me that has a great sense of appreciation for potty humor)! Anyway, I wanted to say I think you're awesome and that I've been looking for an opportunity to comment on one of your posts in hopes of getting a reply. I love your books and your work on Star Trek TNG! I also wanted to tell you that I was hoping to get into a friendly debate on faith vs. atheism, not because I'm some rabid religious extremist or right-wing freak or am offended by anything you've said, but because although I am very much a leftist (I'm fourteen and I'm reading Marx- and I'm not a communist-yet ) I am a person of faith, and would like to test the strength of my feeble arguments against an opponent as passionate in her views as I am, and whose skills in debate are far more developed than my own. Of course, I realize I don't stand a chance against such a talented wordsmith as yourself; but, to quote a friend of mine "I don't even hope to win, I just aim to frustrate." I sincerely hope you won't take offense; but as a Mozart fan among Jonas Brothers groupies, I know it's very possible to have meaningful friendships despite stark contrasts in opinion- on anything. I don't have time to present my initial argument right now because I'm supposed to be in bed, but please humor me. What do you say? Are you up for an intellectual sparring match?
Your Game-faced fan,
Alice
PS. Do you watch the Colbert Report?

OMG, this was fabulous! Please thank Ty for me :->

Hi, Alice, glad you posted, and welcome. I'm happy t0 discuss these issues you, but I don't want to call it a "debate". I'm really not out to change anyone's mind. Earlier in my life I attended church, was passionate in my faith, I even flirted with becoming an Anglican priest. As the years passed and I became more and more interested in science, anthro and history, religion and this belief in a god became less and less credible to me.

I write my books because I'm afraid of this toxic brew that mixes politics and religion. Laws should not be based on any particular religion's beliefs and attitudes. That leads to burning witches and stoning women for adultery and denying people their rights.

If people want to believe in things that I find silly, and unsupported by any evidence, that is their right. I also have the right not to believe, and not to have these people push their beliefs and agenda on me. I respect peoples faiths whether I share them or not, but they have to respect me back.

I'm happy to point out the places where Christian beliefs collapse under the weight of evidence, but again, I'm not trying to change you mind. It sounds like you are on a wonderful and fascinating journey both politically and spiritually, and it should be your journey. You'll make up your own mind as you add more life experiences.

And now a meep about music, you've just named my favorite composer -- Mozart. I think I think we have a lot in common. I went searching for the source (while I frantically pack for Comic-Con) and couldn't find it, but there is a wonderful quote that says (paraphrasing here) -- When the Angels wish to please God, they play Bach, when they wish to please themselves -- Mozart. I'll find the exact quote once I get to San Diego.

Anyway, take care, and do keep posting. It's great to have you here.

Hi back! I'm absolutely thrilled to be writing to you! Sorry I took so long to post again. I'm so glad you're willing to have this discussion with me, and I think you're right not to want to call this a debate- I don't want to try to change you're mind either (not that I think I would be capable of that). Also, I think I should state at this point, just to put it out there, that I'm a Muslim- not a Christian. I'm not trying to defend my particular faith right now though, I just thought you should know that for personal reference.
I agree that law and religion should not mix. I think that's where religion becomes a ridiculous, clumsy, obstacle in the way of human progress. When religion and law mix, religion is no longer a magical, personal bond with something higher; it becomes something imposed upon you, it becomes a chain that traps rather than a rope that liberates.
Now, one thing I've noticed is that you tend to define strong faith as the absence of doubt. I would like to challenge this definition. I would define faith as trust based on a spiritual friendship with the divine. Trust, though, entails a boatload of doubt. Trust is having the knowledge that something is very likely to be untrue, but still cherishing a belief in its being true. When one takes a trust fall, one acknowledges the 75% chance that ones partner will let one fall; but acts on the 25% chance that they won't. Trust, unlike love, is not blind, and cannot be established baselessly. Trusting is a function of both reason and emotion; a sort of compromise between rushing headlong into folly based on the hope that you will be rescued and living in a hermetically sealed risk-proof box. As the cliche among parents goes, "trust is not a gift, it must be earned; and can be broken." And what sort of a foundation for trust is this "spiritual friendship" you speak of? you might ask. Friendship with the divine is something deeply personal and mysterious, and nearly inexplicable to someone who has never experienced it; but it's reality is undeniable. I don't have much time to go into the details of this just now, but if you like I am happy to expand on it later. Faith is not an opium or a safe house from life's absurdity and pain. There are many times when all one can do is cling, alone and afraid, to the thread of faith; hoping God is really there. Faith can be as scary and lonely as non-faith. Faith cannot go unquestioned and unexplored, faith must be examined; which is part of why I wanted to disscuss this with you- I wanted to examine the base of my trust in the divine.
Anyway, that's all I can say about that right now. That quote about Mozart is really beautiful. When I listen to Mozart, I feel that lovely warm grogginess of waking from a peaceful dream to the sound of gentle rain on the roof- but on the weekend, so you know you can go back to sleep whenever you want- and all you feel is that delicious dreaminess and sleepy thoughtfulness. I always imagined angels felt like that all the time. I hope you had fun at comic-con, and I'm so jealous! Thanks for making me feel so welcome.

Alice, you are an extraordinary young woman. What you are describing is a personal search and journey. You find it through your faith, I find that sense of wonder when I read about the latest discovery from the Hubble or the VLA. New advances in chemistry, biology, etc. And I guess I prefer it because it is a wonder based on the power of the human mind to transcend tribalism and embrace knowledge and understanding.

As I've stressed before -- I have no problem with people's personal beliefs no matter how silly they might seem to me so long as those personal beliefs are not imposed on me. It's dogma that I fear. Once people start writing down the particulars of how to worship whatever deity they have embraced, problems are sure to follow. Look at how the language of the Old Testament has been used to demonize and vilify gays and lesbians. And -- I don't wish to offend here -- but language in the Quran has been used to justify what I consider the subjection of women, denying them education and basic human rights.

And the ultimate dogma -- "If you don't worship my god in the way I say you are dangerous and less than human and I can kill you with impunity."

Look at the vile things that are being spewed by Palin and Gingrich regarding the mosque they want to build near the site of the twin towers. This is an example on the Christian side of intolerance that should have no place in our society. Haven't these people noticed that you can't build a Christian church in Saudi Arabia? Is that really a good example to follow?

Even if I had the power to outlaw churches and religion in this country I wouldn't do it. The strength of this country has been its ability to absorb people of many different faiths, races and attitudes. People are entitled to their beliefs unless those beliefs are directly dangerous to others.

And now to totally geek out -- what was it Princess Leia said to Luke regarding Han -- "everyone has to find their own path"? I'm just advocating that same right be extended to people who reject religion and choose not to believe.