On Tue, 01 Oct 2002, you wrote:
> 
> hi,
> 
> my name is amyie and im writing to tell you how i feel about being
> atheist.i have kept a journal over time and i will write a small
> portion of it.  I cant believe in something i cant see, its to hard so
> now atheism feels right. I cant possibly believe in something that no
> one can prove is real. The bible cant be proven so i guess neither can
> god. So what i dont understand is how millions of people can devote
> their lives to something that cant prove is real. They expect me to
> commit my life and my beliefs to a character that no one knows exists.
> It seems to me like the world has made up this character "god" because
> they couldnt figure out how else people and the world got here. The
> biggest trick the world ever played on itself was convincing people
> that there actually was a god, instead of just leaving the world and
> how it came to be a mystery. Everyone says that christianity is the
> perferred religion when they also say that everyone should except you
> as you are. And its uncalled for to say that to one certain person
> because there cant possibly be ONLY ONE right way. Like i have read on
> your web-site god is like the tooth fairy or santa claus, except
> everyone stops believing in them when they reach the ago of abuot 8 or
> 9. When no one realizes god is nothing more than the tooth fairy.
> 
> Well thats from my journal that i write in about everyday, i hope you
> can write back to me, i would really appreciate it.
> 
>                                         Amyie

        You've said it all Amyie!  It's good to see someone as young as
yourself who is able to think for themselves.  I first realized I was atheist
when I was 10.  I first decided when I was your age (13) that for the rest of
my life, instead of believing in god(s) I would believe ONLY in Science! 
Today, I am a professional research scientist, working to improve the human
condition.  Even christians benefit from my work, believe it or not.  :o)

        The answer to your question is simple.  Why do people believe in
god(s)?  Because they are crippled, and the religion is their crutch.  The same
is true for drug or alcohol addicts.  Anything that is "habitual" and "abusive"
seems to also be destructive.  Whether it be alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or even
religion, people who become addicted, rarely break free of the addiction.  We
saw the effects on otherwise healthy men who were addicted to islam on 9-11,
they flew planes into the WTC for allah!  As I said in another message posted to
the website, and have said many times, the simple answer is that people who
believe in god(s) are crippled, and their religion is for them, their crutch.  I
do not need a crutch, for like you, I am NOT CRIPPLED!  :o)

Cheers!
James