response to a post on John Lennon web board

I went to art school for both undergrad and grad school... and I am a Catholic. I got ridiculed and made fun of for being Christian, especially by atheists who considered themselves to be really open-minded. One of my friends calls this art school type of  mentality against religion "being so open-minded you're closed-minded." I think people should believe what they want, but I think atheists need to realize (and some of them do) that NOT believing in a Higher Power takes just as much of a leap of faith as believing. There are so many things other than the existence of God that can't be explained rationally or quantified... for example, falling in love, or the artistic impulse.

I would posit that as you are correct that we shouldn't label all atheists as "bad" based on my experiences at art school (which, by the way, I'm sorry if that is how I came across) not all Christians should be blamed for wrong done in the name of Christianity. I see myself as someone who understands the church as flawed, and is working to change it, for example by being a member of groups like Catholics For a Free Choice (ie pro-choice Catholics) and the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network. Basically, what I'm trying to say is, don't blame me and my relationship with God for the Spanish Inquisition, ya know? Here is one of my favorite quotes: "I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. They are not at all like Christ." Gandhi said that, and I couldn't agree more. Here's another quote: "Women are not better than men, just less corrupted by power." I think that could apply here, too. 

John Lennon web board