Hey Christian,

Howdy? How’s life? I’ll bet you’re enjoying life blatantly every bit as much as I am. Yeah yeah, I know about you and your “Jesus”. To me, he’s nothing more than a spiritual garb you hide behind to justify your love for material success. The only difference between you and me is, I’m honest about my stinkiness, you’re not.

You tell me that you’re climbing this corporate ladder because you want to shine for your Jesus or something like that - I often hear you talk about being “salt and light”. Kid yourself not, for if that was your intention, I wouldn’t see you craving after material wealth as much as I do. But your car is as extravagant as mine, and the size of your house is as wasteful as mine.

You claim that you earn a lot in order that you may give a lot for your religious charity - but it’s quite obvious that you amass most of it for yourself. You couldn’t possibly have thought I was blind, could you? And let me tell you, if you knew how much more I gave to charity than you did, you’d flip. I give to feel good about myself. What about you?

You speculate your money in the stock market, but you criticise me for buying the lottery. I suppose it means I’m gambling and you’re not. You crave that higher position in that new company and obviously see upward mobility as a cherished value in life, but you criticise me for job-hopping in search of better benefits and remuneration. Cummon, have the guts to acknowledge that you love success every bit as much as I do. Have the guts to acknowledge that your Christian religion exalts simplicity in life and that you can’t meet the standards. Don’t pretend, through your double-life, that you’re simple and that you have no self-ambition… if your god existed, he’d know. And you don’t even need a god to know this; even I, a mortal human being, can see right through your pretences.

But of course, when all these things come your way, you get to say “God blessed me with all this! Hallelujah!” When I get these things, I simply say it like it is - I worked hard for the love of money! Who do you think is more honest between us two?

Yeah, I can very easily hear you yelling at me now, “Hey! Don’t judge!” I don’t have to, my friend. If you had an ounce of conscience inside you, your conscience would judge you before anyone else does. The truth is, we are our own gods; it’s just that you have another name for that spiritual alter ego of the carnal you - Jesus. And what was it you called me the other day? An idolater, was it? Hah!

In case you’re wondering if I’m talking about you, yes, I am. I’ll always be a thorn in your flesh (hey, this term comes from your holy book, doesn’t it?) I’ll always be a constant reminder to you that you’re the reason I’m not a Christian. I don’t love you, and I don’t think you love me either. Even when you tried to convert me, it was more because you wanted to secure a heaven for yourself just like you’re doing here on earth. I look at your life, and you affirm my conviction - over and over again - that there is no god.

Yours provocatively,
The Unbeliever