It should be noted that I no longer reply to, or even read emails written by Christians.
    The simple reason for this is that after many years of running this website, I have gained the unmistakable impression that Christians are simply unable to produce anything that resembles a meaningful, objective and factual analysis and/or any argument based on reasoning and/or verifiable data.
    Samples of the emails received from Christians can be read through pages Christian apologetics. These show, only too clearly, that the Christians who write are ignorant of their own faith and scriptures, although, ironically, they are only too ready to accuse their opponents of 'ignorance'.

    I seem to have spent much of my time correcting them of errors which presumably only exist through their refusal to undertake proper study of the subject, and if they do undertake any study, this is confined to fundamentalist literature and the utterances of preachers.
    In addition to the ignorance displayed of the subject, it is also evident that these Christians cannot be bothered to even read the content of the website. This becomes evident when, despite the fact that I have supplied more than sufficient information to corroborate a point made, this is ignored and the Christian will send an email that raises issues which have been fully dealt with on the website.

    Two examples of this are when I detail how Jesus did not fulfil his prediction of being buried for '3 days and 3 nights' and yet Christians still write and say I am 'ignorant' of the fact that a part-day can be treated as a day and the Jewish reckoning of time is different. However, if they bothered to look at the website, they would see this is dealt with and, if anything, their suggestions make their own position even less plausible. This again confirms they have simply accepted what they have been told without bothering to check the details.
    In respect of contradictions, it has been necessary to point out the obvious, i.e., to show that the Bible is inerrant, it is necessary to demonstrate that it is possible to resolve every instance of a contradiction: there is no logic in trying to 'explain away' just a few of these. Despite saying this countless times, I still receive puerile attempts by Christians to resolve the contradictions of a few Biblical texts. No less relevant is the fact that (a)in most cases their 'solution' is by simply rewriting the text to provide another meaning altogether, and/or (b)quoting large chunks of rambling drivel from fundamentalist writings.
    I have said this so many times but because Christians appear to be so doltish it seems that I have to repeat it - yet again:

At this stage it is also worth noting that many Christians take it upon themselves to try and show there are no contradictions in the Bible. They do this by selecting a small number (NB. such listings are not exhaustive anyway) and then, by virtually rewriting the text, and adding various meanings, they seek to show that no contradiction occurs.     Apart from the fact they can only do this by indulging in fanciful - and dishonest - manipulation of the material, they fail to grasp the obvious fact that the contradictions are listed to show that the Bible is not inerrant. They appear unable to grasp that if only one contradiction remains, then the Bible is revealed as not inerrant. Consequently, if they are intent on rejecting this view, they obviously need to go through each and every contradiction listed and show why there is no contradiction. There is no logic in just selecting a few of these.     The same really applies for unfulfilled prophecies: only one is needed to show that the Bible is untrustworthy: as there are several of these (e.g. Matt 10:23, Mark 9:1) that cannot be 'argued away', the assertion that the Bible is unreliable is thereby proved. And this is despite whatever fanciful arguments may be offered.

    A classic example of Christian ignorance and hypocrisy was provided by an email in December 2002. In this a Christian wrote saying that I 'couldn't read' as there is no contradiction between Genesis 1 and 2. However, if as the Christian argues, the contradiction is not there, this also means a large number of academics have also made precisely the same error. Presumably, as so often happens, the Christian did not bother to read this page before sending his email, or considered himself better educated than many academics. Interestingly, the Christian entered 'What the Fuck' as the subject title of his email, indicating that he, as other Christians, has customized his faith and ignores any Biblical injunctions which he does not like. In this case, Col 3:8.
    The problem is also exacerbated by the fact that many of the writers appear wholly incapable of producing succinct statements, but chose to submit a long, rambling, disjointed tirade, lacking any testable evidence and saying little which is directly relevant, and yet they expect the recipient to read this.
    Christian writers also demonstrate their gullibility and lack of reading by some of the arguments that they offer. For example, one writer referred to how a Christian worker had been financially supported in his work which indicated a miraculous intervention by God. In fact this type of claim was shown to be absurd nearly three hundred years ago by the philosopher David Hume who pointed out that miracles are claimed by adherents of all the religions. Therefore, unless one adopts radical pluralism, i.e., God works equally through all the different religions and belief-structures, the argument that Christian belief is shown to be valid by God performing a miracle in a Christian context, is clearly absurd.
    It is noteworthy and significant that none of these Christians are able to invalidate the view expressed on this website that the Jesus, as depicted in the New Testament, never existed as a historical being - a viewpoint, which if correct, invalidates the entire Christian belief in one stroke. As noted, early Christian canonical writings (e.g. Paul's) say nothing about the life of Jesus as depicted in the Gospels; furthermore, there are no non-canonical writings, contemporary with the period in which Jesus is supposed to have lived, that make any mention of him. This is despite many writers, including historians being active at the time when all the remarkable things that Jesus is supposed to have done were supposedly witnessed by many thousands of people.
    As also stated on this website:

As far as I know, every person who runs a website that challenges Christian belief receives emails from Christians which have the following characteristics: (1)Christians seem unable to grasp the substance of the discussion because of their limited reading; (2)there is frustration of not being able to substantiate any of the claims made and the Christian eventually makes statements which are both absurd and cannot be verified ('I know that Jesus loves me', or 'God is holy'); (3)they show an absolute unwillingness to carefully consider the evidence.    In fact by virtue of what Christian belief is, some might consider it impossible to have a meaningful dialogue simply because the Christian will not concede anything that challenges his/her faith. Possibly they choose to 'take on' the atheist in the hope that this will strengthen their faith, and on seeing that this is unsuccessful, have no option other than to resort to fanciful generalizations and extravagant claims.    The Christian also cites the Bible, or rather, gives his/her interpretation from those particular carefully-selected parts of the Bible that suit his/her thinking but cannot show why the text should be considered as authoritative. If I cited the Upanishads or the Koran or Das Kapital to assert a point, I am sure the Christian would want evidence or sound reason for why these writings are to be deemed authoritative and yet he/she cannot do this with their citations.

    Consequently, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that Christians are simply incapable of analysing the subject; it is of course bizarre that they (a)search out websites that challenge their faith, (b)and yet they do not bother to consider the content, but (c)send emails which fail to resolve anything of the challenges made.
    As Christians repeatedly assert that the reason for their faith is that 'Jesus saves them from their sin', this can only be recognised as an admission that their faith is not based on empirical evidence, or logic, or common sense, but it fulfils an emotion need or resolves a feeling of inadequacy. In view of this it is hardly surprising that Christians are incapable of reasoned debate.
    Frequently I have been warned by Christian emailers that when I die, I will be 'in hell-fire' - but these writers never explain how on the death of the body, 'I', without body and brain (by which personhood/selfhood is realized), could still exist. As all humans are a psycho-physical unity, a fact confirmed by an overwhelming mass of scientific evidence, whereas there is no evidence for a belief in body-soul distinction ('dualism'), the Christian writers are clearly taking refuge in pure fantasy. They also fail to explain how, if I survived death as a non-physical spirit/soul, I could therefore be tormented by physical flames (and gnash my teeth!).
    The Christian belief in hell is well-defined by George H. Smith in Atheism: The Case Against God:

'Hell stands as a constant reminder of the essence of Christianity: God is to be obeyed because, in the final analysis, he is bigger and stronger than we are. And in addition, he is incomparably more vicious. With the warning of 'Obey God or burn in hell', we have a...revealing glimpse into the core of Christianity' (p.301).

    Finally, as a excellent example of the hypocrisy that pervades Christianity, I find it remarkable that these people who consider themselves Christians and are so confident of themselves that they seek out atheistic websites to argue against atheism, and yet they do not even satisfy the very conditions laid down in the Bible for Christian lifestyle (See 'Christian living').
    After writing this, I know that Christians will continue to be unable (or unwilling) to grasp the points made herein. Emailing will simply result in being referred back to this page.
    And finally, I trust it will be noted that unlike so many Christian websites, I do not request or accept any money!