Atheism, Hate Mail

The hate mail files of Tracy Hargett

13 Comments

I know that before yesterday’s page I’d been shortchanging you all on your deserved Hate Mail for the week! So here’s another chunky back-n-forth to make up for that. The files of Tracy Hargett are sure to put a smile on your face! And thank you Free Radicals for their participation as well.

“I went to the website that sells [your Dress Up Jesus] and asked them to quit selling them.”

Subject: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

My name is Tracy Hargett

I am a devout Catholic and have been for many years.  I saw a picture of one of your “Dress Up Jesus” magnets on Facebook and was completely appalled.  I went to the website that sells them and asked them to quit selling them (Free Radicals, a store in Albuquerque).  I then went to your website b/c of a comment that someone else left on the photo.  It turns out that you have been turning out this garbage since 1999, over 10 years.  Don’t you think it’s time to give it a rest?  Don’t you think it’s time to give YOURSELF a rest?  You look like a fairly young guy from the photos.  Turn things around for yourself NOW before it’s too late and you really ARE in Hell.  You seem to think that Hell is no big deal and Heaven is overrated.  I can tell you that according to several accounts of the Saints that the reverse is true, at least about Heaven.  Heaven is underrated and Hell is an eternity of misery that no human being could stand for 5 minutes if they were alive.  The devil is not your friend.  In fact, the devil HATES you.  He laughs at you as you go around telling people that God is Fake.

I’m going to level with you.  Are there times that I am not happy with God?  Sure, here lately, every day since I am poor and have a hard life right now.  Do I trust that this suffering that I endure is for the greater good and that “my reward will be great in Heaven?”  Absolutely!  It seems to me that you are a good businessman.  There is nothing wrong with that!  Just make your money without blaspheming Our Loud and Savior in the process.  Sell bicycles, Start a coffee house, Open an office supply store.  The possibilities are endless!  And all the while, you don’t have to insult Jesus, and in fact you will have MORE CUSTOMERS because you will win over all the Christians.  (There are more of us than there are of you.  Hate to break it to ya.)

I need to go.  I will go to Mass tonight and pray for you.

Tracy Hargett

Wilmington, NC
You know, I wake up to an email like yours this morning and it reminds me how lucky I truly am. For me to be able to wake up when I want, be my own boss, draw pictures for a living while at the same time able to express myself in so many different ways, I can’t believe I actually made this happen. My plan worked!

And what was the plan? Well, first off, DO NOT listen to what other people tell me will make me happy. Especially if those people aren’t happy! People LOVE to spread around the bad ideas they’ve thoughtlessly committed their lives to. “Get married, have babies, open an office supply store, commit to something that’ll last a lifetime, worship this god and bet all your chips on eternal paradise in the grave!”

Not succumbing to the constant pokes and prods of unhappy, struggling people and instead examining myself to see what I want made all this possible. Someone like Tracy hears that and thinks this means diving into a pool of irresponsibility until I’m penniless, hooked on crack & covered in STD’s. Of course staying sane and putting real serious thought into it is key. And that’s just what I did, and I’m doing something I adore!

I get a terrific joy skipping away from someone who’s draped themselves in chains and is begging me to do the same. It’s been over ten years now and I’m free of all that. If talking to yourself during mass and counting on heaven helps you bear your life, more power to ya. Keep at it. But I’m fine, no matter how much you wish I wasn’t.

Bob
“LEAVE JESUS ALONE!”

Well okay, if you like to draw then DRAW SOMETHING ELSE.  If you want to be your own boss and get up whenever, then there is nobody telling you that you cannot do that.  You don’t want a marriage and children?  Then don’t do it.  All I’m telling you, and all that ANYONE has ever TRIED to tell you (I saw photos of the protests.) is to LEAVE JESUS ALONE.  If you don’t want anything to do with Jesus then, unfortunately, that is your perrogative, albeit a BAD one.  You do not have to go around telling people what a bad person Jesus is (and He is NOT!) and telling people what a great person Satan is (which you are DEAD, **DEAD** wrong!!)

You like the dress up kits?  Do something ORIGINAL and make up your own character like Labyrinth the Troll and dress HIM up.  It would be funny!  Think about all the money the Harry Potter movies have made and they are filled with fictional creatures.  I know what you are thinking – the Harry Potter movies and LOADED with witchcraft.  Fine and true, and the few times my daughter watched them I said that all those monsters were fake and that kind of thing (magic, levitation) could never happen in real life.  AND — None of the Harry Potter movies make a point to insult Jesus DIRECTLY as YOU DO.  If they did, my daughter would have never watched a SINGLE ONE.

You can make a living and be your own man without insulting Jesus.  You have NO excuses to the contrary.

Tracy Hargett
Wow Tracy, you are such a perfect example of what I’m talking about. Someone who’s so committed to their fears ruling every decision that reasoning and commonsense don’t even come into consideration anymore. You’re a stranger begging me to alter my life and gear everything I do towards the rumors you’ve been told of what comes after the grave. Rumors you’ve got not a clue if they’re true or not, and admittedly written by men! Human beings who have no more knowledge of what if anything lies after the grave than you or I.

And once again, you’re a perfect example of someone I’m elated I get to walk away from not having to bow to anything you’re trying to terrorize me into. This may come as a shock to you, Tracy, but I do not fall victim to each and every panic stricken fundie waving a god over their head. You can shake your chains all you want but to me this is clearly your problem. Not mine. Leave me out of your complete submission to fear. Jesus is make-believe. And worshipping make-believe is bad, not good. A perfectly reasonable excuse to the contrary.

You’re contacting stores trying to destroy my business based on myths you believe about a dead guy rising from the grave and flying into the sky without wings. Doing away with such unreason is another perfect excuse to the contrary.

Bob
“I wash my hands of you.”

Bob,

I wash my hands of you. Whatever penalty you receive is all yours. I will bother you no more.

Tracy Hargett
As well as whatever rewards I receive are also mine. While your penalties are yours. Not Jesus’. Yours!

Lambasting scapegoats is yet another constructive excuse to the contrary.  Plus it sounds delicious!

Bob
“Seeing as how Jesus, Mary, Joseph, St. Peter, My Guardian Angel, Pope Benedict the 16th, Father Burke, Sr. Isaac, St. Lucy, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Augustine, Sr. Faustina, my daughter and I are ALL ON THE SAME PAGE…”

Seeing as how Jesus, Mary, Joseph, St. Peter, My Guardian Angel, Pope Benedict the 16th, my good friend Father Burke, Sr. Isaac, St. Lucy (my confirmation saint), St. Michael the Archangel, St. Augustine, Sr. Faustina, my daughter, and I are ALL ON THE SAME PAGE in terms of spirituality and what is right and what is wrong, I’m going to guess that my penalties are going to be A LOT FEWER than yours. The rewards in this life are nice, but THIS LIFE WILL END. And then what? Hell? I think not, if Jesus my Savior and I have anything to do with it.

My goal while here is to serve as many people as I can (and God, of course) hoping that in doing so I will spend an minimal amount of time in Purgatory and then an Eternity with all the Angels and Saints in Heaven singing hymns of praise and praying for those who still struggle to get by on Earth. I think this is a little bit better goal than making all the money you possibly can and offending every Christian who crosses your path.

Yeah, Bob – enjoy what you got here. Unless you change, I have a feeling that it is the only JOY you will ever have. And you know what? That’s really sad.

Tracy Hargett
You said “an minimal.” I believe before a word beginning with a consonant it’s supposed to be “a”. So it’s “hoping that in doing so I will spend a minimal amount of time in Purgatory.” 

“An” is strictly before words that begin with a vowel.

I used to mess that up all the time too, but now when I see it it stands out like a sore thumb.

Just trying to help.

Bob
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Atheism, Hate Mail

Ant named Daniel

2 Comments

A tender page of complaining and smart aleck retorts that I know you love.

An Ant named Daniel

“respectful?”

Subject: Jesus

Do you think this site is respectful?

Daniel Ybarra

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30
Hmmmmm, excellent question. I hadn’t ever thought of it like that before.

Is it respectful?

I mean, I think in some ways yes, and I suppose in some ways maybe not? I see a sort of honor in the overall presentation. Although I have trouble seeing how it could be seen as dis…

Actually, No.

Bob
“Christian?”

Are you a Christian?

Daniel Ybarra
Oh Jesus, no.

Bob
“despise Him?”

Do you despise Him?

Daniel Ybarra
No no. It’s just play-fun. Pretending. Like play-fighting in the back yard with squirt guns. You don’t hate your friends when you’re shooting them. It’s just pretend.

Does that make sense?

Bob
“what if instead of Jesus it was someone close to you that was beaten, spit on, mocked, then nailed to a cross, someone like your best friend?”

I see where you are coming from but what if instead of Jesus it was someone close to you that was beaten, spit on, mocked, then nailed to a cross, someone like your best friend or your father, or your mother? Then might you not want to spray that person with a water gun? Are you of any religion?

Daniel Ybarra
Well no. You can’t have it both ways. Because let’s say my friend or father were nailed to a cross, but THEN he sprang back to life a couple days later and showed up at our house for dinner, then hugged and kissed us all goodbye and started flapping his arms and flew up into the sky forever and ever, I really wouldn’t mind.

And after all of that, he was crowned king of the whole universe and told everybody we had to worship him or go to hell forever, I’d have no problem at all squirting him myself RIGHT in the FACE!!! Like a hundred times, even if he started crying!!! Haha!

I’m atheist.

Bob
“why would you spray Him in the face?”

Ok I see. Good point he does win in the end but he did not have wings and doubt he drank any Red Bull. If he were God in the flesh do you think he should be worthy of worship? And if he is God should he be able to make the rules? Atheist? Cool we are going to have great conversation. If he had the powere to forever separate you from God then why would you spray Him in the face?

Daniel Ybarra
Oh man, no. We should worship absolutely nothing. Even if he were god. Worship nothing. Ever!

Worshipping totally defeats the purpose of living your life, because then you’re living it for someone else. If you were a god would you command worship? I mean, not an evil god, because then you would. But if you were trying to be a good god would you order worship and following, and forbid entrance into paradise for any of your creations who didn’t bow to you?

However, if he were make-believe and instead a threat used by men to take advantage of other people, then that’s precisely what you’d do… as a fictional god. It’s really basic, once you step back and think about it without biased.

I’ve known several really cool adults in my life who were super smart & noble & respectable, and the exact opposite thing those people did was command worship for their goodness. They let people live their own lives and advised others not to worship. Worshiping weakens the mind. No good god would want that.

He’s in paradise, Daniel. The greatest place in the whole universe! He’s fine. You need to worry about being taken advantage now, in this life, by the people around you who see you’ll believe anything.

Bob
“The difference between His thoughts and mine are greater than the difference between my thoughts and a single celled organism…”

Contrary to your view I believe worshiping God helps to complete you.

What is the purpose of life?

I happen to find great pleasure in living for someone other than myself. In fact all the years I lived for myself and sought out my own pleasure I ended up destroying myself, my relationships with others, and was much less likely to contribute to the welfare of humanity.

It has been my experience that His instruction is for our own good.

I also know many cool adults with many of the same characteristics, some atheist and some Christian. But I only know one all powerful, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent being and that is God. I and all other men who are wise and noble are just that…men who do not have the authority to establish any guidelines that should be followed. They also have no power and no place in judgment after we die. Also, I dont know what I would do if i were God, and I will never know. It is not my place. The difference between His thoughts and mine are greater than the difference between my thoughts and a single celled organism I would not comprehend His thoughts all I know is what has been revealed to me by His Word, The Bible.

I am sure I agree with you on many parts of history where Christianity and Jesus was used to exploit peoples lives and used for financial gain. I too believe many were wrong for their manipulative ways. At one point people were not taught to read the Bible for themselves they were just spoon fed what the “Church” wanted them to know, that is sickening.I believe we continue through life with an empty place in our hearts that can be filled by nothing other than an awesome and perfect God. I believe his instruction is for our best interest.

Most of our time will be spent in the afterlife I need to worry about that. If I live to be 100 years old that is a long life to the world but a drop in the bucket when compared to eternity. I don’t believe anything I hear I give all things that I believe much thought.

I am enjoying the conversation and perspective.

Daniel Ybarra
Excellent analogy. Like a single celled organism trying to comprehend us. Microorganisms attempting to understand you, me, and our expectations of them. So far removed from our world, yet passing along ideas to each other about Daniel & Bob. Imagine that juxtaposition and you understand why I don’t take your word, or a preacher’s word, or the word of the Bible’s authors. Single celled organisms claiming to know our minds. Would you advise those cells to listen to each other about what we’re thinking, Daniel? Yet here you are, an ant, declaring to know the ant farmer. And it’s all on the word of other ants.

“Hello people of Antville! This ant named Daniel KNOWS the mind of our farmer! Somehow he knows what is expected of us! We must follow what he says about how to live our little ant lives for he knows what comes after the grave, this tiny ant called Daniel!” 

Yes Daniel, it seems you do understand why I laugh at you and your images of god. You understand better than I thought possible.

Bob

Artist, Atheist, Anthropologist