We ask you, humbly, to help us. We hope you enjoy this web site and what it represents. If so, fantastic! The thing is ... we're an independent group of normal people who donate our time to bring you the content on this website. We hope that it makes a difference. Over the past year, expenses related to the site upkeep (from research to delivery) has increased ... while available funds to keep things afloat have decreased. We would love to continue bringing you the content, but we desperately need your help through monetary donations. Anything would help, from a one-off to small monthly donations. $3? $5? $15? The option is yours. Regardless, your help would be appreciated. Please click HERE to be taken to our donation page. Thank you so much. Bruce Robinson, Founder.

Essays donated by visitors to this web site:

Important notes:

This section of our web site contains an eclectic mix of essays written and donated by our visitors.

Almost all of the essays elsewhere on this web site attempt to portray all points of view on a given topic. We also try to avoid criticizing the religious beliefs of any group, except when it obviously hurts other people. The essays below often deviate from the standards that we use. Quite often, they will express a single opinion and reject all other interpretations of the Torah, Christian Scriptures, Qur'an, etc. as being in error and without merit. Read them with care.

If you are distressed at the contents of any of these essays, we invite you to write a rebuttal and submit it to us. We will seriously consider adding it to this section.

Email an essay that you wish to donate here for review.

Disclaimer:

These essays do not necessarily represent the beliefs of any or all of the staff of the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. In fact, since we are a multi-faith group, it is quite likely that the beliefs expressed in these essays will differ from at least some of our staff's opinions.

Criteria for rejecting essays:

We reserve the right to reject any entries for a range of reasons, including:

	Essays that we feel exhibit hatred or proposes discrimination against others on the basis of their gender, race, skin color, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, denomination, etc.
	Essays whose primary goal is to attack individuals or groups.
	Essays which attack religious beliefs of other faith groups. However, we will generally accept essays that: Compare beliefs of two or more religions, or Compare the beliefs of one faith group with scientific findings, or Compare and contrast beliefs within a single religion.
	We prefer essays 75 lines in length, or longer.

We have also decided to not publish essays which:

Advocate corporal punishment of children. This is because of many long term studies involving tens of thousands of individuals from childhood to their 20's. They show that rates of clinical depression, alcohol addiction, drug addiction and anxiety attacks in adulthood increase with the frequency of spanking. We don't want to be even partly responsible for the suffering that an essay advocating spanking would probably generate.

Promote conspiracy theories or doomsday scenarios. The level of fear circulating in North America is highly destabilizing. We don't want to add to people's stress levels.

Sponsored link

Essays written by our web site visitors:

	Rules and suggestions about donating essays
	Abortion access: Anon: "Pro-choice means giving the woman choice" Anon: "The dangers of forcing a teen to have an abortion" Stanford Aranoff: "The beginning of a person" "C.B.: "The rights of the pregnant woman vs. the the rights of her pre-embryo, embryo or fetus" Stephanie Chen: "Defining personhood" Peter Faulknor: "Searching for an ethical position in the abortion debate" Marliz Olmos-Armas: "The personal experiences of a woman who obtained an abortion" Marliz Olmos-Armas: "Nine reasons in favor of retaining abortion access" "Peggy:" "Finding God's love in an abortion clinic" Leslie Rummell: "Voice of the unborn child." Laurie Snyder: "A child never born." Don Staddon: "Abortion kills children: Truth or deception?" Chuck Thompson "Abortion equals assassination" Arthur R. Trafford: "The 'pro-baby' movement" Various: Poems by pro-life poets: Leslie M. Willson, James O'Brien, & 'KLogger1'. Various: More poems by: Lee Caress, Eleni Phufas, & Loranda Arosemena.
	Abortions: Reducing the number: Angie Pratt: "How to reduce the number of abortions" "Northstar: "How to reduce the number of abortions; a response Charles Sabillon: "Reducing abortions via technology" See also our menu on this topic.
	Abuse -- spiritual and sexual: "Alice:" "A woman's personal experience" "Michael:" "The beast is silent"
	Afterlife: Zicon: "Is there an afterlife?" Cary Cook: " 'After Pascal:' thoughts on an afterlife" Susan Humphreys: Heaven, Hell and Purgatory How to dissect a logical argument: e.g. on the afterlife
	Agnosticism and Atheism: Ben & Eric: "An Atheist and a Christian have a theological discussion" Vincent Bugliosi: "Why Do I Doubt Both the Atheists and the Theists?" E.C. Huddleston: Astute Brutes: Putting More Muscle in Strong Atheism Susan Humphreys: Misconceptions about Atheists Can Theists and Atheists coexist?"A Seventh Day Adventist tries Atheism for a year An Atheist defends Religion Part 1  Part 2 "Ken": "'Answering The New Atheism,' by Scott Hahn & Benjamin Wiker: A Refutation" R.W. Mettetal: "On the tolerance of Christians towards Atheists, and vice-versa" Nathan Parker: "Improving relationships between Theists and Atheists"  Alan Rogers: ""How to be a tolerant Atheist" Nick Tolk: "Deicide As A Path To Personal Growth: Reflections on Atheistic Religions" Benjamin Wiker: "An attack on the 'New Atheism' by comparing the activities of Yahweh with Evolution's 'god' "
	Art: Kitt Cherry: "New Website Dares to Show Gay Jesus" Kitt Cherry: "Censored Christ Mother appears at last"
	Behavior, personal and spiritual: Contributing Editor, Susan Humphreys: "Helping to reduce conflictby becoming "Ego Free" Finding meaning and purpose in a rapidly changing world All bluster and no muster The complete "Unifying American Story" Traditional virtues and values: Rod Dreher's vision of communal Christian life Some things are beyond our control Self-actualization: Being selfish or being true to self? Is there a difference? Worst Enemy or Best Advocate? New Years resolutions Walter Kirchbauer: "Twelve criteria to measure one's perfect submission" Rabbi A.S. Maller: "The Religious Value Of Celebrating a New Year"
	Beliefs: Ben & Eric: "An Atheist and a Christian have a theological discussion" "Chesed and Gevurah:" "Letter to my deacon: Why mercy is better" Nick Coghlan: "Which matters more to you: being right or staying friends?" Peaceful coexistence with persons having other beliefs Susan Gilmore: "Personal freedom as a result of abandoning organized religion" Susan Humphries: "Do people have the right to believe anything they want? Does religious freedom include the right to hurt others?" " 'Faith and Truth:' a response to the Popes' new encyclical 'Lumen Fidei' (Light of Faith)" "Understanding the times: coexisting in a nation with different worldviews" "True Believers in the United States of Hate" Science's Achilles Heel: Is it really unable to explain why stuff matters? Science, the universe, and its component parts What matters most in life? What you are or what you do?. Scapegoating: punishing the innocent for the sins of the guilty. Michael Gryboski: "The nature of Christian Fundamentalism" Corey Harvard: "Is Fundamentalism a sound system of belief?" Diane Holder: "Follow your beliefs, in love, without fear" Larry Langston: "Perhaps life is about gathering experience, not waiting for rewards or punishment after life." "No one really knows" Anita Pathik Law: "Believe it and you will see it! Ron and Karen Schwartz: "What is truth: Handling diversity of beliefs in Christianity"
	The Bible: D.L. Henderson: "The greatest myth ever told" Susan Humphreys: "Objective and subjective standards. What the Bible says vs. what one's interpretation of what the Bible says" The problems people stumble iInto, when they use biblical references to justify & sanctify their prejudices or their truth. Part 1  Part 2 Rabbi A.S. Maller: "A Torah With 70 Different Aspects" Don't Read the Bible Alone: Study the Bible with a Commentary and with Other Students R. C. Symes, concerning myths in the Bible: "Myths surrounding Jesus' birth" "The resurrection myths about Jesus" "Jesus' miracles and religious myth" "Bible prophecies and myth" "Is the Bible the Word of God or Myth of men?" Part 1: Bible origins, variations, forgeries, etc. Part 2: Biblical errors and contradictions Alton C. Thompson: "Narcissism and the Bible" Dawn Wessel: "The Synonymy of the Parables: Connecting the Dots to Reveal the Bible’s Cryptic Voice"
	Bullying: Susan Humphreys: "Words hurt"
	Carlos Casteneda's writing on the teachings of Don Juan: Susan Humphreys describes lessons she has learned
	Change (Producing change in your life): John Edward: "Five ways to create and manifest positive change" Sagaren Pillay: "How to conquer fear and Be happy, healthy and rich"
	Christianity: (See "Religion" below for additional essays) Anon: "A personal story of religious conversion from Agnosticism to Bible-believing Christianity" Anon: "Practicing a simpler Christianity: less belief, more experience and practice" Anon: "Does progress depend on accepting Jesus Christ or rejecting the Bible?" Tony Bisson: "The larger truths about God and the spirit world" "Seeking knowledge of humanity's future life" David W. T. Brattston: Choosing a Church: One True Church or One Right Church? Tony Crosthwaite: "Jesus versus Two Religious Establishments: From Jew to Gentile" Tom Drake-Brockman: "Spiritual Humanism & the meaning of life: Jesus, the Buddha, suffering & service to others" "Happy Krishmas: Jesus, the Buddha, and reincarnation" Stephen Fretwell: "What is true Christianity?" Clyde Glandon: "Contemporary Anglican Episcopal Perspectives" James Gray: "The Bible's Obsolescence" "The Love Command: Further Thoughts" "Why I am not a Christian" Susan Humphreys: "Christmas: What is the 'reason for the Season'?" "Goals and Objectives: Some words of advice for the new Pope" "Will Pope Francis I hinder, harm or help the world?" "Confused by the Confusion" over Pope Francis & Roman Catholicism. The author's personal opinion" "Initial Suppositions, Uncomfortable Truths and the Bible" "Debate in the Roman Catholic Church concerning the Pope's 2016 teaching Amoris laetitia: "The Joy of Love:" Akili Kumasi: "The Martha Syndrome and the Mary Solution" Kathy LaPan: "Why Christianity is exclusive: the only true religion." "Linda": "Reading the Bible." Jim Persinger: "Were Adam and Eve the first humans?" Shannon Richey: "A critique of the Word of Faith (a.k.a. Prosperity Gospel, and "Name it & claim it") belief systems" Paul Schroeder: "An unbelievable gift of an vision experience" Alton C. Thompson: Christianity: 'Fix it or forget it Why did Christianity never take in our society? "Wildwood" Churches: Comforting the afflicted or afflicting the comfortable? “Killing Him Won’t Be the End of Him” Proposal to Create a Life Enhancement Group (LEG) Arthur Trafford: Christians’ varied interpretations of the Word of God There were no denominations in 1st Century Christianity
	Climate change: See Environment
	Conflict: America's Great Divide. Who will have a seat at the political table? Will there be any room at the Inn? by Susan Humphreys
	Creation science vs. evolution: See Origins
	Culture Essays donated by Susan Humphreys: American Ethos. Myth or Reality? Blessing or Curse? How one person's symbol is another person's idol
	Diversity, religious: Brandon Arkell: "Interfaith reconciliation as viewed by the Universal Life Church Monastery" Charri Everson: "About religion" Jeann Forsberg: "Understanding Christians of a different tradition" Susan Humphreys: "Seeking the truth, I found many truths" Grace Li: "Different people, different paths to 'God' " William R. Stimson: "Is religion the problem?" "M.T.:" "Ten ridiculed religions" K. Turner: "Accepting religious diversity."
	Easter Alton C. Thompson: Easter: What “It’s All About”? Alton C. Thompson: "A Heretic’s View of Easter, interpreted as personal transformation"
	Education Anon: "The value -- or lack of value -- of higher education" Andrew Flaxman: "How to Educate Yourself in Liberal Arts"
	End of the world as we know it (EOTWAWKI): Susan Humphreys: Some questions about the rapture end times theology Joseph R. Jochmans: Hell, Heaven or Hype? - Six facts about what will really happen in 2012 A.S. Maller: Lessons From Yet Another 'No Show' Doomsday: A Jewish view Alton C. Thompson: Avoiding human exinction by radical social change. Was Martin Luther Kings Jr.'s dream the wrong one? Aerik Vondenburg: The 2011-MAY-21 apocalypse and a case for preterism"
	Environment: Harry G. Morris: The Conundrum: Having "... dominion over ... all the earth. Alton C. Thompson: Appreciating nature, and the negative effects of our isolation from it. Dave Wilson: Homo sapiensā€™s potential fatal flaw See also a series of articles by Vladimir Tomek on the environment
	Ethics: See Morality
	Evolution: See Origins
	Family & marriage: Anon: "The marriage passbook." Susan Humphreys: "Is opposing same-sex marriage not hate?" Rabbi Allen S. Maller: "It is not Gays undermining marriage. It is the uneducated" "The significance of Jewish wedding rituals" Jason Miller: "Freedom Fettered by Fear" Lal Mohd: "Marriage and divorce in Islam" Patrick Nailon: "In favor of marriage for all" John Nash: "On Mormons and the equality of women" "Wired:" "About spanking"
	Free will Susan Humphreys: "Free will and the nature of God" Mahlon Wickey: "Does God interfere with man's will?"
	Freedom and rights, religious: Essays by Susan Humphreys: "Religious rights, persecution and discrimination" "Whose religious or secular rights take precedence over other peoples' rights?" A Matter of Conscience Encouraging stores to not discriminate on religious grounds
	Global warming: See Environment
	God and Satan: Anon: "Is God good?" Anon: "Should the Ten Commandments be posted in schools?" Jim Ashby: "God is flawed." Alan Auckenthaler: "Pilgrim in an ambiguous world, working towards an understanding of God." T.C. Bakel, "God/Satan/Vanity/Prejudice/Ignorance" Cary Cook: "Should 'under God' be in or out of the Pledge of Allegiance?" Allen Earle: "The God in your head is real" Keith Gilmour: "Sympathy for the Almighty: It's not easy being God" Sherwood Goozee: " 'IZ Sense:' revisualizing God" James B. Gray: "A post-season meditation: Is God our cosmic bellhop or our king?" Susan Humphreys: The nature of God God in the Pledge of Allegiance: How secularists can win by altering their strategy Natural and Man Made Disasters. WHO is God punishing & WHO is he protecting? An Atheist defends Religion Part 1  Part 2 Is God an Infinite Perfect Being? The problem with God's perfection Deism, God, the Big Bang, Matter, & Motion Why has God / The All / The Source left us uninformed about what life is all about? Is God a perfect being? Some negative answers A series of essays on Theodicy: A solution to the problem of Theodicy. A solution to the problem of Theodicy. A solution (Cont'd). The fallacy of perfection: the perfect "Catch 22" Mourning a loss. A time for reflection The presence of evil & a perfect God. Extremism: the problem, and how to respond to it. First of a series of essays on the existence/non-existence of God: An alternative view of Feser's: Aristotalian Case for God Robert Kaiser: "Is blind faith immoral? On faith vs. reason" John Kyff: "One nation under God" Prem Kamble: "God and religion: A new look" Larry Langston: "What God is not" Kate Lenhardt: "An argument for Satan" Arthur Levine: "Where To Go Next To Find God" "Chasing Jesus" Rabbi Allen S. Maller: "Changing God's mind" "Religious pluralism is God's will" "The prophetic vision of religious pluralism From Micah to Muhammad" "Choosing to be chosen: Multiple relationships between God and the nations" Minsky: "Is God moral? A serious response to a serious question" Mushtaq: "God, Satan, his messengers and human response" Hellen Nanney: "Who made God" Darrel Ray: "There are no monotheistic religions; Educating monotheists" Nelson Rose: "The G Word: A Deist's concept of the creator" Alan Rogers: "Theodicy: A parable" "How to be a tolerant Atheist" "On Neo-Deism" Alton Thompson: "Some “heretical” comments on the Holy Spirit" Nick Tolk: "Deicide As A Path To Personal Growth: Reflections on Atheistic Religions" Geoff Wright: "Armchair Archeology" Satan as the cause of the Tunguska event.
	Hell, Hades & Gehanna: Carol Border: "The debate and issues related to Hell" Alan J: "My journey to Hell" Mathew James: "Is Hell an eternal damnation, or are there three woes?" Mahlon Wickey: "Gehenna hell-fire"
	Homosexuality/Lesbians/Gays: (See also same-sex marriages) Alysha: "The pulpit and downstairs:" a poem. Anonymous: "An emotional, personal, real-life letter to Christian fundamentalists." Anon: "One woman's experience with homosexuality and acceptance of diversity." Anon: "Theological Determinism and Homosexuality" Anon: "Jehovah's Witnesses, same-sex marriage & homosexuality" Anthony Ashford: "Six biblical reasons why Christians should accept same-sex relationships." Menu Tricia B: "The Baha'i faith and homosexuality" Kitt Cherry: "New website dares to show gay Jesus" Robert Flatt: "Homosexuality: sin? shame? cause? A conservative Christian viewpoint" Helen Herndon, "How Can a Heterophobic Call Me Homophobic and Heterosexist?" Susan Humphreys: "2013-JUL: Pope Francis' comments on homosexuality" Three foundational flaws in the Nashville Statement against the LGBT community What it means to be human: An analysis of the Nashville Statement Dr. Marty Klein, "Poor reason to support gay rights: "My son isĀ gay" Lindy Madsen: "A tainted idea of love: The personal struggle between identity and religion" Angel Mason: "CNN newscaster Don Lemon: Young, gifted, black, gay and handsome" Angel Mason: "Response of the black Christian community to California law SB 48" Gary Miles: "A cure for homophobia." Natalie Parkerson: "Sexism & homophobia within Christianity" Derek S.: "A Biblical Defense of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & transgender (GLBT) Persons." Randi Schimnosky: "The ex-gay industry is fostering social rejection of persons with same sex attractions." "RHC": "