DIAL A GAY ATHEIST (713) 880-4242 02 January 1994 Happy New Year from Dial-A-Gay-Atheist,

DIAL A GAY ATHEIST
(713) 880-4242
02 January 1994	


	Happy New Year from Dial-A-Gay-Atheist, a communications
service of American Gay & Lesbian Atheists.  American Gay Atheists,
Inc., is a non-profit, educational foundation dedicated to
promoting separation between state and church.  All inquiries
should be addressed, in writing, to AGLA, PO Box 66711, Houston,
TX 77266.  This is Don Sanders for Dial-A-Gay-Atheist.

	Ending a year which was basically devastating to Jefferson's
concept of separation between state and church, two major American
news weeklies closed out their 1993 editions featuring stories
about angels.  The December 27 editions of both "Time" and
"Newsweek" featured stories of the ethereal beings.  In fact,
"Time" had a drawing of one of the winged figmentations on its
cover.  Oh, sure, it was the Christmas season and time to bring the
celestial spirits from out of their closets.  But according to both
magazines, it seems that seraphs are on the minds of Americans
throughout the year, not just at Christmas time. 

	According to "Time," 69% of Americans say they believe that
angels really exist, while 46% think they have their own personal
guardian angel.  And 55% believe that angels are agents of god who
has bestowed upon them special powers.  49% percent also believe
in the existence of so-called "fallen angels," that is, angels who
have turned rotten, like god's former archangel, Lucifer, better
known in America as "the devil."   

	Of course, those of us who are critics of religion agree that
Christianity, and most other religions, would be up a creek without
a paddle without the devil.  The devil is as much a necessary part
of Christianity as is Jesus Christ, and perhaps more so.  For,
according to legend, the devil, or Satan, is the first of god's
defective creations whose own pride and vanity caused him to be
expelled from heaven, and it is that pride which has given the
captain of the fallen angels the power to tempt humankind into
committing such heinous "sins." Of course, without "sin," there
would never have been a need for Jesus in the first place, and thus
the need for Christianity itself.  Thus, my reasoning for the
devil's portentous role in Christianity.  It was necessary,
therefore, for Christianity to have created a devil, or some kind
of bad guy, in order to make the religion fly.

	After reading the articles in both "Time" and "Newsweek," I
sat down and popped off a letter to the editors of "Newsweek" about
the article which they had just presented on the subject of angels. 
Here is what I said:  

	Angels are simply personal gods or goddesses concocted by
	individuals to suit their needs for control over things that
	make them feel powerless.  Unfortunately, many humans are
	unwilling to accept reality and opt instead for fantasy.  It
	is especially distressing that well-educated citizens of the
	world's most technologically advanced nation are reverting to
	the mind-set of the Dark Ages as a new century approaches.

	What both articles showed quite clearly is that angels, like
gods, are manifestations of human imagination.  Just like god is
a creation of the human mind, suited to the contemporary culture
of the day, so are angels.  Angels are more similar to the Jesus
man-god.  Like Jesus, they are very personal gods, having human
characteristics and features, and are beings which allegedly act
as protectors.  

	As we move forward in time, inching ever closer to a new
century, the forces of regression seem also to be working overtime
in order to take us back and envelope us in superstition.  The
notion of the existence of angels also relates to the religious
idea of the existence of a soul and life after death.  In fact,
many people believe that angels are the manifestations of their
dead mothers and aunts, cousins and sisters.  In other words, to
many, angels are the spirits of the dead.  

	Of course, like the idea of life after death, the belief in
the existence of angels merely reflects the desire, on the part of
many humans, for immortality.  It also helps some people get
through life without feeling a need to take responsibility for
their own actions.  If they convince themselves that a god is
watching over them or that a guardian angel is there to protect
them during times of danger or crisis, they can justify a risky and
reckless lifestyle.  This also explains the phenomenon of the mass
murderer who, after being imprisoned and placed on death row for
his crimes against society, suddenly "finds" Jesus and then claims
all his bloody deeds have been forgiven.

	Stepping forward out of the dark and into the light of
knowledge and reason is what we at AGLA are doing.  Help us
continue this forward-march by sending a tax-deductible donation
to help keep this and other programs of AGLA in operation.  Ask for
a free sample copy of "The American Gay & Lesbian Atheist"
newsletter.  The address is AGLA, PO Box 66711, Houston, TX 77266. 

	Watch for the American Atheist Television Forum in Houston
over the Public Access Channel on your cable system.  At the tone,
tell us from where you're calling and what's on your mind.  Perhaps
your opinion will be played on a future Open Forum segment.  Of
course, call this American GAY Atheist again, anytime.


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