Bio

Doug Stewart

I was born in England and, after receiving my B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Engineering, I lived in Australia for three years before emigrating to the United States in 1990. Coming from such relatively secular countries, and growing up never really considering the existence of a god or even religion in general, I found my two years in Ohio, to be "a wake up call".

I moved with my wife and three children to the more progressive California. However, I grew more aware of my atheism due to the sudden agony of the 9/11, "Faith Based Initiative", coupled with the eight years of theistically imposed moral and constitutional abuse of the Bush Administration. The reasons for my feelings are the War (or should I say "Crusade"?) in Iraq, the governmental inhumanity of Hurricane Katrina, and the greed based economic meltdown. Oh, and the United States of America, the guiding light for democracy and justice in the world, started torturing people.

Imagine no Religion. New York, September 11th, 2001 - A Faith Based Initiative. Imagine no Religion. New York, September 11th, 2001 - A Faith Based Initiative.

Setting aside past religious abominations like the Crusades, the Conquistadores, the Inquisition, and the Salem Witch Trials, I abhor religion's interference in the current issues of abortion rights, stem cell research, euthanasia, abstinence only education, persecution of homosexuals, the prohibition of contraception, (specifically condom use in AIDS riddled Africa), Faith Based Initiatives, school vouchers, the teaching of creationism vs. evolution in schools, the Catholic child molestation issue and the subsequent cover up and much more. However, these pale compared to the general abuses in the name of religion for control and power, like the "blackmail" of heaven and hell and the self-imposed shackles of guilt and shame induced subservience.

Jesus Camp – The 2006 American documentary film. An “unabashed look at the formation of tomorrow's army of God Jesus Camp – The 2006 American documentary film. An “unabashed look at the formation of tomorrow's army of God

Due mainly to business opportunities, I relocated to Louisiana at the end of 2007 where I have expanded my passion for the separation of church and state, freethinking, and Humanism. What better place for a "Godless Evangelist" to live than the South?

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology - Cognitive Evolution, at Northcentral University, hoping to research the thought processes of belief systems.

Change the Future of Reason

We are on the verge of the Second Enlightenment.

Due to the success of the 'New Atheist' literature, the rebound from arguably the worst government in American history due to its quasi theocracy, and the election of a new President that actually acknowledges the existence of atheists, we needs to grasp the opportunity.

What the Civil War was for the emancipation of slavery, what the suffragette movement was for women, and what the civil rights movement was for race equality, I believe this time is for the advancement of Reason. Furthermore, I believe this move to rational thinking will be exponential. From the laughable nomination of Sarah Palin as a Vice Presidential candidate to the comical hysteria of the opposition to health care reform, we're witnessing the death throws of mass organized ignorance.

It's time to make a stand for rational thinking by reaching out at the grass roots level.

I'm fascinated by your religious belief.

And hopefully you're fascinated just as much by my lack of belief? So, let's talk? Send me an email on godlessevangelist@gmail.com or call me on (504) 676-0536. When and if we talk on the phone, I'll record the discussion and post the podcast on my website, www.godlessevangelist.com.

Who am I?

Even though I've been living in the United States for nearly 20 years now, I was born and educated in England. Even though it's compulsory to teach the Christian religion in British schools, where I differ from American-born atheists is that, as far as I can remember, I've never really believed in a supreme being.

What do I want?

Well, in short, I want to know what YOU believe.

What I'd like to do is encourage honest, open minded, well mannered, intelligent communication with people of faith.

Talking to my fellow atheists who agree with me is, quite frankly, boring. As I feel passionately about what I believe, (or don't believe), and I'm sure you also feel just as passionately about what YOU believe, I think the resulting debate would be fascinating.

Why am I doing this?

Religion has structured itself in society where there's no real platform for confrontation. Critical discussion has been taboo. (Ever heard of a church service that ended with a Question and Answer session?) As a result religion has been given a free ride.

Burning the occasional blasphemer at the stake probably had a lot to do with it in years past, but today the reason lies in social psychology. My theory is that just as genes are analogous to memes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme as biological and cultural replicators, the biological phenomena known as ‘allelopathy’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allelopathy, where plants emit toxins that inhibit the growth of other plants, religion emits ‘toxins’ into the cultural system that ‘inhibit the growth’ of reason by making it ‘uncomfortable’ to dismiss or even question the irrational beliefs.

Religion has so much of an impact on the political landscape of America. In my opinion, it's time that religion became accountable.

Why I want to do this?

Well, I disagree with the accepted atheist mantra of "keep your religion to yourself". When a person enters the voting booth, they DON'T keep their religion to themselves, and that's the place where they speak the loudest. Their irrational medieval beliefs adversely affect me and my family.

For example, having politicians that believe in the biblical prophecies about Jesus returning to Earth in their lifetime, Armageddon, the Anti-Christ, and the End Times, (George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, and many more) is not only delusional, but potentially disastrous.

Technological progress is now fast outpacing social progress, and supernatural belief is the reason for our cultural retardation.

What's in it for you?

As I have never understood the concept of a supernatural being or god, this is your chance to "save my soul". Besides, isn't it your duty?

Bible 1 Peter 3:15 “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you”.

Koran 2:111, “Bring your proof of what ye state if ye are truthful”.

Likewise, maybe I could similarly enlighten you?

What to do next?

If you're interested, send me an email on godlessevangelist@gmail.com or call me on (504) 676-0536. When and if we talk on the phone, I'll record the discussion and post the podcast on my website, www.godlessevangelist.com.

Note that there is no hidden agenda here. No one's getting or giving anything to anyone, except maybe illumination.

I've listed a few possible topics of discussion on my website. I'll also be making videos giving my point of view on these topics. So I hope to hear from you.

Godless on YouTube

If you enjoy dialogue and/or debate, subscribe to my YouTube channel.

"Let's save Minds for Reason instead of Souls for Jesus" -Doug Stewart