(Created on 12-02-01, last updated 12-02-01)
 

I. Personal Questions

Who are you?
Why do you have this FAQ?
Ok. So what's up with your name?

II. My Title

Are you a Christian Reverend, Pastor, Priest, etc.?
How is that possible? I thought Reverend was a Christian title.
Ok, so what kind of Reverend are you if you're not Christian?
How were you ordained?
Tell me more about the ULC.
Why were you ordained?

III. My Beliefs

Do you believe in God?
Why don't you believe in God?
Isn't Atheism a religion in it's own right?
Isn't God's creation of the world and man evidence enough of God?
Do you have other spiritual beliefs?

IV. Why I'm here

Why do you come to #christian (or any other Christian chat channel)?
Are you here to attack Christianity?

V. Etcetera

Are you interested in becoming a Christian? Have you tried to accept Jesus into your heart?
 
 
 

Q. Who are you?

A. I'm RevMike, a.k.a. Thatcher. I've been a regular in #christian (on Undernet) since 1998.
 

Q. Why do you have this FAQ?

A. Because people are often asking about my name and my beliefs, and explaining the same thing, over and over, day in and day out, gets tiresome.
 

Q. Ok. So what's up with your name?

A. "RevMike" means "Reverend Mike"
 

Q. Are you a Christian Reverend, Pastor, Priest, etc.?

A. No. I'm not a Christian at all. I'm an atheist.
 

Q. How is that possible? I thought Reverend was a Christian title.

A. Nope. Reverend is simply a title, usually given by a church to a member it feels is "worthy of reverence". Often used to describe someone "of or relating to the clergy", it is a title many Christian churches give to those people who lead certain services and have a specific leadership role in the church. It is not, however, a specifically Christian title.
 

Q. Ok, so what kind of Reverend are you if you're not Christian?

A. I'm a reverend in title only, I don't have my own church, I don't have followers, and I don't follow any religion.
 

Q. How were you ordained?

A. I was ordained online by the Universal Life Church of Modesto, California.
 

Q. Tell me more about the ULC.

A. The ULC exists mainly for the purpose of providing ordinations to people, no questions asked. The ULC doesn't hold any views except they "ask only that you promote the freedom of religion and do that which is right and it is up to the individual to determine what is right as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others and is within the law". I don't hold any connection to the ULC except as someone they've ordained. They've ordained many millions of people, both online and via the mail.
 

Q. Why were you ordained?

A. For both the novelty factor (it's interesting to have a title like "Reverend") and for the legal ability to perform marriages.
 

Q. Do you believe in God?

A. No. I'm an atheist.
 

Q. Why don't you believe in God?

A. I don't believe in God (the Christian God) or any others for the same reason I don't believe in magical 1,000 foot purple gorillas - I have seen no evidence for them. It's as simple as that.
 

Q. Isn't Atheism a religion in it's own right?

A. No. It's not a religion any more than not believing in the magical 1,000 foot purple gorillas.
 

Q. Isn't God's creation of the world and man evidence enough of God?

A. No. There are many more likely explanations for the origins of the universe and man than Christian mythos.
 

Q. Do you have other spiritual beliefs?

A. Not really. I think there are likely things that many consider "spiritual" that are simply unexplained natural phenomenon. I have had personal experiences that have lead me to believe that a natural mental "force" exists and is generally manifested by events like prayer, wishes, or spiritual magic. I am skeptical, however, as these events could easily have other explanations. I have never "spoken to god", seen a ghost, or talked to the dead.
 

Q. Why do you come to #christian (or any other Christian chat channel)?

A. To learn more about Christianity. I live in a Christian culture. Many of my friends are Christian. The American government has a very Christian slant to it (you get Christmas and Easter off, you don't get Yom Kipper, Ramadan or the solstices). In the US, where I live, over 80% of people identify as Christian. It's a prevailant religion in the world, and the prevailant religion of the world's most powerful countries and leaders. Since I'm not Chritsian, and wasn't raised one, it's my duty as a member of culture and society to find out what my fellow people believe, and why.
 

Q. Are you here to attack Christianity?

A. No. I come to #christian to chat. I am, however, very honest about my views, and some people take my honesty as a personal attack. It is not intended as such, however.
 

Q. Are you interested in becoming a Christian? Have you tried to accept Jesus into your heart?

A. No and no. I accept facts based on evidence. If I had good evidence for believing in the deity of Christ, I'd believe. I have yet to see good evidence, however.