The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser

Tag: Evangelical Email and Comments

Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian — Round Five

In 2023, Richard, an Evangelical Christian, sent me an email, to which I responded in the post Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian. Richard did not respond to my post, either by commenting or sending me an email. In 2024, Richard sent me another email, Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian — Round Two. In 2025, Richard sent me another email, Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian — Round Three, followed up with yet another email in 2026.

Richard decided to go the extra mile to get me to join his religious club by sending me yet another email. My response follows. (All spelling, grammar, and punctuation in the original.)

Greetings Bruce:

God is not intimidated by His human creation at all. An all-powerful being could impose His will on us and cause us to be automatons that fell into lockstep with His every whim. That never was His intent. He wants us to follow Him because we love Him and choose to believe He has our highest good as His primary goal. He likewise gives us the choice to have nothing to do with Him.

It’s evident you have not actually read all of the Bible if you think it teaches libertarian freewill. I’m more than happy to debate this issue with you, but you must use the comment section to do so. I’m not interested in carrying on a private discussion with you. By commenting, you will give other readers the opportunity to interact with you too.

If you are unwilling to do so, I will give you one opportunity to say whatever you want to say in a post. I will publish your “sermon” unedited. After that, we’re done. We’re not friends, nor would I want to be based on your insufferable behavior.

Your last e-mail seemed to express disappointment that I did not ask you any questions. God asks Job lots of questions about a whole variety of subjects in Job 38-41. If you really want to answer questions, go ahead and answer those questions. It is obvious that Job suddenly realized how out of his depth he really was when God started to ask him about things that only God had the answers to.

First, the invitation was for readers to ask me questions. All you did is preach, as you currently do in this email.

Second, you make claims for which you provide no evidence. You speak of a deity you assume everyone believes exists. I don’t, so quoting Bible verses ain’t going do much in providing me evidence for the existence of the Christian deity.

Let me address an area that bothered you.I appealed to his sense of propriety and decency, but Richard was having none of that. Instead, he callously said, “Bruce, we all are sick and all of us are suffering from a terminal illness for which we will one day die.” No compassion, respect, or common courtesy. All that matters in Richard’s mind is where I will go after I die.”

As someone who has several chronic health conditions which undoubtedly cause distress and discomfort, you have come to the conclusion that I am hard-hearted and callous by my lack of sympathy.The conditions you currently face may very well someday converge to the point where your death occurs sooner rather than later. I am mindful of this, but you were spot on in that last sentence when you stated “All that matters in Richard’s mind is where I will go after I die. Eternity has no end.It goes on forever.I am very much concerned about that part of you that continues to live on after your sojourn on this planet is concluded.

Claims, claims, claims, Richard, for which you provide no evidence.

You are concerned about my soul; I don’t have one. Do you have evidence that suggests otherwise? Of course not.

Jesus once said, ” For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 KJV

You have no idea if Jesus actually said this. Do you have evidence that says otherwise? Of course not.

Bruce, it is very easy to major on the minor instead of minor on what is major.

All of us have our own wants, needs, and desires. Who are you to tell me what is important or not important in my life?

[Masturbatory Bible quotes deleted]

In closing, let me touch on one final theme that you take exception to. You claim that Jesus is dead. If that is the case, how come nobody has been able to produce the body? That would totally destroy the claims that Jesus rose from the dead.

Richard, surely you are not this stupid. Right? Come on, Dude, think. Billions of people have lived and died on our planet. The overwhelming majority of their bodies are nowhere to be found. Why would it be any different for a Jewish criminal named Jesus H. Christ? If the basic Bible account is true, Jesus was executed with two other criminals. After death, Jesus ended up the same place as they did: an unmarked pit grave, never to be seen again.

[Deleted Evangelical lies about most of the apostles being martyred for Christ. This claim is patently untrue. Either Richard knows this and is lying, or he lacks a basic understanding of Christian church history.]

Bruce, I do not write you to put you on the spot in front of an audience. I have a genuine concern for you. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. May God continue to lead and guide your steps aright!

I’m not concerned with that at all.

I don’t plan to further respond to you. There’s an offer on the table for you to write a post on a subject of your choosing, Feel free to preach away, knowing that this will be the last thing written by you published on this site.

Let’s see if you are respectful enough to honor my wishes. One and done, Richard. I can’t be clearer.

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

May 19, 2026
Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian — Round Four

In 2023, Richard, an Evangelical Christian, sent me an email, to which I responded in the post Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian. Richard did not respond to my post, either by commenting or sending me an email. In 2024, Richard sent me another email, Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian — Round Two. In 2025, Richard sent me another email, Dear Richard, the Evangelical Christian — Round Three, followed up with yet another email this year. I will attempt to respond to Richard again. (All spelling, grammar, and punctuation in the original.)

Richard wrote:

Greetings all:

Decades ago, I took a philosophy course which dealt with logic. My professor was the son of a pastor, however, he had long since rejected the faith of his father and became a diehard atheist. He somehow knew that I was a Christian and used to love to mock my faith in his class because he was convinced he was the “Enlightened One”! He had a PhD in Philosophy and I had no degree.

The video clip below reveals the superficiality of the atheistic worldview and exposes why it is the weakest of all worldviews! Enjoy!

[Deleted, a link to an Answers in Genesis video about the “atheistic worldview.” If you have ten minutes to waste, you can watch How I Destroyed a PhD Atheist’s Worldview in Minutes here.]

Richard J.

Talk about a nothing burger. Richard wants me to know that he took a logic course in college. Okay? Not to be too unkind, but, “so what?” If Richard has a working knowledge of logic or philosophy, he doesn’t show it in his emails to me. Instead, he sends me a YouTube video link to a Fundamentalist Christian preacher’s “destruction of the atheistic worldview.” Does Richard seriously believe such superficial pablum will have any effect on me or the readers of this site? I doubt it, though he could be that delusional.

I briefly responded:

And your continued emails continue to reveal the superficiality of the Christian worldview and exposes why it is the weakest of all worldviews!

Checkmate, Christians. See how easy that was, Richard and Frances?

Do better, starting with commenting on my blog instead of sending me unwanted, unsolicited emails. You know I’m sick, so why do you continue to send me unwanted email? Do you really think anything you send me will lead me to faith in the dead Jesus?

Bruce

I know, a bit snarky. 🙂

Richard opined further:

Bruce, the last time I looked at your blog, you indicated that you would finally welcome questions, any questions. The

last line of that blog before you signed your name said:

Quote I look forward to receiving your thoughtful comments and answering them Unquote

I sent you that video in the hope that it would show you the untenable state of the atheistic viewpoint.

Dr. Calvin Smith came up with a better argument for God than any atheist I have ever heard who fails to believe in God. Although my philosophy professor loved to mock me, I did not resent it. I genuinely felt sorry for him.

Bruce, we all are sick and all of us are suffering from a terminal illness for which we will one day die. Matter of fact, the college professor with the PhD I referenced in my e-mail is no longer with us. I prayed for him for many years and I hope that he returned to the faith of his father before he died.

The Jesus I know is alive Bruce. Matthew 7:7-8 is true. Put God to the test and be open to hearing from Him!

Sincerely,

Richard J.

Richard says that his email to me was justified because I asked for questions. He quotes me saying, “look forward to receiving your thoughtful comments and answering them.” See Bruce, you asked for it. What? Was my skirt too short? Never mind the context of the questions post. Richard took this as an opportunity to put a good word in for Jesus while irritating an atheist. Richard, of course, is lying about his motivations. How do I know this? Did you notice how many questions Richard asked me? Count them up. It won’t take long. Richard didn’t ask me any questions. All I see is Sunday school level preaching.

Does Richard really believe that an apologetics video from a young earth creationist ministry would show me the error of my atheistic ways and bring me to faith in Jesus Christ? Really? I am not low-hanging fruit. I am more than capable of turning away Evangelical arguments for Christianity and against atheism, which I would do if Richard bothered to make one. He doesn’t Richard, an Evangelical, confuses preaching and proof-texting with intellectual discussion. I know, I know, Richard has the Holy Ghost, and I don’t, but I think I can handle anything Richard throws my way.

Richard says that atheism is a “worldview.” It is not. Atheism is and shall always be a statement about the lack of evidence for the existence of God (s). It is secular humanism that informs the worldviews of many agnostics and atheists, not atheism itself.

Richard felt sorry for his logic professor from yesteryear. I suspect he feels the same for me. Richard feels sorry for anyone who doesn’t worship his dead Jesus. Again, so what? Someone I don’t know feels “sorry” for me.” OMG! Life as I know it is over!

I tried to ward off Richard by telling him, “You know I’m sick, so why do you continue to send me unwanted email?” I appealed to his sense of propriety and decency, but Richard was having none of that. Instead, he callously said, “Bruce, we all are sick and all of us are suffering from a terminal illness for which we will one day die.” No compassion, respect, or common courtesy. All that matters in Richard’s mind is where I will go after I die. Heaven or Hell? Richard doesn’t care about how his preaching might be received. Richard is doing it for Jesus AND that fancy mansion in Heaven he thinks he will receive after death. Richard goes on to passively-aggressively remind me that the professor with a Ph.D. is now dead . . .hint, hint, where to you think he is now, Bruce? Geez, another day, another threat of eternal damnation. What will I ever do? What time is the game on? 🙂

Richard says he knows his personal vending machine Jesus is A-L-I-V-E! He knows this how, exactly? Richard provides no evidence for this claim, yet he expects me to take his word for it. Sure, buddy.

Every time a Christian tells me to seek God, pray, or “test” him, I immediately do so — without success. Richard suggests that if I will put Jesus to the “test” — whatever the Hell the “test” is — he might save my soul. God is all-powerful and all-knowing. Doesn’t he know exactly what it will take to save me? I don’t need to “test” Jesus. My ears and eyes are wide open. If God doesn’t know what to do, I suggest he contact Richard. He knows what it will take to bring me into the fold.

Saved by Reason,

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

May 17, 2026
Questions: Have the Comments on This Site Changed Over the Years?
Geoff asked:

What changes have you seen, if any, to the types of comment you receive to your posts over the many years you’ve been going? There’s been a huge advance in the quality of comment on dedicated atheist websites, where it’s more about taking the arguments and the evidence to apologists, but this is not really one of those sites, being more about the practical implications of being a nonbeliever living in a religious culture. Obviously there are the silly commenters like Revival Fires, but what about more general comments?

Blog comments have always been an important part of this site. Since December 2014, 53,000 comments have been left by readers. The stated goal of The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser has been to provide help to those who have questions and doubts about Christianity and those who have already left Christianity. While some posts are outliers to this goal, for the most part, I have stayed true to my goal: helping others navigate having questions about or leaving primarily Evangelical Christianity.

Over the years, millions of people have stopped by this site. People come and go, often without a word about why. Most readers never comment or send me an email, so I am uncertain as to how my writing has been received by them. As far as commenters are concerned, I do wonder why certain people stop commenting. Did I piss them off? Maybe. I suspect that the real reason is they may have found my writing not as helpful as it once was, or they disagree with my progressive, liberal, socialist, pacifist politics. Nothing I can do about that. I’m not going to change my beliefs for the sake of readership numbers. While the Orange Menace, President Donald Trump, has certainly amped up my political writing in recent years, I don’t think anyone would say this is a political blog.

This blog was a deconstruction/ex-evangelical site long before these words came into popular, everyday use. The other day, I stumbled upon a three-year-old social media post about me. The writer, a Christian, wanted to know if anyone had heard of an atheist named Bruce Gerencser. He wondered why I wasn’t part of the atheist mainstream, suggesting I must have done something “bad” to be marginalized by atheists.

I have contented myself to stay in my lane. I am not a big self-promoter, so I am not going to contact an atheist (or Christian) site or podcast to sell myself to them. I’ve been blogging since 2007, first as a barely-hanging-on liberal-leaning Evangelical Christian, and then, after deconverting in 2008, as an atheist. Over the years, I have been interviewed by blogs, websites, magazines, newspapers, and appeared on numerous podcasts, which you can access here. From time to time, journalists contact me for information about Evangelicalism in general, and the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) church movement. In all of this, I have not promoted myself one time. I rely on word of mouth and personal recommendations to spread the good news that “Bruce Gerencser Saves.” S&H Green Stamps (for older readers)? No, but I have helped “save” countless people from the clutches of Evangelical Christianity and other Fundamentalist religions. I know this because I hear from people thanking me for helping them deconstruct, deconvert, or move on to kinder, gentler forms of religious faith.

I have also been labeled a follower of Satan; an enemy of Christianity. Thousands of comments have been left by Evangelicals upset over something I wrote. The attacks, at times, have been brutal, so much so that I stopped blogging several times years ago. I have been blogging continuously now for almost thirteen years. On this iteration of my blog, I have written over 6,000 posts.

In the early days of this site, the comment section was flooded with comments from butthurt IFB adherents, including pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. These folks have largely stopped commenting, leading me to claim victory! 🙂 Not really. I suspect they either became bored, or, unable to successfully challenge my claims, moved on to easier targets for their sermons, proof-texts, and shallow, contradictory apologetics.

Geoff mentioned the evolving and improved content and comments on some atheist sites, and I agree with him. The online atheist community is changing. Out goes the old guard, and in comes a new batch of atheists to hopefully lead the community forward. Shows such as The Atheist Experience and Talk Heathen are mere shadows of what they once were; other sites such as Almost Ian, the DZ Debates (Justin), The Bible Guy, Mythvision, Harmonic Atheist, Jon Cohen, and the various shows on Jimmy Snow’s network, The Line, to name a few. Whether these content creators have long-term success remains to be seen.

I continue to wonder why so many atheist readers come and go. Do they get what they need from me and move on, or do they find my writing boring? I don’t know, outside of the fact that I know some atheists stopped frequenting this site because of what they perceived from me was an unwarranted friendliness towards religion. Some atheists have even suggested that I am a “secret Christian.” None of these claims is true, as the vitriol dumped on my head by God’s chosen ones surely shows.

I am not sure what more I can do to attract more commenters. Typically, the people who comment are regular, long-term readers, with a few new readers’ comments sprinkled in. Gone are the long running arguments and debates over this or that religious belief or practice. Why this is no longer the case remains unclear to me. The comment section has a friendlier tone these days, more like friends getting together on a Friday night at the local pub.Usually it’s bottom feeders such as Dr. David Tee, Revival Fires, and others who provide entertainment, but none of them is up to the task of cogently defending the “faith once delivered to the saints.” These folks are little more than monkeys who fling shit at those they disagree with. No real arguments or defenses of Christianity. Instead, they resort to personal attacks and character assassination. Such people are the price you pay for having a public blog.

Over the years, the comment policy has changed, moving from a wild, wild west format to more of a controlled environment where every commenter is given at least one opportunity to say whatever they want to me. Whether they get a second comment depends on how well they play with others. I am much more likely to ban or block someone today than I was years ago. After you have heard the same Bible nonsense and personal attacks over and over and over again, it’s easy to say to yourself “I don’t want to hear this drivel any more.”

Recently, I have thought about loosening up the comment policy, but I fear that doing so might run off commenters who prefer the walled garden approach I currently use. I know I can’t please everyone, but your thoughts on this matter would be helpful.

Here’s the comment policy that has been in effect for the past four years:

All commenters are expected to use a functioning email address. The use of a fake or non-functioning email address will result in your comment being deleted.

Pseudonyms are permitted. Please use the same pseudonym with every comment.

All first-time comments and comments with more than one HTML link are moderated.

Before commenting, please read the ABOUT page to acquaint yourself with my background. You might also want to read the Dear Evangelical page.

Evangelical commenters will be given one opportunity to say whatever they want. One, not two, three, or ten. Just one. Quote the Bible. Preach the sermon God has laid upon your heart. Put in a good word for Jesus. Deconstruct my life. Call me names, attack my family. You have one opportunity to impress readers with your John Holmes-like Bible prowess. After that, the following rules apply:

The following type of comments will not be approved after your first comment:
- Preachy/sermonizing comment
- Extensive Bible verse quoting comment (limited Bible-quoting permitted)
- Evangelizing comment
- “I am praying for you” comment
- “You are going to Hell” comment
- “You never were saved” comment
- “You never were a Christian” comment
- Any comment that is a personal attack
- Any comment that attacks the readers of this blog
- Any comment that is not on point with what the post is about
- Any comment that denigrates or marginalizes abuse victims
- Any comment that attacks LGBTQ people
- Unsolicited medical advice of any kind (and I mean ANY)
- Any comment that disparages my wife, children, or grandchildren
Please be advised that personal threats of violence or stalking will be reported to your service provider and law enforcement.

I write about issues that might not be child-friendly. Please be aware of this. I also use profanity from time to time, and I allow the use of profanity in the comment section. Any butt-hurt comment about language will be ignored, and if warranted, ridiculed.

The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser is not a democracy where anyone has a right to say whatever they want. This is my personal blog and I reserve the right to approve or not approve any comment. When a comment or a commenter is abusive towards the community of people who read this blog, I reserve the right to ban the commenter.

If you can be respectful, decent, and thoughtful, your comment will always be approved. Unfortunately, there are many people — Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christians in particular — who have a hard time playing well with others. They often use a passive-aggressive approach towards me and the non-Christian people who frequent this blog. This kind of behavior will not be tolerated and will result in a permanent ban.

This blog is also not a place for hardcore atheists to preach the gospel of atheism. While I am an atheist, many of the people who read this blog are not. Frank, honest, open, and passionate discussion about religion, Christianity, and Evangelicalism is encouraged and welcome. However, I do expect atheists not to attack, badger, or denigrate people who still believe in God. If you are respectful, decent, and thoughtful, you will be fine.

My writing is direct and pointed and so is my response to comments. Please do not confuse my directness and pointedness with me attacking you or your religion. This is a grown-up blog, so crying that I offended you or “attacked” your religion will fall on deaf ears.

If you can play by these rules, I hope you will become a part of our community and join the discussion.

— end of comment policy

Do you see something in the comment policy that you think should be changed or done away with? Or is there something you would like to see added to policy? Please share your ideas with me in comment section.

In closing, I can’t help but note how my declining health has affected this site. I was once known as a prodigious blogger, writing several posts a day. Sadly, I can no longer put out like I once did — yes, there’s a sex joke lurking in that line. I have really struggled with this issue, wondering if it is time for me to stop writing. My friends, acquaintances, and family continue to encourage me to keep writing, but when you have multiple days when you can’t even get out of bed, it’s hard to find the energy and stamina to write a text message, let alone a blog post. That said, I still try. I still push myself, even when I want to curl up on the couch and be left alone My sleep is so disturbed these days, that I sleep when I can, usually in short one- to two-hour blocks. Yesterday, I never made it out of bed, spending the day fitfully sleeping while family gathered at our home to celebrate the best mother ever. I had slept for six hours straight, but that was due to only getting a total of five hours sleep over the previous three days. This, of course, has severely messed up my schedule, forcing me to live in the moment instead of on a schedule. I can’t say I have adapted well to my new reality. I’m too old for this shit, but no one asked me, so I take every day as it comes.

Suggestions are welcome. You know what to do!

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
May 11, 2026
Bruce, You Fought the Demon of Homosexuality and Gave Into It — Part Two

Please read Part One.

Several weeks ago, I responded to an email from a seventy-nine-year-old Christian man named Pat. Here’s what he said:

Wow!!! What writings. Never read anything like them. I am exhausted after going over your blogs. You have accomplished the task of making yourself the center of attention, that I conclude has always been important to you. You position your blogs that you always get the last word in, which gives you a feeling of control and power which also is important to you. You have probably spent a great part of your life manic/depressive, which would be a hard life to live. Probably fought the demons off of homosexuality, may have even given into the temptation. Doesn’t make you a bad person just makes you lost like most of the world, myself included. You would do almost anything to win, but this battle with God will be lost. He is not the god that you speak about in your writings and your experiences within the Church. He is a God of love and mercy. I wish you the best in the days ahead. I hope you find some relief in the health issues you are dealing with. You are still a young man. I will be 79 in a week. You write of your honesty; I am very truthful in my life also and in this note to you, found it to be less complicated that way…Pat

You can read my response to Pat’s email here.

As devout Christians are wont to do, Pat refused to let me have the last word, choosing, instead, to deny every criticism I levied against his email. Here’s what he said, with my pithy, snarky response:

Wow Bruce, yes once again I say wow!!!

Thank you! Usually only my partner says this to me after an invigorating roll in the hay.

Have you done this all your life?

No, I was a virgin when I got married, as was my partner, so our WOW! nights started on our wedding night.

To assume thoughts and intensions of someone from things spoken or written to you that does not fit your narrative. I saw it in almost all of your responses to those that didn’t agree with you. You assume things that certainly may not be true because you believe you see the clear message of what was written. Not always true.

Not always true? Sure, but in your case, my response was spot on. I have delightful conversations all the time with people who have disagreements with me — including Evangelical Christians and IFB preachers. I typically respond to people in kind. You are a “get off my lawn” old man, who thinks his age grants him the right to say whatever he wants. And when you do, you are “shocked” when someone offends your sensibilities by calling you an asshole or a sarcastic prick.

Pat, words have meanings. I took your words to mean exactly what you meant them to say. If you meant something different, you might want to change how you write and the words you use. Will that happen? You’re seventy-nine. What could a sixty-eight-year-old Evangelical-preacher-turned-atheist teach you about anything (except how to have WOW! sex, since you — being a good Christian — only use the missionary position and listen to hymns when fucking. Send me an email for real photos of how to have an old-fashioned Devil-loving time of passion).

When I wrote you, I truthfully gave you my literal feeling of what I was experiencing in those few minutes as I typed.

So what? Do you think you have a hall pass to say whatever you want to unknown people on the Internet, all because you think God/Jesus/Holy Spirit — the three Gods you worship — want you to do so. I am surprised, at seventy-nine-years old, that you haven’t learned to carefully choose your words when speaking to strangers. For example, I so wanted to give you the “Bruce Gerencser Treatment.” Ask around, you will find that this treatment has neutered and given a glossectomy to many a confident, arrogant, filled with the Holy Spook Christians. Few return to try me again, and those who do are summarily humiliated by me or some of my friendly attack kitties.

I refrained from giving you the “Bruce Gerencser Treatment” because I was too tired and worn to give a flying fuck. By the way, readers, what is a “flying fuck?”

When I said “Wow” I was NOT appreciating the profundity of your writing as you assumed.

That was sarcasm, dude. You must have missed that English lesson in fourth grade. Going forward, Pat, if you decide to contact me again or comment on this site, understand that I use humor — sometimes ribald — sarcasm, and snark in my writing. You may be one of those straight-laced Christians who doesn’t like cussing, but this is my house, so I will use colorful language when warranted. And if you don’t like it, you are free to exit stage right, never to be heard from again. And if you don’t, you shouldn’t be surprised if I tell you to go fornicate with yourself.

I was astounded and amazed that anyone atheist or not could write such things against God.

Why? The Christian God is a myth. I no more fear Jesus than I do Thor. And for the record, I don’t write anything against “God.” My focus is on Evangelical Christianity, a living, breathing religion that causes harm to countless people. God has never one time responded to one of my blog posts. He is allegedly all-knowing and all-powerful, but after pissing in God’s cornflakes for twenty years, I have concluded that he either doesn’t exist or approves of what I have to say. Think of that, Pat. Jesus giving me a thumbs up for putting sanctimonious Christians like you in their place.

When I said “I never read anything like them” I was Not recognizing the uniqueness of your prose as you assumed. I was literally saying the truth.

Again, I was being sarcastic.

Maybe I have lived a sheltered life, but I have never read or heard anyone contest against God in the way you have.

Well, you don’t know what sarcasm is, and you most certainly don’t know that many atheists think I am too kind to Christians, or that I am a secret Christian. You really do need to get out more. I have dinner with an Evangelical preacher every month or two. Feel free to ask him the measure of my character. Your strawman of me will quickly combust.

Again, when I said I was exhausted after going over your blogs, I was literally overwhelmed, awe struck and weak in my body.

Wow! I only feel that way after an exceptional night of rolling in the proverbial hay with the love of my life.

If my writing literally affects you this way, I implore you to immediately stop reading it. Don’t have a stroke or die over my words. I couldn’t live with that for five seconds. Jesus will not reward you, Pat, for being a “sarcastic prick.” I’m inclined to think the very dead son of God loves my writing. You might want to take that up with him if you disagree. Oh wait, you can’t. His bones lie somewhere in an unknown grave.

You assumed that I was being sarcastic, even called me a “sarcastic prick”. I can’t imagine even satan calling me that.

Really? That’s a bit of hyperbole, don’t you think. I am worse than Satan? I do work for him, but I am nothing like my boss. That said, I proudly wear his name. Read the Bible, Pat. It’s God, not Satan, who is the evil one. God killed far more people than Satan ever did. He’s an all-round decent bloke. A bit ornery at time, but nothing like a deity that rapes, assaults, and murders innocent people, including babies, fetuses, and zygotes.

Actually, I got a little smile on my face and laughed a little bit at myself. I say that so you don’t assume I am laughing at you. You are no one to be laughed at.

Well, Pat, I am laughing at you. Your emails to me deserve ridicule. I am sure readers will make that clear to you in the comment section. Unlike you, they know how to read and use a dictionary.

When it comes to the words that I spoke about you in my writing I did not speak them of myself. Let me try to explaine. I have loved God since I was little, yes, I believe His word is faithful and true. I believe that God has given gifts thru the Holy Spirit, one of those gifts is the gift of Knowledge. It is in that gift that I wrote about you.

Oh for fuck’s sake, Pat, is this really what you are going with; that your words are the Holy Ghost’s, and not yours; that you have a supernatural gift given to you by a supernatural God that allows you to see me as I am? God is dead, so he can’t “gift” you anything. All you are is an old man who thinks the Holy Spook lives inside of you, giving you the exact words to say to me. Surely, deep down, you know this is bullshit, right? Unfortunately, believing this gives you a license to judge and abuse people with your words. I just happen to be an atheist who won’t let you do so without pushing back.

What evidence do you have that God has given you the gift of knowledge? I assume you are a Charismatic or a Pentecostal. These groups are typically non-cessationist.

No, I don’t know you Bruce, but God does.

What evidence do you have for your claim that “God” knows me? That’s a rhetorical question. You have none. If you think you do, bring it on, big boy, and I will gladly, with a big smile, disabuse you of your ignorance.

The things that I wrote about you I wrote in just a few minutes, not really thought out, just typed them. Only you know if they are true in your life. They can be your secrets, or you can shout them from the house tops or cast them off.

No shit, Sherlock. It was evident that your comments lacked thought (and prayer). No, they are not true, especially your claim that I am or was a homosexual. No, Pat, No! I will not have a roll in the hay with you. I am a one-woman man. I have lots of LGBTQ friends, but unlike you, they know I like to pitch instead of catch.

I have few secrets, Pat. What is it you think I am hiding from my family, friends, or readers of this blog? Use that “gift” of yours to discern what secrets I have. I have one in particular, Pat. If you can sense what that secret is, tell me, and I will admit “you are da man!” I will even send you a $50 gift card to a strip club, celebrating your “gift” from God.

Lots of assumptions on your part of your rebuff of my email, to many to cover in this already too long of a reply.

People only say this when they can’t intellectually respond to me. What assumptions did I make that weren’t justified by your two unsolicited emails to me?

You again might assume that I am writing a false compassion when I say “I wish you the best in the days ahead and that you might find some relief in the health issues you are dealing with.”

Yes, and I have seen nothing in your words that suggests otherwise. Your “I wish you the best . . .” might have been better received had you not spent the bulk of your emails lying about me or making false assumptions about my sexuality.

I disagree with you on all parts of your writings, but I wish you no harm or suffering in the days you have left in this world…Pat

Sure you do. I assume you believe that God will torture me for eternity in Hell after I die, and I suspect, though you may never say it, that you think my chronic health problems and pain are God trying to get my attention before it’s too late. Damn, Skippy, I have the gift of knowledge too. Either that, or I have interacted with scores of Pats over the years. I will let astute readers determine which.

Saved by Reason,

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

March 24, 2026
Bruce, Are You Settled on Your Beliefs About Christianity?— Part One

I recently received a thoughtful, polite email from a Christian man named Levi. My response follows.

I’ve spent more time than I probably should admit reading through your blog to get a feel for how the project actually works on its own terms. One thing I keep circling back to is how your evidentiary standards function in practice, not just in principle.

You’re clear (and consistent) that extraordinary claims require strong justification. That’s a fair standard to set. But what I’m still trying to square away is how admissible justification seems to be doing a fair bit of work before the argument even starts. Historical inference, testimony, and philosophical reasoning are perfectly serviceable when reconstructing Roman governance, Jewish sectarianism, or early Christian belief formation. But when those same tools start pointing toward metaphysical conclusions you’ve already set aside, they seem to downgrade into just “mere claims.”

The Bible is a book of claims. Evangelicals quoting Bible verses at me seem to not understand this fact. If they want me to believe, Evangelicals are going to have to do much better than giving proof-texts from an errant, fallible, contradictory ancient religious text. Why should any of us consider the Bible authoritative?

It’s not that I need overwhelming evidence as much as I need sufficient evidence; evidence that I find compelling. Such evidence has not been forthcoming. All I get are the same, worn-out, weak philosophical and theological arguments. After hearing these lame arguments thousands of times, I hope you will forgive for not being open to such arguments today.

Now, that asymmetry doesn’t automatically make your conclusions wrong, but it does make your method interesting. Skepticism usually presents itself as provisional, meaning it can and does change sometime in the future. In the archive, your skepticism often reads as settled. The questions repeat, but the answers never seem particularly at risk of changing.

I am an agnostic atheist, so the God question is an open possibility for me. An unlikely possibility, but possible; as in me winning the mega-millions lottery. Possible, but unlikely. I am more settled in my opinion of Christianity. I have weighed Christianity in the balance and found it wanting. Christianity is a text-based religion; a dead religion with no new revelation forthcoming. Thus, I am confident that my studies have led me to the proper conclusion: Christianity is a mythic blood cult that worships a dead man named Jesus.

It wouldn’t make much sense to just ask you to reopen Christianity, suddenly grant the Bible authority, or give miracles a hall pass. But it does seem reasonable to ask whether your framework itself ever becomes an object of skepticism, or whether it functions as the final court of appeal, immune to the standards it applies everywhere else. I think that question alone would provide readers with more information about how you see your own project.

My framework is certainly open to challenge, yet few Christians bother to contest it these days. Instead, they bitch, whine, and complain about my comment rules; as if I am infringing on their right to shit on my doorstep. I have worked very hard to make this blog a community. I learned early on that I had to regulate Evangelical commenters lest they fill the comment section with preaching, Bible verses, and personal attacks. That said, EVERY commenter is given at least one opportunity to say whatever it is they think the Lord has laid upon their heart. Future participation depends on them playing well with others. Sadly, many Evangelicals are toddlers, unable to pay nice on the Internet.

I ask this question because, even though I’ve perused around 100 or so of your articles (I even went back to your first article, a letter to the editor of a newspaper posted in 2006), I still could not find an article that addresses this question directly. Perhaps it is buried somewhere in here, but I could not located it, even with the help of the handy search bar. If it’s necessary, you could use my message as a new article to answer the question once and for all on your blog.

I haven’t directly answered this question before, so I appreciate being able to answer it, If you still have questions, please let me know, and I will do my best to answer them.

If the answer is simply “yes, my framework is settled,” that’s fine. But then your blog reads less like an open inquiry and more like a ongoing explanation of why inquiry, at least on certain questions, is no longer necessary.

This blog is primarily a place for me to tell my story. As such, it is personal and conversational. I invite people into my story, and traffic numbers and emails suggest that many people find this approach helpful.

I am ALWAYS open to questions. My answers might not sit well with others, but I try to be open and honest in my responses. I plan to start a new series titled, “The Bible Says What?” This series will flesh out some of the objections I have to some of the things found in the Bible.

That, in and of itself, is still an interesting project. I’m just not sure it’s the one the blog advertises.

This iteration of this blog was started in 2014. Have my views changed over the past twelve years? Sure. Long-term readers know how my writing has evolved over the years. HaveI left my core mission? I don’t think so, but I will leave this for others to decide.

Thanks for the questions, Levi. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Saved by Reason,

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

March 3, 2026
Bruce, You Fought the Demon of Homosexuality and Gave Into It — Part One

Recently, I received the following email from a seventy-eight-year-old Christian man named Pat. My response follows.

Wow!!! What writings.

Thank you for appreciating the profundity of my writing,

Never read anything like them.

Again, that you for recognizing the uniqueness of my prose.

I am exhausted after going over your blogs.

Awesome! I appreciate new readers who are willing to read and understand my . . . Oh wait, I see. You were being a sarcastic prick. You didn’t mean the compliments you paid me. OMG! Another dishonest Christian. Never seen that before, right?

You have accomplished the task of making yourself the center of attention, that I conclude has always been important to you.

You don’t know me, so you have no idea what is important to me. I have been blogging for almost twenty years. I enjoy writing. I have tried over the years to share my story with others. Thousands of people have found my writing helpful and encouraging. That you don’t is no reason for you to attack me, but alas, even at seventy-nine, you never learned how to behave as a Christian in public.

Did you bother to consider how your words would be received by myself and the readers of this blog? Do you really think you represented Christ well? These are rhetorical questions, by the way.

You position your blogs that you always get the last word in, which gives you a feeling of control and power which also is important to you.

Again, you don’t know me, so you make judgments that are based on some sort of straw man of me you have built up in your mind.

People are free to comment on this blog, but there are rules. I make no apology for this. Everyone gets at least one comment to say whatever they want. After that, participation depends on playing well with others. Sadly, your tribe isn’t known for respectful dialog. Your email is case in point. Your goal was to wound and debase me, and not to interact and understand.

You have probably spent a great part of your life manic/depressive, which would be a hard life to live.

Untrue. Are you a psychiatrist or psychologist? Of course not. I have never been manic. Believe me, my Evangelical mom was manic, so I know what it looks like. I have, however, suffered from situational depression, especially since my health has declined.

Probably fought the demons off of homosexuality, may have even given into the temptation.

Ah, here we go, the gay slur. What would an email like yours be without some sort of attack on my sexuality. First, I am an atheist, so there is no God, and there is no Devil or demons. Do you have empirical evidence that suggests otherwise?

In your world, being LGBTQ is a sin. You condemn people for who they are. I don’t know, Pat, you probably fought off the demons of heterosexuality yourself, and have even given into the temptation. What a disgusting man you are to sin against the thrice holy God by having heterosexual, missionary position sex on your birthday and anniversary. Do better, Pat.

Or you can realize you are a bigot and repent.

For the record, my sexuality is none of your business. What I say here won’t matter, so I will leave you with your fantasy of having gay sex with me.

Doesn’t make you a bad person just makes you lost like most of the world, myself included.

Sorry, Pat, but I am not a sinner, so I am not, in any way, “lost.” I know right where I am. I also know right where Jesus is too: in an unknown grave in Jerusalem. If you want to worship a dead man, have at it. I have no interest in your blood cult or your Mormon-like worship of the dead. Jesus F. Christ, Pat, it’s 2026. Stop with the religious nonsense.

You would do almost anything to win, but this battle with God will be lost. He is not the god that you speak about in your writings and your experiences within the Church. He is a God of love and mercy.

I am not fighting God. Sorry, but God is a myth. Why in the world would I battle a myth? That would be irrational and stupid. Your claims about God are your personal opinions, and can be easily refuted if you want to get into a theological and Biblical debate with me. I’m game, Pat, are you? I’ll even let you get the last word in. Better yet, you may write a guest post for this site, saying whatever the dead Jesus puts on your shriveled heart to say. Of course, that means I will likely get the last word in, but this is an opportunity for you to put the atheist Bruce Gerencser in his place. After all, I’m just a godless, narcissistic, mentally ill homosexual. I’m no match for a virile hetero like you. 🤣

This blog has always been a place for me to share my story. As the sub-header says, I am one man with a story to tell. If you don’t like this fact, feel free to NOT read my writing. I certainly don’t want to irritate your emerods.

I wish you the best in the days ahead.

No you don’t. Stop with the false compassion. You can’t write all the shit you did and then “wish me the best.”

I hope you find some relief in the health issues you are dealing with.

There will be no relief forthcoming. I am, in a sense, terminal. The stomach diseases I have are incurable. I have been told by doctors that there is nothing they can do for me. What I do need, Pat, is money. Now there’s a way you can show your compassion. I will be awaiting your large donation to Dr. Bruce Gerencser, Director of the Christopher Hitchens Evangelization Center PO Box 183, Ney, Ohio 43549. Thanks, Bro!

You are still a young man. I will be 79 in a week.

Really? I am literally ten years younger than you. I am hardly a young man.

You write of your honesty; I am very truthful in my life also and in this note to you, found it to be less complicated that way…Pat

Sigh. (Please see Why I Use the Word “Sigh.”) This is your way of explaining and dismissing your boorish behavior. It seems you are one of these old men who thinks their advanced age gives them a right to say whatever they want. Unlike you, I have become more careful with my words since I deconverted in 2008. Age should bring maturity and wisdom. Certainly age should teach you to not contact random strangers on the Internet so you can belittle and insult them. You must have missed this lesson in life.

What did you hope to accomplish with your email? Do you really think you represented Jesus well, as the Bible commands you to do? Or have you written me off because I am an atheist?

Saved by Reason,

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

March 3, 2026
Terri’s Redux — Part Two

Please see Terri’s Redux.

I have been blogging for almost 20 years — 12 years with this iteration. And just when I think I have seen everything, . .

What follows are several emails I received from Terri Beaudry’s email address. I say “her” email address because I am supposed to know that multiple people use the identical email address.

Without commentary, here’s the emails I recently received from Terry’s email address.

Terri’s email address: I’m actually Louise, a close relative who lives in same house. “Eaton” is Terri’s maiden name. I use her email. But I’ve read alot of your stuff, including the “Why?” section. Terri’s super busy, not sure if she’ll have time to write back or respond. I’ll let her know.

Terri’s email address: Louise here. I just read the blog now. I let her know what you said. She said to tell you that the reason she emailed lots is because the comment section was blocked half the time.

Terri’s email address: I was the one you were addressing that blog to, not Terri. As I was the one who sent a comment by email.

If you think that if someone disagrees with you agreeably, in a kind way with good intention, that they are not allowed to express their thoughts without you becoming rude or strangely defensive, then your statement that says, “I am interested in what you have to say” is bogus.

And if you don’t publicly clear it up in your blog so as not to give your readers/commenters a false idea, you are using an underhanded form of censorship and being very unfair and dishonest.

Please do not send me any more links.

Bruce: I responded to you as if you are Terri. She used multiple names when commenting, so I assumed your email was just another name change. So, what I said was addressed to Terri.

I asked her not to email me. It’s simple as that.

Bruce Gerencser

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

February 18, 2026
Terri’s Redux

I recently received yet another email from Terri Beaudry. My response follows.

We over here cannot comment in comment section, because box does not appear. Hence, this email.

The only thing I can tell you is that the problem is on your end. Flush your cache. This fixes most problems. You might also try different browsers to see if your browser is the problem. If you are running security software or plugins, they can cause problems too.

You can also subscribe to receive my writing via email, as hundreds of people do.

I believe you understood that I didn’t want you to email me again. I sent you no less than four emails that asked you to stop emailing me. Yet, here we are again. I suspect you are one of those Evangelical Christians who believes that what you have to say is all that matters. All praise be to Jesus, right? I am an instrument for his using. *sigh*

The recent blog about deconstruction, which states that evangelicals all say that only the destination matters, and that they tell you that you will go to heaven if you believe the right things, isn’t fully true.

This is going to come off as appealing to authority, but I’m the one with the expertise when it comes to Evangelicalism in general, and the Independent Fundamentalist Baptist church movement specifically. Terri, if you have statistical evidence for your claim, please provide it. If not, your limited anecdotal experiences mean little in this discussion. I’m not saying I doubt your experiences. What I am saying is that those limited experiences have given you a warped understanding of Evangelicalism.

Here’s the facts: ALL Evangelical sects and churches put a premium on believing the right things. You can verify this by going to the websites of the major Evangelical denominations and independent churches and reading their official doctrinal statements. You will quickly learn that beliefs matter and they are that which will be used to measure whether you are a Christian,

Perhaps in the circles you ran with, that was so. But IFB and Baptist are a very small part of Christianity as a whole on this planet.

You have no idea what circles I ran in, do you? This information is readily available on this site.

Yes, I started my ministry career as an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) preacher. What you seem to not know is that I left the IFB church movement twenty years before I left Christianity. I not only pastored IFB churches, I also worked for Sovereign Grace Baptist, Christian Union, Southern Baptist, and nondenominational churches too. Further, I preached for IFB, GARBC, Southern Baptist, Freewill Baptist, Sovereign Grace Baptist, Assembly of God, Charismatic, and non-denominational churches. And finally, you might want to read the post But Our Church is DIFFERENT! From 2002-2008. our family attended about 125 churches.

The above evidence should be sufficient for you to withdraw your unfounded claim that I was always an IFB preacher. I wasn’t. End of discussion.

And IFB is definitely not mainstream, it’s seen as almost like a cult.

*sigh* What you meant to say is that IFB churches are different from your flavor of Christianity so that makes them a cult. Go read the doctrinal statements of the major IFB institutions. Compare those statements to those of non-IFB Evangelical sects. I think you will find mostly agreement on the core doctrines of Christianity.

There are millions of IFB congregants. Thousands of IFB churches dot the American landscape and worldwide. Add Southern Baptists, who are indistinguishable belief-wise from the IFB church movement, and you end up with a group that is the second largest denomination in the United States. In the 1970s and 1980s, many of the largest churches in the U.S. were IFB congregations.

You may not like what IFB churches believe and practice, but that does not mean they are not mainstream. Again, do some research. Compare IFB beliefs and practices with non-IFB Evangelical churches. You will largely find agreement, except for denominational peculiarities and cultural differences.

Your use of the word cult is downright silly. ALL religions are cults, as any dictionary will tell you. I suspect you are using “cult” in a colloquial sense: IFB churches have beliefs and practices I disagree with, so they must be a cult.

Does the IFB church movement have patriarchal, authoritarian tendencies? Sure, but so do many non-IFB Evangelical sects. You seem to want to single out IFB churches due to negative experiences you have had with them. Evangelicalism as a whole is the problem, yet you seem to want to focus on the IFB church movement while giving the broader Evangelical church a pass.

I’m not saying all the congregants in it are bad people, or that all the pastors within are insincere. But I’ve noticed that alot of people within these churches tend to be less compassionate and more snobbish and judgmental (despising tax collectors and sinners that Jesus would have ate with) than other denominations I’ve been in.

Define “less compassionate” and “more compassionate.” How do you determine these seemingly arbitrary measurements? Maybe you meant to say that ALL churches have people who are less compassionate than other people. This is a human problem, not an IFB one. I met plenty of thoughtful, caring people in IFB churches.

You need to study IFB doctrines — especially separation, both personal and ecclesiastical — and visit a lot of IFB churches to see if your biases prevent you from seeing IFB congregations as groups of fellow Christians who sincerely believe that they are right — just like you do. And as far as caring about people, IFB churches are at the forefront of trying to evangelize the world for Jesus. They “care,” but may do caring differently from your church. Please explain to me how you determine a metric such as “caring” and “not caring.” Or, are you, once again, using your subjective experiences as some sort of objective standard for beliefs and practices?

More “religion” and less relationship with Jesus through the Holy Ghost. More head knowledge than heart.

You don’t know this. In fact, you can’t know this. Again, what metrics are you using to come to this conclusion? Do you really want to say that many IFB church members are unsaved? How did you determine they have “more head knowledge than heart”?

I’m not putting anyone down, it’s just an honest, objective observation.

I’m sure you believe this . . . but you ARE putting down IFB churches, as anyone who reads this article will easily conclude.

Your comments may be honest; meaning you believe these things to be true based on subjective experiences, but objective you are not. How could you be since all you have is a superficial understanding of the IFB church movement?

You yourself wrote in a post that it was typical for ministers in IFB churches to hound male congregants who left by calling them “faggots. That would be unthinkable in normal churches. It actually borders on crazy and is definitely abusive.

I wrote no such thing. I never would since it is factually untrue. The IFB is certainly homophobic, but so is much of Christendom.

What is a “normal” church, Terri? Who decides what is normal? By what standard do we decide what’s normal?

Religion in general is abusive. The differences between sects is a matter of degree. Are IFB churches patriarchal and authoritarian? Yep, but this is hardly an IFB problem. Plenty of the same going on in non-IFB churches

Certainly not what Jesus would do.

You have no idea what Jesus would do. Consider, all we have are handed down contradictory Bible stories written by unknown authors that detail what Jesus would do. Are you “doing what Jesus would do”?

You seem to want to keep the gate, the arbiter of who walks through the Christian gate and who doesn’t. All I see, Terri, is anecdotes and subjective experiences. And that’s fine for you, but when you use these things to judge millions of devoted Christians, you have stopped being objective.

Your experience includes only a small cross-section of the Church at large. ( the Body of Christ). Again, not a put-down, just a factual observation.

I am laughing as I read this. I believe what I wrote above will clearly burn this straw man to a crisp. As you now know, I wasn’t always an IFB preacher. You also know, I actually had a broad church experience. So much for this being a “factual” observation. I am sure you meant to say “opinion” instead.

Thank you for telling me that the church at large is “the body of Christ.” Shucky darn, I didn’t know that. I am not sure why you think you need to “educate” me.

For the record, I wouldn’t recommend anyone attend an IFB church. But, I also wouldn’t recommend attending an Evangelical church either. (Please see Are Evangelicals Fundamentalists?) I am a secularist, a humanist, and an atheist, so my advice is to sleep in on Sundays, eat brunch, drink beer, and enjoy watching football or spending time with your family. This seems better than sitting on hard pews listening to droning preachers, and having to pay for the privilege of being bored.

I wish you well, Terri.

Saved by Reason,

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

February 18, 2026
Bruce, God Needs You to Do Your Part, and THEN You Will be Healed

I recently received the following email from a reader named Richard. I don’t remember corresponding with Richard before, but he says we have, so I will take his word for it.

What follows is my response.

The challenge you offered in your last blog posting may have been offered tongue-in-cheek, but could have been a serious request on your part: “On April 1, 2026, at 4:20 PM, God is calling every Christian who promised to pray for me to gather together in the Ney Park for a time of worship and prayer. Perhaps, my former best friend, Pastor Keith Troyer, will come and lead this testimony to God’s love, forgive- ness, and healing. Maybe all my former colleagues in the ministry who said they would pray for me will be in attendance too. Throw in Dr. David Tee, John, Revival Fries and other “praying Christians,” why, these mighty prayer warriors will surely deliver me from my afflictions; and if they do, I promise to serve Jesus the remaining days of my life. I will even record a YouTube video testimony of my healing. Total healing, not just my hemorrhoids.”

Whether my challenge was tongue-in-cheek remains to be seen. 🙂 Surely, if thousands of Evangelicals show up in Ney, Ohio at 4:20 PM on April 1, 2026, I will take that as a sure sign from God of his existence. Here’s the Christian God’s chance to make not only a deep, lasting impression on me, but also my family, friends, and readers of this blog.

I’m confident that the Ney Park will be empty on April 1, outside of a few children and adults playing sports — weather permitting. If I am able, I will go down to the park at the appointed time to see if anyone shows up.

We have corresponded before but not real recently. I am 73 years old Bruce, so I have about five years on you chronologically. Neither one of us has all that many years remaining on this sojourn here on this planet. I am one of those individuals who prays for you from time to time, however, I will not be making the journey to Ney, Ohio on April Fools Day of this year.

God wants to see the sincerity of your faith; your willingness to go to the ends of the earth — Ney, Ohio, population 356, — to save the one sheep that was lost. Alas, you and your fellow believers will remain home and pray, leaving me in your sin and degradation.

Imagine what would happen if your God actually healed me from head to toe. Imagine the news reports and blog posts. If I am healed, I will have a complete physical exam, and afterward, I will release all of my medical records to the public, showing, without a doubt that God has supernaturally healed me. I guarantee you that if this happens, it will be one of the biggest stories in human history. Sick, dying man healed and restored to health. Doctors will have no answers for this miracle, and neither will atheists.

I do believe that God answers prayer because He has answered many prayers in the past I have sent His way.

No one can empirically know whether a God answered their prayers. Billions of prayers are prayed to all sorts of deities every day, yet most of these prayers go unanswered. God has a poor prayer track record answering prayers, so why should anyone believe one word in the Bible about prayer? Personal experience and observation say to me that a “God who answers prayer” is one of the biggest cons ever cooked up by religious leaders.

How do you empirically know God answered your prayers? Belief=personal opinion, and I can’t think of any way a believer can justify and prove their answered prayer claims. I accept that you believe that God answered your prayers, but I don’t believe he did.

He certainly is more than capable of healing you totally, but there is some work you must do to aid Him in that process.

Evidently, you don’t believe what your God said in James 5:13-16:

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

The prayer of faith saves the sick. Whose prayer? Whose faith? Not mine. It is the prayer of faith from the elders that saves and heals the sick. Mark 11:24 says, So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. This seems to say that if Christians pray and believe, their prayer will be answered. Evidently, you don’t pray and believe, Richard. If you did, I would be healed. Surely, if thousands of Christians pray and believe, God will heal me. God says in James 5:16, that Christian prayers are righteous and effective. EFFECTIVE, Richard. Are you saying that God is wrong?

No, it seems to me that the blame for unanswered prayers rests solely on the shoulders of Christians. The Bible seems to say to Christians that if they want something bad enough, God will will give it to them. It’s evident, at least to me, that the thousands of Christians who said they were praying for me either lied or are lazy pray-ers. As a former Christian, I suspect most Christians are lazy (or superficial) pray-ers. Too busy to fast and pray for my healing. Here I am, a poor wandering sheep, and God’s sheep finders are too busy eating pizza and watching the Winter Olympics.

All the king’s horses and all the king’s men are unable to put Bruce’s faith back together again. You certainly need a “faith lift” for the petition you have mentioned above to be fulfilled. At the moment, you still consider yourself to be both a humanist and an atheist. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 KJV The ball is therefore in your court Bruce.

Sigh, such bad theology, Richard, God is the creator of the universe, the sovereign over all. Ephesians 2 says that salvation is by grace through faith, faith is a gift from God. We have no faith in and of ourselves. God must give is faith in other for us to be saved. We are dead in trespasses and sins, and unless God gives is spiritual life, we cannot be saved. John 6:44 says: No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise that person up on the last day.

Besides, according to the Bible (and countless believers), I am a reprobate and an apostate. I CAN’T be saved. Does not Hebrews 6:4-6 describe me:

For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come and then have fallen away, since they are crucifying again the Son of God to their own harm and are holding him up to contempt.

According to this text, I have fallen away and it is IMPOSSIBLE to restore me again to repentance.

So, the ball is in God’s court, not mine.

You cannot be both an atheist and a believer at the same time.

Really? Shocker. 🙂

You must also consider who He is and who you are.

I know who and what I am. However, when it comes to God, I see no compelling evidence for the existence of God. Thus, I have considered who God is: a myth. If you have actual evidence to the contrary, I would love to see it, I am ready and willing to believe, but so far, I have found the arguments for God lacking. I am awaiting the day when an apologist finally convinces me that that the Trinitarian God is true. For the record, I think it is impossible for believers to prove the Trinity — both Biblically and philosophically.

If you are the one trying to order God around to fulfill your request at your venue on your particular date and time, that seems to indicate to me that you want to be God and you want Him to accede to your will.

I know God is busy — so many car keys and parking spaces to find for praying unbelievers— so I talked to the third God in the Trinity, and he scheduled an appearance of Jesus in Ney Ohio on April 1, 2026 at 4:20 PM. One caveat: at least one thousand people who prayed for me must physically come to the park on the appointed day and time. If 999 Christians show up, God will not heal me.

I am not God, and that is why I contacted the Holy Ghost. My healing totally depends on God and at least one thousand prayer warriors. If I remain unhealed, it is not my fault. Name one thing I did, Richard, that would preclude God from healing me?

God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. See James 4:6 & 1 Peter 5:5.

Ah, here comes self-righteous judgment. You say I am proud, but how could you possibly know this? If you talk to my partner, grown children, and friends, you will quickly learn that pride is not a problem of mine. I have the opposite problem: a lack of self-worth. Do you have evidence, Richard, that suggests otherwise?

God certainly can both heal and save you Bruce, but you must choose to cooperate with Him.

You assume I am resisting God. How could I resist him since the Bible says I am “dead.” Last I knew, dead people can’t do anything. Salvation is of the Lord, right? If this is true, then what part, exactly, do I play in my salvation? If I must cooperate with God, Richard, please share exactly what I must do to be saved?

Hope to see you and thousands of praying Christians on April 1. If everyone shows up, I will become a fool for Christ.

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

February 14, 2026
Bruce Picks Up a Stick, Takes Revival Fires to the Woodshed, and Gives Him a Theological Ass-Whipping

I finally found a picture of Revival Fires attending church 🙂

Revival Fire is a vile, disgusting Evangelical man who loves leaving nasty comments on this blog. Often, he is the first person to comment on a new post. Sometimes, I think he waits in front of his computer with his dick in hand, lustily waiting for my next post. I delete most of his filthy comments, but sometimes I use them to edify my congregation or show them the irrational thinking of Evangelical Christians.

I do want to respond to several of Revival Fires’ comments. As you will see, he may be a Christian, but his theology leaves a lot to be desired:

Tell me about your experience in the wilderness in the 40 year journey to Cannan? I’d love to hear about it. Unless you’re an Israelite Jew from 4,000 years ago that passage does not apply to you or anyone today.

There’s no evidence outside of the Bible for the alleged forty year journey of the Jews from Egypt to Canaan — the land of promise. And it is Canaan, and not Cannan.

According to Revival Fires, the Old Testament in general, and the first five books of the Bible in particular, no longer apply to Christians. Jesus would be surprised to hear this since he said:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

….

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:1,17-20)

Jesus sure thought the law of God was valid and in force — until Heaven and Earth pass away. Evidently, Revival Fires disagrees with Jesus.

Surely if you preached for 25 or 30 years you would have some kind of understanding of what I’m talking about. All of the Bible is God’s Word. But it’s written to different people at different times. Where the church is today-Acts 2. And ends at Revelation 4. After that the body of Christ is NO LONGER ON EARTH! (Rapture).

This paragraph tells us a lot about what Revival Fires believes, though it might not be readily evident to people without a theology education. Revival Fires is hyper-dispensationalist. Only certain books of the Bible apply today; namely from Acts 2 to Revelation, especially the writings of Paul. This helps us understand Revival Fires’ cheap grace view of salvation. In other words, Revival Fires is a Pauline Christian, and not a Christ follower.

In other words, Revival Fires believes most of the Bible no longer applies to him today.

I never believed such nonsense. I believed all of the Bible was still applicable today; that the law of God — rightly interpreted — was binding and in force. I rejected the eschatology of my IFB years, embracing amillennialism and posttribulationalism. No rapture in my belief system. I suspect Revival Fires has an IFB background, so his beliefs do not surprise me.

So how was the journey in the wilderness 4 millennial [sic] ago?

How is this relevant to the discussion at hand. Revival Fires wasn’t there either, so stop with the goal post moving. All we have is the Bible, and that’s what upsets Revival Fires. I know the Bible better than he does, and that irritates the Christianity right out of him.

Remember, Evangelicals can’t win when you hold them to what the Bible actually says. And truth be told, many Evangelicals rarely read the Bible and know very little about what it teaches outside of what they hear in church on Sundays.

Furthermore no it wasn’t just about gathering sticks. It was about disobeying God.

If the man had not picked up the sticks, would he have been executed? Of course not. So contrary to Revival Fires, the STICKS were THE issue. Does Revival Fires really want to stand on the horrible hermeneutic he is advancing: that all disobedience to God deserves death? If that’s the case, Revival Fires would have been killed by God years ago, as would most, if not all, Christians. The Bible says that Christians sin in thought, word, and deed; sins of commission and omission. Maybe this is why so many Evangelicals are perpetually fearful. They fear God killing them over the slightest misdeed — you know like picking up sticks on the Sabbath. In fact, I argue that this is actually the norm for God, a petty, malicious deity who demands absolute fealty and devotion to him. I suspect I speak for a lot of Evangelicals when I say I understand fearing God out of fear of punishment for petty “sins.” You know, that feeling that God is waiting around the corner to beat you over your next “sin.”

Bruce Gerencser, 69, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 48 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.

You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.

January 29, 2026