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What I find interesting is that most of the people who complain can't spell correctly.
Fortunately though, the world is not only filled with complainers. And some even change their minds!
This one's a classic. This dingbat prides himself in valuing "logic" and the "Constitution" - yet he believes he has a 'soul', and thinks humanity is going to get somewhere if non-believers stop picking on believers! Like a typical religious weasel, he starts off attempting to sound neutral, talking about the 'constitution being fair to both sides', but soon enough reveals himself to be just another delusional believer with his own personal brand of delusion (like his own personal 'Verizon of Wireless BlackBerry')

Remember to read from the bottom:
From: John L.
To: Mario
Sent: Thursday, 4 December, 2008
Subject: RE:

Great! I am confident that if you list the entirety of it people can see the following:

1. That you state absolutes such as ALWAYS, yet fail to see that the religious do not always get their way.

2. That your site is based on men not being able to meet your definitions, thereby you believe your views and/or self to be superior.

3. That when you do not like what others think, you start using adjectives to denounce the other person.

I regret to note that your methods are all sure signs of a failed logic.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Mario
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 7:57 AM
To: John L.
Subject: Re:

Erm, clearly you cannot differentiate between passion and anger, zeal and hate, experience and bigotry. In another time and another place, your type would have accused JC and his sunshine band of the very same 'egomania'.

Crikey, how grateful we should be that the destiny of humanity does not depend on the completely aimless musings of fence-sitting chickens like you!

(thanks, this is going to be a gem of a letter for my "Fan Mail page :-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: John L.
To: Mario
Sent: Thursday, 4 December, 2008 14:38:36
Subject: RE:

Ah, and there it is. Please read your own words and decide which of us is full of hate, anger, and bigotry. You have become a pious egomaniac and have failed to search truth beyond your human senses.

My truth? My truth comes from within. A soul cannot be touched, seen, nor heard, yet it exists. Spiritual things connect to the soul and there are many spiritual manifestations. I’m sorry, that god does not fit your definition and that your intellect chooses to ignore the spiritual side of yourself.

Believe me, I do not agree with Jehovah witnesses, I’m suspicious of almost all clergy and “church” dogma. But, then Jesus was that way too. The main error that I see in your link to your proof is that you sought “truth” from church leaders instead of finding where they went wrong and seeking beyond that for spiritual truth apart from “religion”. Again, I told you, science is wrong, text books of today will be obsolete soon. The trouble with “religion” is they, being humans, want to say they are experts and know it all. You based your decisions on the writings of men rather than seeking truth wherever it is and you show this in your own link statements.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mario
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:20 AM
To: John L.
Subject: Re:

I know more about "god" than you imagine, dude. I was a fundamentalist Christian for 16 years and a minister for most of those. My account is available online: http://www.dimaggio.org/Heretic/Jehovah%27s%20Witnesses.htm

For myself I have the ultimate measure that god does NOT exist.

I pity scared little guys like you who are too frightened to admit there is NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER for god, and that the Universe is EXACTLY THE WAY WE WOULD EXPECT IT TO BE IF THERE WERE NO GOD.

Crikey, grow up man! Show some courage. Snap out of it. This is reality. Reality bites - but HOW LOVELY TO SAVOUR THE REAL WORLD - and not the make-believe shite that fills people's minds with imaginary crap, painting the world with misery, bigotry, selfishness and ignorance.

Be an evolved human. Show some integrity, instead of this wishy-washy, amoebic uncertainty you are spouting.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John L.
To: Mario
Sent: Thursday, 4 December, 2008 0:04:00
Subject: Re:

Well, have you searched the truth of God with the zeal by which you deny that there is one?

Is your proof based on a god not jumping to your test and requests? If that is your measue then the courts do not exist because they do not either.

Or is based on your sight, touch, and hearing? Yes, good proven science! EXCEPT science keeps changing. It once proved the earth to be flat. Now I read about new elements and mathimatical theorems where there may in fact be more demensions to the universe than the 4 commonly recognozed.

So, since science keeps finding new things and it is generally imposible to prove non-existence, what is your proof?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mario
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 15:34:28 -0800 (PST)
To: John L.
Subject: Re:

True. But where does that get humanity? We sit on the status quo, and progress nowhere.

Either god(s) exist, or t/he/y don't. Both possibilities can't be true.

So let's find out the facts, and then get on with doing something with our existence.

Instead of just sitting on the status quo. Politely.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John L.
To: Mario
Sent: Wednesday, 3 December, 2008 22:27:11
Subject: Re:

I'm pointing out that:

It is not about always
I have friends on both sides
Rights and limitations apply to both sides
And that if you think something you disagree with is wrong, then I assure you someone else disagrees with you

And that is the beauty of the American way. A balance of power and rights.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mario
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 14:17:25 -0800 (PST)
To: John L.
Subject: Re:

What the hell are you talking about? Are you for or against religion dude? Or are you just being a smarty guy??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John L.
To: Mario
Sent: Wednesday, 3 December, 2008 18:33:57
Subject: Re:

Oh, really?

Then ponder me this. Why do the religious scream about prayer, the Bible, and creation being tossed out of the schools? If the religious "always" get over, then why is abortion allowed?

Oppsss the answer to both your issue and these is probably something called the constitution, democracy, and majority rule.

Oh, and thus "always" is anything but.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Mario
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 10:14:22 -0800 (PST)
To: John L.
Subject: Re:

Indeed, religion ALWAYS gets away with it because we're all so bloody polite :-))

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John L.
To: Mario
Sent: Wednesday, 3 December, 2008 9:51:44
Subject:

In reference to your page linked below, I too hate it when people use the constitution in ways I do not agree with. Dang that free will stuff and other points of view.

http://www.dimaggio.org/images/Eye%20Openers/drugchurch.JPG
 
From: R.P.
To: Mario
Sent: Wednesday, 3 September, 2008 7:55:39
Subject: Life: where did it come from

A JW left this little book on my doorstep - the previous week I had offered him a copy of "The Making of the Fittest: DNA and the ultimate forensic record of evolution" by Sean Carroll. He said the book looked a bit thick for his taste and asked if I could reduce it to a few bulleted points for him.
I hope he comes back to ask how I went with his little book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your critique. I had started writing my own but you have done it all. I have used your critique to place sticky notes through-out the book and will recommend him your PDF for further reading.

The Marshmallow of Faith is dead - We are condemned to Freedom

Can't remember who said that but I like it.

Zero all faith then ask god.

Cheers
R.P.
 
hi Mario

Love your blog.
Very rational but also inspirational.
I see you have a piece about carl sagan.
You might like this video [ there's loads of them since, but this was the first
adaptation of pale blue dot, and it was front paged on youtube last year.
great man Dr Sagan
B..x
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47EBLD-ISyc
 
From: Mario
To: C.S.
Sent: Monday, 25 August, 2008 14:35:21
Subject: Re: Here's another ex JW
 
Hello C 

Thank you for your email, and good to hear you are not afraid to think for yourself, and more importantly, not afraid to act on what you know to be true. If only more religious people could discover the thrill of living life as a sober, clear-thinking human being. 

As for your nagging question about where the Universe comes from - I think most scientists and atheists would agree with you that 'something cannot come from nothing'. YET, that 'something' that produced our Universe is very, very unlikely to be a super-complex, ultra-powerful, highly organised and intelligent entity - because, if you believe that 'something cannot come from nothing', then you immediately have to ask the question: WHERE DID THIS ENTITY COME FROM? Was it produced by an even more complex, powerful, organised, intelligent entity? And so on. 

Can you see the problem? 

By invoking a complex entity to explain the Universe, we are forced to invoke an even more complex one - ad infinitum. 

Yes the Universe must have come from something - but that something must be something simple, inert and non-complex eg. possibly a puncture in the time-space continuum of a larger universe; or perhaps our Universe is a mere sub-atomic particle inside another universe. Numerous hypotheses exist, and more are being developed all the time by cosmologists. 

The point is these are simple, natural explanations, that could very well be true. 

Nothing like the illogical, crazy, and highly unlikely notions of supernatural gods. 

I hope that makes perfect sense to your logical mind!  :-) 

Regards

Mario

---- Original Message ----
From: C.S.
To: Mario
Sent: Saturday, 23 August, 2008 7:44:47 PM
Subject: Here's another ex JW
 
My name is C and I got with them in the 1970s but it was only at least 25 years later, I'd say, that I finally decided that, not only were they not right but that I had never had a personal reason to believe that there is a personal God.  The concluding that JWs were wrong came about first, as a result of: psychotherapy, discovering A Common Bond website (gay ex JWs, mostly in US) and reading Ray Franz's books.  The non-belief in a personal God came later as a result of non-response to prayer.  I think that's pretty accurate.  Anyway, there are two questions I want to ask you, but I'll stick to one for now:
 
I've never been able to see logically how anything (e.g. the universe, but it could just be a grain of sand, or all energy) exists somehow for no reason, from nowhere, from nothing.  How everything in the material universe could have just come into being from nothing at the big bang.  Or, indeed, how everything material could have always existed.  That's in terms of the material universe, of course.  Is it unreasonable (I know it can't be scientific) to posit that only something outside or beyond the laws of the material universe could cause matter to come into being?  (I think this is why I can't get rid of the notion of the possibility of the existence of something super-natural.)  I certainly have no other explanation to satisfy my non-scientific but, I think, logical mind.
 
Cheers
C.S.
 
Crikey, something tells me my website got this woman so worried, she just had to write this diatribe to reassure herself. I used to do similar things.

 29/10/08

Hi, Mario !

My name is Elena. I am a busy woman with kids, have a lot to do and generally tired at the end of the day, BUT! -I COULDN'T STOP READING YOUR COMMENTS on LIFE - HOW DID IT GET HERE? and your letters to JW governing body on Noah's ark and flood etc...Spent 2 hours of my time! on reading (it's out of my busy schedule and I just want to comment .)
Your letters are well and smoothly written. I give it to you.With a lot of passion and sincerety. Your disappointment in what you believed once is genuine .I see that. Questions about Bible you are raising are legit. Well...
My understanding is that you are on the mission to set the world from chains of religion? To prove that there is nothing OUT there, NO God? You wrote something like that you truly began to live and to live happily only AFTER you got away from all the creationism and religion an the rest of it?
May I give you my story  briefly? ( Please forgive my  mistakes. English is not my birth language. I also aware of "Spell Check" button . For whatever reason ,I am choosing not to use it here  OK?Please?)
Anyway. I am in my mid 30s.Have few hobbies and hold  Master's degree in Biology  from a state university in Russia ,that is 200 years old. Very reputable institution! (My father is a professor of biology in Ukraine but I live for the past 13 years in USA.)  I am witting all of this to show that for five years in college I HAD TO study evolution. It wasn't an option in former Soviet Union environment. For three years out of those five my specialization were in Genetics and Molecular Biology. I was born in atheistic family and completely atheistic surrounding.So, I believed then what you believe now -that there is no God, only darkness before our life and after our life is over ... but there was very very small voice on inside of me(now I know it was my spirit) that there is something more to it, something more to reason for my existence and ABOUT my existence.That we humans capable of Creativity, Compassion, Self sacrifice , Humility and Forgiveness  to such depth and degree that no animal or plant can do ever! That's because we people have spirit that came from God and animals dont and Creator created us in His image , so because he forgiving, we are too, He is creative, so we are too etc.
Thank you God, that Truth has set me free, just like He promised. I really got a strong hold of these Gospel truth only about 2 years ago. and boy, I am glad I did! It revolutionized my life, Mario!
Believe it or not, Mario but Creator of Universe is longing to revel Himself to you the same way He revealed Himself to me and to have real, personal relationship with YOU!
Nobody is asking you to believe in imaginary friend.For crying out loud, we are all adults here and nobody wants to fall to some fairy tale.
I do not know specifics of flood from Genesis (local vs. global etc) I don't. But I know bigger truth and fact -
God is real he knows us and loves us.
In December 2006 I was in local hospital (in Virginia) seating in the hallway for about 5 minutes silently crying (with my eyes covered by my hands) about my husband. I was totally empty, upset, wiped out , you name it!  Next thing I know woman that I NEVER MET BEFORE IN MY LIFE asks me "May I pray for you?''
I was so upset at that moment I didn't even took my hands of my eyes to see her - I just noded "yes".
And  She said "Heavenly Father! I do not know what's going on here, what the problem is, but I know that You know and You care. Please help this woman (me). I rebuke devil from here and I declare victory" As she was saying this short prayer, Mario - tremendous warm power came on me through the top of my head, down and It pressed me into the seat!! (I was sitting on the sofa first floor of the building) with great strenth, (something like when you on airplane and it takes off  and you pressed back in your seat during take off) It was like nothing, nothing I ever  experienced before. And air around me was in the way the words cannot descibe (Russian or English). And than everything has change for me in my life. Peace came into my heart.  That situation that i was so upset about and was crying? It changed on opposite withing 24 hours from that woman praying over me. It just shows how intimately God knows us and cares about us. JUST LIKE BIBLE SAID! So why should I care about  descriptions of the flood?, when the main message of the Gospel is true - that God is living God and
THAT HE NEVER LEAVE ME OR FORSAKE ME, that He knows me and helped me in my trouble.
Another of many examples  in my life that God IS REAL. You know how Bible says that we are to speak to the mountain (Trouble in our life) and believe that it will happen and it shall be that way in Jesus name.
Well, now I know about my authority as a believer. Now I know my rights and privileges as a heir to Almighty God. So, when few month ago I woke up at 1AM with terrible pain in the chest on the heart side, my first reaction was fear (I had mitrovalve prolapse since teen years) i thought i was dying from heart attack - devil tried to fight me with fear  and negativity. I was reaching to the phone to cal 911, but in the last moment i said No, i will do something else. I got up and went in my den (didn't want to wake up my family) and outloud
spoke to my chest pain. What was I saying? The Everlasting True Promises of living God about my healing-
specifically Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:2-3, John 14:14, and 1Peter 2:24 Isaiah 53:4-5, Romans 8:11 1John5:14-15. Within less than 15 minutes "hammering"  my chest pain with living Word , pain was completely gone. Praise God! No medicine, no doctors, nothing! Only prayer and and perfect accoplished job by Jesus. AND I AM ENTITLED AS A CHRISTIAN TO CLAIM EVERYTHING THAT HE WON FOR ME!
Hey, Mario! If God was dead, His word would be dead too and it wouldn't work.
and the last example not about me ,but about somebody else - my son who is not even 10 yet. This July he
woke up in the morning with sudden pain in his stomach. It's not typical at all for him. it was so bad he was crying. First reaction of his father was to take him to ER. After all who knows maybe it's apendisitis, right?
Well, I prayed over him and nothing happened. Now I know that was because i was hindering situation by my fear in his health and momentary unbelieve that "it" might not work this time.( devil got to me too, nobody is perfect) But i calmed myself down , got phone and called 24/7 free prayer line. Yes, I needed some christian to stay in agreement with me. Meanwhile my boy is crying on the bed from pain for about an hour. I put phone on the speaker with some woman on another end and ask my son Do you believe that Jesus loves you? he said yes.
Do you believe in His healing? and again he said yes and as that woman began to pray simple prayer over the phone ,within seconds, I said WITHIN SECONDS- my son turned left , then turned right and said to me "Mom, my pain is completely gone!" Praise God!
Mario! Who answered this prayer? Who?
All of you, nonbelievers.Tell the truth! Go ahead call it "coincidence". What a "nice" coincidence that pain left
 during prayer to Lord, yes? Not before! had more than an hour to do so, but DIDN'T. ONLY DURING TWO CHRISTIANS COMING TOGETHER AND CALLING UPON LORDS NAME IN AGREEMENT. ONLY THAN.
To me -it's faith at work. praise God!
Mario! This what I think you  need to do. Call these two ministries that I personally had awesome(!) results with
24 /7 free line 1-800-759-0700 and another (719)635-1111 M-Fr 8AM-9:30PM MT. Tell that person to pray together with you that you doubt that God is real and you used to believe, but not anymore. You need somebody to stay in agreement with you and say "Lord! If you are real , Reveal yourself to me . Let them bind lying devil in your life. Why not to call, Mario? After all, if God is not real than you will loose absolutely nothing from making phone call ! But I know, that God is no respecter of person, the way He wanted to reveal himself to me He wants to reveal Himself to you too. And soon  you can ask Him to show explanation for discrepancies about flood, etc.
Write me, OK?                        
                                         Elena
It's not over until God says it's over.

 

Hi A.

Roswell, aliens, homeopathy, loch ness monsters, astrology, reiki, etc, are all rubbish and untrue too - just like Jehovah, Jesus, Allah, fairies,etc, etc.

It seems to me you need to do more serious research.

Apart from browsing my website, reading 'The God Delusion', and watching 'Cosmos', you would do well to subscribe to this magazine: www.skeptic.com.

All of the best.

Mario

 


----- Original Message ----
From: A.B.
To: Mario
Sent: Tuesday, 19 August, 2008 2:17:34 PM
Subject: Re: The Truth

Hi Mario,
Thanks for replying. I joined the JWs because I was basically forced into it and you don't picture me or remember me because I don't go to meetings. I have always thought like you especially when I see pictures of Robert Mugabe - please he looks like a descendant of a gorilla (jokes aside) and why do all the African nations live in povert, disgusting crime and violence. I know who they are.

But I am kind of between a rock and a hard place having a husband who is very spiritual; and I like you believe this life is all there is. The concept of a God has always seemed too far fetched for me, no beginning and no ending - ag please! I was brought up a pentecost and my suspicions started right there. I believe in Roswell etc. I could go on and on but I think like you do but I cannot prove a damn thing, but it is very hard for me to live with a witness, as you can imagine.

A.
 

 

On Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 10:18 AM, Mario wrote:

Hello A.

Good to receive your message. I remember V., and even X I think, but unfortunately can't picture you. Yet if you're responsible for V's good looks, then it's easy to create a mental picture :-)

I'm glad you've found the JW part of my website useful. I certainly don't hate JW's today, as it was my choice to remain with them for 16 years. Yet when I sobered up, it was also my choice to leave - and make available the account of their deception online. I haven't seen the new Creation book, but judging from the articles about science they have online, I can imagine it contains the same half-truths, biased reporting, and prejudiced viewpoints as the old Creation book.

You see A., like so many people, JW's are too scared to face the REAL "truth" ie. the fact that there is no god, and we're descended from ape-like ancestors. All the evidence points overwhelmingly to that fact (have you seen the photos of humans born with tails on my website?).

That being the case, it is imperative we each make the most of our wonderful existence NOW - as this is all we get! As hard as it may sound, I am convinced that this life is all there is. Religion is just there for the millions of cowards and well-meaning simpletons who are too insecure to accept the harsh reality of this cold Universe.

When you finally accept the REAL "truth", then literally every moment of your life becomes exceedingly precious and joyous.

I strongly recommend the book "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins, and the DVD series "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan.

All of the best with the rest of your life A, "a mere crack of light between two eternities of darkness"! :-)

Mario



----- Original Message ----
From: A.B.
Sent: Monday, 18 August, 2008 12:54:01 AM
Subject: The Truth

Hello Mario,

You won't remember me but I am a fallen away Jehovah's Witness. My daughter is V.W. and she was very good friends with X. My hubby''s name is Br X.Y.

I heard bits and pieces about your 'turnaround" from the Truth but I could never fathom the why's and wherefores that an intelligent man like yourself could just turn "atheist". Something more was going on here.

I found your site and read all your letters to the body of Elders and was extremely impressed by your in-depth knowledge of common sense and logic which in many cases doesn't apply to the Truth. I also found it interesting that a new corrected Evolution book has been issued, so you see your observations did bear some fruit in that area.

I have been badly treated by the elders for many years, a very long story and don't deserve it. V. is out of the truth, actually all my children are out of the truth except X.

I also found that my questions were never answered - they expect you to accept everything they say. I have difficulty with this outlook by the elders especially in the dastardly way I have been treated by most of them. Even your ex-father-in-law didn't believe me when I told him some home truths about X. - he literally intimated that I was lying - WOW!

Needless to say I have completely fallen away because I am not a glutton for punishment.

I have been questioning the Jehovah's Witnesses for a long time and whether they do indeed have the TRUTH.

I will continue to read all your pages on your web page.

Regards,

A.B.
 

Mario wrote:

Whatever.

I think you're right, Jerusalem then. But that's besides the point.

The point is all religious people live in a fantasy world where they pick and choose from the real world to construct their own ideal scenarios. To be a realist and atheist means living in the real universe, accepting everything that is real - whether it's unpleasant or not.

Take the red pill Fred. It's worth it. (reference to The Matrix, in case you haven't seen it).

And no, I'm too busy living this short, limited life to the full, to engage in religious conversations and conversions. Thanks for the chat anyway, you sound like a reasonable person (for the most part).



F. M. wrote:
I think we're both confused . . . I thought 607 BCE was when Jerusalem fell, not Babylon. But maybe I'm out of practice.

I'd like to keep bouncing emails off of you for the sheer purpose of intelligent discussion. I haven't had any of that in a while. The people around me seem to accept God's existence without discussion, and although I clearly have faith I like to question my own basis of reasoning once in a while.

What say ye?
-Fred

PS. Good use of the word "Crikey"



On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 Mario wrote:
Oh yes? Archeology says Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 BCE - but no, the 12 old farts in Brooklyn need it to be 607 BCE, so in this instance we reject archelogy. And so on, and so on, and so on. Pick and choose - living in a delusional, selective world where 'archeology / science proves the Bible' - WHEN YOU WANT IT TO.

Crikey dude, I'm not trying to get the last word in here (you're welcome to send another email and I won't reply), but I just had to point out the obvious here.

 


F.M. wrote:
hahahaha. ok. Well then lock me up in a padded cell. Along with all the archaeologists who have dug up evidence that proves the accuracy of the Bible.

 


On Fri, Jun 6, 2008 Mario wrote:
It's OK, you don't have to justify your need to create imaginary friends and live in imaginary worlds. It's what the human brain has evolved to do. It's a survival mechanism. Personally, I've chosen to live in the real world of real things and real experiences - even if it is short-lived.
 



F.M. wrote:
Dear Mario,
Like you once were, I am a Jehovah's Witness. Your debunking of the "Life, How did it Get Here?" book was very interesting. I won't try and prove you claims false, but I must mention that you left out the fact that there is much, much more to that book. However, I won't make you go though and debunk every single word. Even if you could, that's not why I'm writing.
I'm writing for a few reasons. First, why the Witnesses? You do realize that you're simply fulfilling prophecy by singling us out for persecution, right?
Second, It would probably be safe to say that you have likely dropped out of contact with the organization. Have you read the new "Is there a Creator who Cares About You?" book? I think you should debunk that too. I won't lie, there is a lot a skeptic could do with that book. However, said skeptic would be missing the point. A skeptic could probably point out the ridiculous illustrations, such as the one that likens evidence that black holes exist but you can't see them to the fact that there is evidence that God exists but you can't see him either. The organization has a tendency to make what I call "corny" illustrations and arguments.
However, there are a few gems in the book that I hope you would consider. As well as other publications that build faith and show the Bible's validity.
For example: What about the prophecies in Isaiah and Daniel?
Please don't take any of my words as sarcasm or feuding. Like you, I had very serious concerns about weather or not God existed. Like you, I am an extremely logical person who has studied his classical rhetoric. Like you probably have, I study the sciences relentlessly. We both are logical people who know what we're talking about.
However, I found different answers.
Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
-F. M.
 
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

From: A. M.
Sent: Sun 06/02/2005
To: Mario Di Maggio
Subject: racist fuckin git

Mate, visisted your website for some bizarre reason, why Africa was better in colonial times? Leaving Islam? Why tolerance is racism? Is that what they teach you in the third reich of South Africa? And you actually assume you're intelligent. Come to Canada my friend, to gain some insight in how to live with differences, obviously South Africa was a bad example.
 

FOLLOW-UP 3 YEARS LATER:

From: A. M.
To: Mario Di Maggio
Subject: Hello
Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008

Dear Mr Di Maggio,

I have known for quite some time that the rather impulsive email I had sent you several years ago has been featured on your website, and although it is a source of personal embarrassment (considering the fact that upon sober reflection, I actually agree with you on several of the stated issues), I didn't give the matter much thought.

The reason I am writing you, is that it has come to my attention that employers have begun to engage in the particularly unsettling practice of running "google checks" on people whom they are considering for employment, and I am now quite frankly a little concerned that the email featured on your website may seriously jeopardise any chances I have for future employment.

I sincerely apologise for having caused you any offence, but I can only hope that my statements have not offended you to the extent that you would want them to pose a serious obstacle in providing me with a means of sustaining myself and my family.

I thank you for your time Mr Di Maggio, and hope that you can find it within your heart to remove the said email from your website.

Regards,

A. M.
Mario wrote:
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2007
From: Mario
Subject: Re: Re http://www.dimaggio.org/index.htm
To: L. L.

Hello Lu

"Lekker man"... good to receive your message! ;-)

You seem to be a really cool person. Will you ever visit the UK? If you do, please let me know, as my girlfriend and I would love to meet you in person. We apper to have much in common!

Saluti

Mario


L. L. wrote:
Hi Mario

Just to say hello from the USA - a fellow ex-South African.

I stumbled on your site:

http://xxxxxx.stumbleupon.com/

and enjoyed it tremendously.

Lu
 
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 14:07:22 -0800
From: "S.M..>
To: Mario
Subject: JW creation book

Mario,

Thank you for your web site regarding the JW's creation book. I have
a meeting with a Brother to discuss the book and your information will
be valuable.

Thanks!

S.M.
Anchorage, Alaska
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:02:01 +0100 (BST)
From: a m s
Subject: Thankyou....
To: Mario

....for you website

You have no idea :D

Anna x Psychology and science graduate currently
trying to use bible study with the JW's to at least
save 2 of them from a fate worse that religion!
 
> Date: Mon, 2 Jul 2007 11:18:36 -0500
> To: Mario
> Subject: Re: A terrific website analyzing the
> "Creation" book
>
> Hi Mario
>
> I hate to admit it, but I didn't see your name there
> on the bottom of
> the EvoWiki page until you called my attention to
> it. If there's
> anything I've learned from reading about Francis
> Hitching it's this:
> know something about your sources!
>
> Thanks again for the great website. I actually
> laughed aloud at The
> Watchtower Society's response to your letter about
> the koala bear's
> diet and range. It's interesting how JW's are told
> in the LHDIGHBEOBC
> book that the fossil record is not a smooth
> gradient, and is therefore
> full of holes. At the same time (as you note in your
> letter about the
> extent of the flood) there's not a single shred of
> evidence that
> endemic species, like the koala, was ever in the
> vicinity of Mount
> Ararat; there are no 4,300-year-old mummified
> marsupials to bolster
> the flood/ark/animal distribution tale, but that's
> not a problem.
> "Evolutionists" must provide seamless physical
> evidence to prove
> evolution, but zero evidence is required to back-up
> a fantastic story
> of animal collection, storage and eventual
> redistribution.
>
> I found a sentence in the 1/15/1962 Watchtower
> Questions from Readers
> particularly interesting: "Other oceanographic
> studies have turned up
> evidence that once there existed a huge South
> Pacific continent that
> took in Australia and many of the South Sea isles."
> It's interesting
> to me that the Society doesn't appear to have a
> problem with plate
> tectonics, even though, according to Genesis Chapter
> 1, Jehovah
> creates the earth and sea just as he creates living
> creatures. If
> Jehovah can allow his divinely created landmasses to
> shift around in
> his divinely created sea, why can't he also allow
> his animal creation
> to shift and evolve? I'm surprised the WTS doesn't
> battle plate
> tectonics as vociferously as they battle speciation.
>
> Take care,
>
> R

Mario wrote:
> Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 21:27:17 +0100 (BST)
> Subject: Re: A terrific website analyzing the
> "Creation" book
> To: R M
>
> Hi R
>
> Good to receive your email, and thanks for that
> reference. I wasn't aware of the EvoWiki site about
> the Creation book. I'm glad to see that my analysis
> of
> the book is one of the two primary references! :-)
>
> I'll certainly add the link to my website.
>
> Ciao for now
>
> Mario
>
>
> --- R M wrote:
>
> > Hi Mario Di Maggio:
> >
> > I have a suggestion for your Other Great Web Sites
> > section on dimaggio.org:
> >
> http://wiki.cotch.net/index.php/Life--How_Did_It_Get_Here%3F
> >
> > EvoWiki discusses all manner of topics related to
> > biology and
> > evolution, and the link above brings you to an
> > in-depth examination of
> > the book Life - How Did it Get Here? By Evolution
> or
> > By Creation?
> > There's quite a bit of crossover between your
> > analysis of this book
> > and EvoWiki's. Plus, the EvoWiki entry has a
> > point-by-point breakdown
> > of each erroneous claim posited by the LHDIGHBEOBC
> > book, followed by
> > scientific responses/refutations.
> >
> > Great website! Keep up the good work...
> >
> > R
> > Minneapolis, MN USA
Date: Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:17:00 -0400
Subject: Re: Liked Your Site
To: Mario

Mario,
Thanks for the reply. After looking at more of your site I thought that
would be what you ment. It really is a great site & I'm very happy I found
it.
So much of the internet is filled with....for lack of a better word crap
these days. I remember when I first got online & would do a search all the
first replys to the search were usually relevant. Nowdays it seems like
half of what's returned is links for someone trying to sell you something,
most of which has nothing to do with the search you performed in the first
place!
Your museum looks really cool. If I ever make it over again I'm going to
make it high on my must see list!
Thank-you for making such an interesting site.
T---

--- Mario wrote:
> Date: Sun, 1 Jul 2007 20:38:29 +0100 (BST)
> Subject: Re: Liked Your Site
>
> Hi T
>
> Thanks for your message. Indeed, although I haven't
> read Bryson's book, I'm well aware that our present
> scientific knowledge is minimal - I mean, 96% of the
> composition of the Universe is a mystery for a
> start!
> (23% dark matter, 73% dark energy :-)
>
> I guess what I meant by that "I now understand
> almost
> everything" comment, was more 'I now understand what
> life and existence is all about' ie. there is no
> "higher purpose" to humanity. We're the end result
> of
> extremely lucky circumstances, and we're still
> driven
> mostly by primitive instincts. We're just
> sophisticated
> monkeys, that's all.
>
> Yet, we are self-aware. And there's the rub. A great
> privilege is ours, but also a great responsibility
> towards the Cosmos.
>
> Mario
>
>
> ---  wrote:>
> > Hello,
> > Just thought I'd drop you a note & tell you that
> I
> > liked your site. I forget how I found it but I
> > think it had to do with an astronomy search. I
> > haven't gotten to a lot of it but what I have
> looked
> > at was good. I also wanted to let you know about
> a
> > book I just read because of a response to one of
> the
> > letters in your Hate Mail sections. You responded
> > "and thanks to science we now understand how
> almost
> > everything around us works." I used to think this
> > way also. But after finishing "A Short History of
> > Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson I came to
> realize
> > that we know very little about almost everything.
> > If you get a chance check it out. I think you'll
> > enjoy it.
> > T L
---On 22 March 2007
--- Cmto4u@ wrote:
>
> I was searching randomly on the Internet when I
> came upon your site, I found
> it very interesting,and even though I believe
> different than you I have
> intention on argueing,or "preaching" to you. I'm
> sure you've gotten a lot of
> "preaching's" any ways.
> I just want to ask some questions out of curiosity.
> What exactly made you
> turn from being a Jehovah's Witness to an
> athiest.(Sorry if I missed it on your
> site,just wondering.)
> I also wanted to know if/why you seem so angry. You
> seem to be holding a lot
> of anger...or at elast that's the perspective I got
> from your site. Usually
> people name call when they are either A. Immature
> or B. Frustrated or angry.
> I'm pretty positive you are a very mature as well
> as intelligent person,and
> the only conclusion that I could think of to explain
> this hostility and name
> calling would have to be some issue that gave birth
> to wrath. Maybe you met
> some hypocritical Christians?? I know I have,ones
> that do the "church act," If
> this is why I can assure you there are true
> Christians out there,ones that
> don't shun others for believing different. I don't.
> I think it's dumb to mock
> or shun a person for thinking or believing
> different,and unfortunately a lot
> of people tend to do that. I can't literally flat
> out prove to you that there
> is a God no more than you can flat out prove there
> isn't a God. I believe
> based on my personal experience,as well as a few
> other things.As you can
> probably tell I'm not a big debate person,it's just
> not my thing and I don't really
> like arguing in the first place.It doesn't seem to
> do any good really. I
> just want to know why/if (because I don't
> perosnally know you and am only
> guessing by your site) you seem so mad.
> -Brooke


On 23 March 2007 I replied:

If I come across as angry it's because I know first-hand what an impoverished version of life religion (in all its forms) offers humanity. To live one's life in a fantasy world of non-existent delusions is the most demeaning thing a human being can possibly experience.

There was a time when religion had survival value. That time is over. Thanks to medical science we now live long, relatively happy lives; and thanks to science we now understand how almost everything around us works. There is very little room or need for an imaginary 'God' anymore.

The liberation I felt when I left religion and delusion behind, was the most exhilarating experience of my life - and it continues to grow every day.

I now know I am a product of this wondrous Universe; I know exactly who my ancestors were; and I know very accurately what is going to happen to our planet in a thousand million years time.

I'm LIVING Brooke. I'm REALLY living.

And as much as I'd love for every other human being to experience the same - I see every day around me how miserable, snivelling religious leaders, bigots, and other 'well-meaning' deluded and desperate humans mislead and brainwash generation after generation of impressionable children.

It's a sad state of affairs. And as a religious person, you are partly responsible.

Grow up Brooke. Snap out of it. Like I did. There's no-one there. When you pray you're talking to yourself.

If you need help, buy and read this book:

"The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins (2006)

Join the people who are living in the beautiful, REAL world. This life is ALL you get. A mere crack of light between two eternities of darkness. Don't blow it like all the other sad and weak people around us.

Mario
Email exchange with sometime in September 2006.
Clearly this guy can't read.
Make sure you start reading from the first message at the bottom:

Brother,
Thanks for responding. You are by far the fairest (and hence wisest) atheist I've run across.
If you re-read my email, you will not find me stating anything about my beliefs. I neither state nor infer that I believe in an imaginary alpha male in the sky (and I love that phrasing). Your attack and name calling was unwarranted.
I had one pint too many last night when I wrote. My point was: Your website suggests that because some humans are born with tails (20 known cases in 10B births), we evolved from ape-like beings.
I find that logic flawed.
Birth defects present problems for both atheists and theists. As recently as last week, a child was born in Indonesia with two functioning heads. Did she evolve from ape-like beings with two heads? No, that's illogical. Just like saying that when a human is born with a tail, they evolved from ape-like beings.
That was it. I'm not attacking you. Just pointing out your argument is weak. That also doesn't make me a creationist. Kudos for putting your beliefs out there.
Live long and prosper.
RF


Mario wrote:
R
Unfortunately it's you who are choosing to live in cloud-cuckoo land my friend.
If you look into the genetics of it all (and I assume you did read the bit about genetic throwbacks?), you will see that EXTRA thumbs / heads / legs, like ZERO thumbs / heads / legs, are simply MULTIPLICATION errors ie. genetic mistakes in the NUMBER of normal characteristics produced.
Human beings occasionally having TAILS is something completely different. Tails are NOT normal characteristics for modern humans. They occur today due to ancient genes being erroneously 're-activated'.
According to your logic, human beings should also occasionally be born with ELEPHANT TRUNKS, long GIRAFFE NECKS and CROCODILE SNOUTS.
I don't think any such births have been reported....yet.
I say "yet", because in science we cannot be certain of anything. Your rainbow-chasing scenario of life on Earth being attributed to an imaginary alpha male in the sky may one day actually be substantiated by evidence.
But somehow I don't think that will ever happen.
And until then, people like me will choose to live fearlessly in the real world, not in the comforting delusion of the masses (who, by the way, are the ones with the laughable intellect).
Mario


RF wrote:
Mario,
I ran across your website while looking for a picture of human tails.
Your headline, ".....humans evolved from ape-like ancestors..." and, "...whether you 'accept' it or not...." is laughable. You can't be serious.
The fact that birth defects exist (in countless forms) does not mean we evolved from apes. When a two headed child is born, what is your deduction? Siamese twins? No arms? No legs? Covered in hair? Cleft pallet?
It is flawed logic that to make such a deduction that because one of the countless birth defects looks like a tail, we evolved from apes. Dogs have tails. So do cats, lions, birds, possums, the list is endless. Why not deduce we evolved from them?
You are probably a smart person, but the world is laughing at your superior intellect. [catch the Star Trek 2 quote.......?]
Thanks for the pics of the birth defects.
R
 
From: "Matthew Walker"
To: mario@dimaggio.org
Subject: Hi mario
Date: Mon, 08 Aug 2005 23:02:55 +0000

I read with interest your letters to the JW headquarters. To be completely honest, although you do make valid points, it seems to me that you wouldn't
have accepted any answer from anyone, as the tone of your letters reflect that your decisions had already been made. Whether the flood happened over
all the earth or not, is not your real issue here. I personally couldn't care less about the flood and I do like the fact that you do. This shows that you have the capacity to engage in a strong faith and is something I wished I could feel. But your criticisms are based on a few letters and you not recieving the replies which you wanted. I'm sorry to point this out my friend but you are a little harsh and I wanted you to know a view from a reader.

Nothing personal and take good care

Matt
 
From: Jacobi Knight
Sent: Tue 18/05/2004 12:51
To: Mario Di Maggio
Subject: tails

Your reasoning is actually incorrect, the fact humans have tails doesnt anymore mean we are related to monkeys anymore than we are related to elphants, pigs, worms, or anything with a tail. Similarities do not necessarily = we came from it anymore than a baseball evolved from a basketball and lost its orangeness over time.

Furthermore the loss of a tail doesn't prove evolution, it shows we are losing genetic information, and losing genetic information IS NOT a contributer to evolution, it makes it less likely as there is less to work with. Humans are losing information more and more with each generation because of cumulative radiation damage and HARMFUL mutations, not beneficial.

If you are going to preach, make sure you know what you are talkig about. Reading a few books and being enchanted by men in suits and ties with smug and arrogant looks don't = they are right.

Fascinating, how when you do give someone visual proof that there is a god, they use it to deny his existance and power.

Daniel

http://athiesm.tk
 
From: Carmen Lambert
Sent: Sat 16/04/2005 05:42
To: Mario Di Maggio
Subject: religion and science

Hi

Visited your site mostly because I was thinking of starting my own heretic web log.

Some thoughts:

Rejecting Christianity because you were a Jehova's Witness is like rejecting science because your parents "discovered" cold fusion.

If God is love, and science can't measure love, then how can science prove or disprove the existence of God?

There is a part of the brain, when stimulated with electricity or drugs will create religious experiences. I believe this part of the brain is also triggered by physical or mental trauma. I think this is why religion exists and why it thrives.

Science can't prove everything. If you were born blind, then how could anyone prove to you scientifically that colours exist? Sure, millions of people would tell you they exist, but millions tell you that God exists too, so that doesn't count.

After reading all the wild stuff that quantum physics says, how could any scientist not believe that anything is possible?

I think people would be happier if they didn't have a religion because it doesn't matter what they do, there are no consequences for their actions (provided they get away with it). On a purely scientific basis, murder isn't wrong, for instance. The death of one individual is nothing measured against the death of a
star.

You might think I'm a religious nut, but I'm not. I've almost given up on religion because it isn't even consistent within it's own belief structure. (Example
1: "Every word of the Bible is true." In Gen 6:3 God said no one would live past 120. This was in Noah's time. All but one of the rest of the characters
mentioned in Genesis lived way more than that. Example 2 :"Jesus was the perfect sacrifice." But, He was killed in the wrong way at the wrong time in the
wrong place by the wrong people to be the perfect sacrificial lamb.)

I think religion is a social issue. It makes people behave so that society can function. Christianity especially was created for people living on the margins of society (the outcasts) so that they could be reintegrated into society. I believe churches perform these functions well. (Anyone can become a Jehova's Witness and work themselves up the ranks.Same with Salvation Army, same with a lot of religions. (Of course if you're a woman forget it- you'll have to
resort to new age religions if you want to get anywhere).

So religion is important and if people want to believe in God they should be free to, without being ridiculed. Right?

Carmen