What is your name? (Real or pseudo)

Ed Gore

What is your date of birth?

October 10, 1952

What is your gender?

Male

What is your race?

White

What is your e-mail address? (optional)

egore@cjnetworks.com

What is the name and URL of your homepage? (optional)

N/A

Where do you live? (City, State, Country)

Harveyville, Kansas USofA

How would you best describe your form of freethought? (Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, etc.)

Atheist!

Were you raised as a freethinker or to be religious?

I was raised a Mormon. My mother took me to church every Sunday, which I hated. Skipped church every chance I got and went to "worship" at the Qwik shop a couple of blocks down the street. When I turned 16 I refused to go anymore.

What originally set you on the path to freethought?

From early childhood on, I felt religion couldn't do anything for me that I couldn't do for myself. What made me take the stand I take today was a brutal sex murder in a small town nearby. A preacher's 12 year old daughter was viciously raped and killed by a 24 year old sexual predator, who was out on parole 1 month from prison. They found the killer at a relative's house he was staying at, and found this girl's body tied up and hanging from a rafter in their garage. The media interviewed this girl's preacher father later, who was quoted as saying, "It was Gods will." That remark made me want to go slap some sense into this pathetic preacher, and tell him it was not "God's will," it was the will of a young man with rape and murder on his mind. If it was "God's will," as he believed, why would he worship a God who let a man brutally rape and kill his daughter?? The worst part is that he can accept that and passively do nothing about it. I was mad as hell. I've never been the same from that moment on.

When did you "come out" as a freethinker to family/friends/public, and how did it go over?

My wife isn't comfortable with it and avoids the issue. My kids can accept me as I am... kids are good at that. My mother is very religious, and I don't feel the need to tell her. If she asks, I will tell her I am an atheist. My dad has never gone to church, never mentioned religion, he just wants to be free to do his own thing without any hassles. My siblings don't know and don't care. My friends know I want no part of god or religion, and the subject is never brought up. I feel no need to express myself publicly as long as my beliefs aren't challenged publicly.

Do you feel it necessary to continue to hide your beliefs in any circumstances, and if so, why?

When asked my beliefs, I will not hide them.

Have you ever been the victim of discrimination or abuse because of your beliefs?

No.

In what types of freethought activism, if any, do you participate?

None, but considering so. Too many things are going on that I'd like to be able to do something about. I tend to be more active when things affect me personally.

What do you feel is the best part of being a freethinker?

The best part is I'm at peace with myself, I feel good about myself. Things make sense, fit into place, are somewhat logical.

What do you feel is the worst part of being a freethinker?

The scorn some people feel towards us, and the notion these people have that they have to change you, make you see the light, and the light has to be to their liking.

What is the societal atmosphere for freethinkers where you live?

I live in a small town, and for the most part people accept me. If there are some that dislike me because I'm an atheist, then they are keeping it to themselves thus far and I don't know about it.

How do you define "freedom of religion" and do you think your country attempts to grant this?

To me there is no such thing as freedom, the only freedom we have is our minds. Our will and choice is to me the only freedom we have. Our country is forever telling us what and how to believe.

If you could share one thought with whoever might read this profile of you, what would it be?

Jean-Paul Sartre sums it best for me. "Man can count on no one but himself; he is alone, abandoned on Earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other aim than the one he sets for himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this Earth."