So Wendy, ('cousin wendy', not 'mice-and-wendy wendy', to those who know both, (and not even my cousin, but that's just how nicknames go)) a younger friend of mine who I haven't talked to in a long time, sent out a 'the world is a mess because people don't have faith in Christ and are therefore evil' chain letter to a bunch of people.

Being the free-thinker that I am, I immediately penned a reply, but couldn't send it to her, knowing that it would probably devestate her that some of her friends aren't as churchgoing as she is, and would actually try to refute what she perceived as a plainsense letter.

So what do I do? I send it to a couple other friends who also were sent the original message by Wendy. One of them very much wants Wendy to read it, but I don't want Wendy to demonize me for having beliefs other than those she holds so strongly. I say okay, but don't tell Wendy where it came from.

Now you're probably thinking "How stupid is Kevin? This is a pretty public place to be trying to keep a secret." and you're right. I'm posting it here because I'd also like to share my opinion, but only with those who want to read it, and also to propose a nice starting-off point for those of you who also get this chain letter and are looking for ideas for a response.

Wendy, if you read this, sorry for not just sending it to you straight, but this is all part of the 'discussion religion in cyberspace' that your letter was advocating. It's nothing against you personally, beyond that I'm a little sad that you're wrapping yourself a little too tightly in your religion for my taste but that's just my opinion and I wouldn't tell you what to think, feel, or practice, except that I encourage you to not see it as your duty to tell others how to think/feel/practice.

Now, for the 99.99% of the readership who is not Wendy, read it, don't read it, wait for my next non-confrontational (I promise) post, or start up a discussion of your own, with me or someone else.

Thanks for listening!