ATLANTA writer Jason T Berggren, a former pastor and heavy-metal Christian rocker has roused the fury of the faithful following the publication of a book called 10 Things I Hate About Christianity.
Declared Berggren:
I’ve had periodic hate mail, always from people who haven’t read the book.
A handyman with an easy laugh and a shaved head, Berggren wrote:
Is it me, or does it seem like a lot of ‘Christians’ are on a one-way commuter train to Crazy Town? Nothing has discouraged me more in my desire to follow Jesus and know God than my observations of those who call themselves ‘Christians.’ They make it so easy to hate them. They can be crazy, annoying, judgmental and hypocritical. Even worse, I regret that each of those words also represents me personally.
Jason T Berggren
The book, according to this report, is a raw look at the shadowy side of the Christian faith. A Swedish American, Berggren is a kind of punk-rock version of Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. Both raise lots of questions about the value of faith.
And, Berggren says, why not own up to the fact that people struggle with prayer, sin, hell and going to church?
The 36-year-old first-time author wants to lower people’s expectations regarding faith, because, he claims, faith will not solve every problem.
It won’t fix all your acne and help you get a really pretty girlfriend.
But Berggren remains a believer – one atheist commentator describes him as a “Christian in sheep’s clothing” – and thinks the book is most valuable to the new convert or someone who plunged into the faith with enthusiasm and now thinks about giving up.
Here are the 10 things Berggren hates about Christianity:
1. Faith: There is no evidence for what we believe. That’s why it’s called faith. God doesn’t appear at the mall with Jesus to buy you sneakers.
2. Prayer: You do it, and it feels like it doesn’t accomplish what you want it to accomplish. You wonder: What’s really changed? Sometimes God takes time and asks us to accept no.
3. The Bible: So often you read something and wonder, is that trustworthy? Is it helpful? Does everything always have to be so boring and confusing?
4. Sin: Am I really so evil or so bad that I have to think of myself as sinful? Of course, we’re all only two or three decisions from ruining our life completely.
5. Rules: Why are there so many rules, and do I have to keep them all? There is too much to keep track of.
6. Love: It feels too hard to love everyone all the time.
7. Hell: Why would a loving God create hell?
8. Answers: I don’t always like the answers that Christianity gives. Do I have to accept them?
9. Church: Everyone says go to church. But how does that make me a better person?
10. Christians:Why are Christians so crazy, annoying and judgmental?
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 30th, 2009 at 10:31 am
http://blog.jasonberggren.com/
Just had a look at the guys site, a christian in sheeps clothing all right also seems to be one of those christians who tries to act cool and "down with da kids innit" his band is shit too and like all other christian "rock" only goes to show that the devil really does get all the good tunes.
August 30th, 2009 at 10:40 am
11. Why are Christians so keen to indoctrinate children & convert non-believers? Why don't they just get on with it on their own?
August 30th, 2009 at 11:00 am
What a funny guy. If he really did things according to the bible…. well, see for yourselves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHaVUjjH3EI
August 30th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
"Even worse, I regret that each of those words also represents me personally."
It represents most of us, believer or unbeliever, at one time or another, Mr. Berggren. The problem is, Christians claim to have supernatural help in avoiding such things. So, why don't we see it?
August 30th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
A mere marketing scam designed to appease the fuzzy faithful. If he really hated the things he listed but managed to keep his faith then I'm afraid that makes him more deluded than your average believer in my opinion, which in turn makes me more skeptical of the validity of anything he has to say. A bit of an own goal I reckon.
August 30th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
If he has genuine doubts – why not give up his faith?
August 30th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
You're spot-on there, ZombieHunter! When I was a keen young believer in the 1960s these type of Christians were two-a-penny. Cool and trendy, and "speaking our language" – only the mentally retarded were taken in by them. I had several books (probably still in my loft) along the same lines as this – your leaders are a lot of old fuddy-duddies who are just preaching at you all the time and don't really understand you, but WE'RE on YOUR side. Then came the doctrinal bit, and guess what – it was just the same as we had been taught after all, but dressed up in modern language and with a few corny gags added! Does anyone else remember the National Young Life Campaign, who held big tent meetings in Britain a la Youth For Christ? And do you all realize that that showman Billy Graham started out as a Youth For Christ evangelist? Explains a lot, doesn't it?
August 30th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Well – what do you know? Did a bit of browsing around, and found that the National Young Life Campaign (how pretentious can you get?) is still around, but is now called Young Life, and engages in "activities" with the young, rather than just preaching at them! First thing I see on their home page is a big ad "Get yourself a Young Life hoodie"!! You just COULDN'T make it up!!
August 30th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Well – what do you know? Did a bit of browsing around, and found that the National Young Life Campaign (how pretentious can you get?) is still around, but is now called Young Life, and engages in "activities" with the young, rather than just preaching at them! First thing I see on their home page is a big ad: "Get yourself a Young Life hoodie"!! You just COULDN'T make it up!!!
August 30th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
I was told time and time again as a young Christian that it was "good to have doubts." I have no idea to this day why that should be!
August 30th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
You're right (see my comments above). He's just another "trendy vicar".
August 30th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
PS I suppose, when you think about it, it was monks who invented the "hoodie". No wonder people who wear them are regarded with suspicion!
August 30th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Hear, hear.
August 31st, 2009 at 5:50 am
the easiest way to spin away the bs. "hey we all have doubts, as long as you follow the path of the lord…."
it's like they understand somewhere in their brains that it is all bollocks.
August 31st, 2009 at 9:45 am
'6. Love: It feels too hard to love everyone all the time.'
Which is presumably why most Christians don't even bother to try.
August 31st, 2009 at 1:35 pm
It's like they're saying, "It's okay to have doubts, but just keep in mind that it's all true."