Created
on Nov 20 2011
Dear Professor Dawkins,
I used to be a christian child, and over time I gradually became more apathetic to religion as a whole. I was in some sense still a christian, but I just didn't think much about it. Then, like many of the people on this site, I stumbled onto "The God Delusion." I was fascinated and repulsed at the same time by the whole concept of how religion can have such devastating influences on individuals and humanity as a whole. My parents being creationists, it hit me with a kind of sadness that they would live their lives and possibly never feel the kind of awe and appreciation for the real world that I have.
By reading "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The Selfish Gene," I had developed a very keen passion for science and nature as a whole. These books introduced me to books and debates on science and religion, including the works of Sam Harris, Lawrence Krauss, Christopher Hitches among others.
Now, a few months back I had absolutely no interest in science, in fact I quite disliked it. So as you might imagine, this was quite a change of heart for me.
I am aware that you receive many letters in this fashion and that this one will seem no different if you do somehow read this, but I just wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation for the influence you have had on me. Because of you, I have discovered a passion for science and a desire to study biology at university.
Mr. Dawkins, you have changed my life.
My sincere gratitude,
Ephrem
.