Steve Dresselhaus – May 2026
This is a digitally created photo by Olivier Valsecchi, circa 2009–2010.
Several years ago, a friend—who is just as preachy on social media about his faith in atheism as I am about my trust in Jesus—posted a photo during Easter week. The photo depicted Jesus on a swing beneath the cross. The intent was clear: to mock Christians and scorn our belief in the resurrection of Jesus, one of the absolute, must‑believe cornerstones of the Christian faith.
My initial reaction was exactly what my friend intended Christians to feel. I was disgusted and a little angry at the arrogant superiority he displayed as he ridiculed people simply because they didn’t believe what he does. I became defensive and began to dream up counterarguments. I started comparing my life to his, which made me feel both superior to him and a bit sorry for him.
I looked at my good marriage of 42 years, my friends, and my ministry, which takes me to sea for kayaking and SCUBA diving three or more times a week. I reflected on my wonderful family and on how privileged I have been—far beyond anything I deserve—to witness lives transformed for the better through the congregations I have helped start. I am surrounded by many genuinely good people who love me for who I am, not for what I do.
As I continued comparing myself to my friend, it suddenly dawned on me that my own snowballing sin of pride was equal to—or worse than—his sin of arrogance. I should have known better than to compare myself with him, or with anyone else for that matter. Comparisons made for the sake of making oneself appear better than another are simply disgusting. Making comparisons is the Mount Everest of judgmentalism.
The problem with comparing ourselves to others as a means of self‑justification is that no matter how good we think we are, there will always be someone “better” who can justify themselves by comparing themselves to us. We should all be grateful for Hitler—he makes us all look like heaven‑worthy saints.
What I also came to understand was that my friend, by posting that photo, had unknowingly—and certainly unwillingly—captured the essence and beauty of the Christian faith. His mockery of the pinnacle of my faith illustrated exactly what Jesus came to do. He came to sacrifice His life for us and, in doing so, paid the penalty for our sin. He came, in part, to be raised from the dead. He came to give us life—rich, purposeful, and abundant (John 10:10). He came to give us joy and an exciting, adventure‑filled life.
Jesus transformed the horror of the cross into the ultimate source of joy. Jesus on a swing—playful, victorious, and joyfully celebrating resurrection life.
My friend’s failed attempt at blasphemy ended up proclaiming the very Gospel preached by Jesus, the apostles, and all who follow Him. That photo should be celebrated; it is Christianity in a nutshell. The Bible puts it this way in Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Yes, you read that right – “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame.” Who would have thought that an atheist could bring joy and worship to Easter?
macrochristian 
it’s always amusing when Christains invent “friends” and then fail to show that their jesus exists at all.
I am sorry you feel this way. I am assuming you have had some negative personal experiences with Christians. I am truly sorry if this has been your experience.
I am surrounded by people who do know Jesus and the changes in their lives does my heart good. I also spend a lot of time with people who actively oppose anything related to Jesus. They know who I am and what I do, yet they still hang out with me and I value their friendships. Will they come to know Jesus? Maybe: I certainly hope so, but that is not anything I can control or force or even adequately debate. All I can do is do my best to live the life Jesus wants me to live in the hope that someday these friends might enjoy it with me.
No more than any other religion. Every christian claims to “know jesus’ and each makes up their own jesus in their own image. Every cult changes lives so there is nothing special about yours.
To hope someone comes to agree with you is nothing new. Humans love external validation. Your religion has failed for 2000+ years, so which version of it should people “come to know”?
and curious how the “best life” is always what the christian wants, just like how their jesus always agrees with them.
In part I have to agree with you; religions do tend to tend to create their gods in their own image. Some Christians fall into that trap as well. We should at least try to live by the image of Christ revealed in the Bible. Not even atheists are opposed to that.
All religions do have their bad moments in history for which we should be ashamed. But the evil perpetrated by religion does not even come close to the evil perpetrated by atheism and state control.
I wish you well in your pursuit of truth and peace.
Every christian “falls into that trap” since not one of you can agree on what jesus wants, and you all vainly think that only your version is the “right” one. I am indeed opposed to cultists who follow a god that murders anyone who doesn’t agree with it. Your god approves of genocide, slavery and killing people for things that they didn’t do. Your god is quite a bit more like Stalin, etc than any atheist.
Unsurprisingly, you try a typical lie that christians love to spread. Atheism has caused no evil. Every theists is also an atheist when it comes to those gods they don’t believe in.
What you attribute to atheism is actually attributable to megalomania. Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, etc were all also megalomaniacs, and since I as an atheist don’t want to commit genocide, your claims fail miserably.
And curious how christianity was in state control over many millennia and caused genocide, wars, torture, etc, even of each other.
Hi. I am really sorry you feel so angry. I live in a world with scientists (mostly in the ocean sciences) and a surprising number of my friends and dive buddies are faithful atheists who actively -proselytize for their faith. They do tend, not all of them, of course, towards anger and scorn at Christianity. I like being with them and we spend time together diving, or on [ research projects[ but we are totally aware of each other’s systems of faith and we respect each other, even though we are poles apart on religious choices. We do not fight or even argue. If my faith is worth anything at all, they will see it in my life.
I like how you relate the evils of Stalin, Mao etc. towards megalomania. That helped me understand the evil perpetrated by some religious leaders. It has little to do with religion but is rather more a seeking after power. Thank you, sincerely. I hadn’t thought of those embarrassing moments in religious history that way before.
Could you please give me a teaching of Jesus, with which you disagree? I can understand anger towards institutional religion, something with which I too struggle, but I don’t know what people find so abhorrent about Jesus.
I remain fairly confident that lack of faith in any god produces far more evil in the world than any religion ever has. Islam may come close, but even there it is less about religion than it is about control and power.
Enjoy the day.
Steve
It’s always bemusing when Christians must intentionally lie and claim I’m “angry” to make themselves feel better.
It’s also amusing when Christians claim that their “friends” are atheists and have to claim that these atheists aren’t angry. It’s like watching a bigot claim his friends are black and they are just perfectly happy with racism. I have no need to respect a cult that causes harm with its baseless claims.
Christians claim that one should be able to tell they are Christians, with the false claim that only Christians evidently must be humane, honest, humble, etc. I can’t tell who a Christian is by their action. What I should be able to do is see them get any prayer answered and them to be able to do miracles like their jesus promises. That has shown to be lacking.
You quickly jump to claiming religious leaders only cause harm by megalomania when that is not the case. They cause harm directly thanks to their religious beliefs. Those beliefs say that those who do not agree with them are to be at worst killed, and at best shunned. Your religion says that anyone who dares disagree deserves to be eternally tortured. I have no need to pull punches about a religion that does that.
Sure, I’ll give you quite a few teachings that I disagree with.
Your jesus supports genocide, slavery and forcing a rape victim to marry her rapist by saying that all of the Jewish laws are to be followed:
“17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5
“”If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple”” Luke 14
BTW, this is what many cults demand.
“3 Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’”
Christians interpret this as it is okay to force people into Christianity and that is how it reads: no invitation, compulsion. “I have therefore yielded to the evidence afforded by these instances which my colleagues have laid before me. For originally my opinion was, that no one should be coerced into the unity of Christ, that we must act only by words, fight only by arguments, and prevail by force of reason, lest we should have those whom we knew as avowed heretics feigning themselves to be Catholics. But this opinion of mine was overcome not by the words of those who controverted it, but by the conclusive instances to which they could point. For, in the first place, there was set over against my opinion my own town, which, although it was once wholly on the side of Donatus, was brought over to the Catholic unity by fear of the imperial edicts, but which we now see filled with such detestation of your ruinous perversity, that it would scarcely be believed that it had ever been involved in your error.” St. Augustine
The word translated as compel, means exactly that: Pronounce: an-ang-kad’-zo Strongs Number: G315 Orig: from 318; to necessitate:–compel, constrain. G318Use: TDNT-1:344,55 Verb Heb Strong: H7860
1) to necessitate, compel, drive to, constrain 1a) by force, threats, etc.1b) by permission, entreaties, etc. 1c) by other means
“24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11
How many children have been murdered by their parents who believed this failed promise?
Your “confidence” fails in front of reality. You then try to lie about islam being worse than your religion and again, nothing shows that Christianity isn’t just as much about control and power.