Christianity , Guiltianity, or Controllianity?


Posted Sunday, September 30, 2007. —
Sent in by Darlene

I write this in anguish of spirit. I have lived my whole adult life in a very religious, what I would now call “legalistic, controlling, guilt filled, suppressed, yet full of pride and hypocrisy, groping around desperately trying to find a fulfilled, meaningful life.

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I can accept myself again


Posted Friday, September 28, 2007. —
Sent in by Ellytoad

Before I begin, I want to point out that I am, indeed, an ex-Christian, so forgive some of my terminology here.

Do you know what my least favorite Christian teaching is? It is the one that states how Jesus could have smited all of mankind off of the face of the earth for our evilness but instead, out of the pure generosity of His heart, decided to die for us instead.

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GOD IS NOT...


Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007. —
By Susan Jacoby, on the Washington Post blog

God Is Not...Well, He's Just Not

I am not too fond of absolutist ex cathedra statements, even when they come from someone who is definitely not the pope and with whom I am in total agreement about the irrationality of all faith in the supernatural.

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The Subtle, Lethal Poison of Religion


Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007. —
By Christopher Hitchens, from the Washington Post blog.

On Sunday the New York Times reported on the recrudescence of "faith-based" teaching in Russian public schools:
"A teacher named Irina Donshina set aside her textbooks, strode before her second-graders and, as if speaking from a pulpit, posed a simple question:

"Whom should we learn to do good from?"

"From God!" the children said.

"Right!" Ms. Donshina said. "Because people he created crucified him. But did he accuse them or curse them or hate them? Of course not? He continued loving and feeling pity for them, though he could have eliminated all of us and the whole world in a fraction of a second."

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Hello angry Christians!


Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007. —

Hi, I'm Pat Condell.
I don't respect your beliefs
and I don't care if you're offended.
Cheers.

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What We Need More Of Is Science


Posted Thursday, September 27, 2007. —
The official video for the song "What We Need More of Is Science" by MC Hawking from the album "A Brief History of Rhyme."
Once again, the world is made safe for the pursuits of reason and logic thanks to the unique powers and skills possessed by M.C. Hawking.

(Click here for more...)

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An atheist talks to God


Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007. —
A short video by Cristofer7 in which he explains why he still sometimes talks to God.

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Why Can't I Own a Canadian?


Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007. —
Posted by J.C. Samuelson

An oldie but a goody reposted from http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/WhyCantIOwnACanadian_10-02.html:

October 2002

Dr. Laura Schlessinger is a radio personality who dispenses advice to people who call in to her radio show. Recently, she said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22 and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following is an open letter to Dr. Laura penned by a east coast resident, which was posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:

Dear Dr. Laura:

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Confused and in fear


Posted Wednesday, September 26, 2007. —
ust Kinda wanted to say hi,

I left the Christian church and my husband three years ago. It's still been a struggle. My 7-year-old son when he visits his Dad, is being told awful stories about how if he doesn't believe in God, he will go to hell...

(Click here for more...)

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Teacher fired for saying Bible isn't literal


Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007. —
A community college instructor in Red Oak claims he was fired after he told his students that the biblical story of Adam and Eve should not be literally interpreted.

Steve Bitterman, 60, said officials at Southwestern Community College sided with a handful of students who threatened legal action over his remarks in a western civilization class Tuesday. He said he was fired Thursday.

(Click here for more...)

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Deconversion Central


Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007. —
By Liniasmax

A song lyric I find amusing is from an old REO Speedwagon song:
It's time to bring this ship into the shore

And throw away the oars forever

This is an early 1980s tune if I remember correctly, but either way I believe it's been a long time since we rowed ships with oars. (I love my fellow brethren and sistren on this site by the way... yes I'm random).

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I thank a nun for freeing my mind


Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007. —
Sent in by Mary S

Being the offspring of Polish and Italian parents it was a given that I should be raised Catholic.

My brother and I attended Catechism on Wednesday afternoons while we attended public school. When I was eight years old...

(Click here for more...)

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Why religion and public schools should be separate


Posted Tuesday, September 25, 2007. —
By SailerFraud

The Christian fundamentalists try to impose their religion in public schools. When they are informed there is a diverse student population filled with other religions, the neo-Christians claim there is discrimination because public schools won't impose their religion as the sole standard.

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NO ARGUMENTS FOR GOD'S EXISTENCE


Posted Monday, September 24, 2007. —
Sent in by Joe M

I've been monitoring the postings on this site for about a week now and I've noticed that atheist's have fell in the same trap I fell in years ago after letting my atheism be known.

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I AM AN ATHEIST BECAUSE...


Posted Monday, September 24, 2007. —
Sent in by Richard L

I find no evidence of an omnipotent omniscient deity participating in my life or anyone else's. I find no evidence of a deity intervening in history. Natural disasters, diseases and famines (events over which humans have no control kill people regardless of their faith or philosophy.

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Army specialist harassed for being an atheist


Posted Sunday, September 23, 2007. —
Military officials in Iraq are investigating allegations that an Army specialist is being harassed for being an atheist but said Saturday that they cannot find an officer the soldier has named in a federal lawsuit.

Spc. Jeremy Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation filed a lawsuit against Maj. Paul Welborne and Defense Secretary Robert Gates in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas, this past week. It alleges that Welborne threatened to pursue military charges against Hall and to block his reenlistment because he was trying to hold a meeting of atheists and non-Christians in Iraq.

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Cherished Beliefs


Posted Sunday, September 23, 2007. —
By Bill J

The hardest thing about letting go of cherished beliefs is the reality that you are now responsible for your life. There isn't a god trying to guide you toward his/her will. It's very difficult for most people to give up what gave them definition. I would like Christians to understand that every former Christian on this site made a tremendous and courageous decision to leave something very near and dear to them. Most if not all of them studies, prayed and gave their lives to serve god. Then they realized, for whatever reason, and there are many, that Christianity is not real. They began to leave their cocoon and look beyond the subtle and not so subtle brainwashing that had happened to them.

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THE BIBLE AIN'T GOD!


Posted Sunday, September 23, 2007. —
Sent in by Michael Z

There is a lot of anguish expressed on this, and other sites like it, by sobbing Christians on the edge. The common thread is that they can't leave the Bibles or god will not exist. Maybe admitting that "what is at the core of existence is beyond our grasp" would be a good start for your recovery from this addiction.

(Click here for more...)

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An atheist's confession


Posted Sunday, September 23, 2007. —
By Bob P

I talked to God.

I waited… and waited… and waited...

No answer.

God must be busy, I concluded. Adults told me that God always answers prayer. That's OK, I'm still young, I thought.

So I talked to God again…

and waited…

and waited...

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Pastor arrested in wife's 2006 death


Posted Saturday, September 22, 2007. —
TEXAS -- Less than a week before Kari Lynn Baker’s death, she found crushed pills in her husband’s briefcase and confided to a friend that she thought Matt Baker was trying to kill her, the close friend said Friday.

“She was kind of panicked about the whole situation when she found those crushed pills. No. Really, she was a lot panicked,” Shae Dickey, who taught with Kari Baker at Spring Valley Elementary School in Hewitt, told the Tribune-Herald. “She suspected that he was having an affair, and she told me she thought he was trying to kill her.”

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The Lardship of Kryasst - What does it mean?


Posted Friday, September 21, 2007. —
By Brother Jeff

Adapted from The Lordship of Christ.

In the Book of Myths, Jesus of Nazareth has received many titles. He is called the Kryasst, Son of the Holy Farter, Son of Man, Slaver, and Messiah. He has also been called "Lard." Unlike many of the other terms given to Jesus, the term Lard is relatively common and as such its meaning is often taken for granted. But what does the Lardship of Kryasst actually mean?

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Christianity doesn't make sense!


Posted Friday, September 21, 2007. —
By Alex

This (for want of a better word) essay is about something that I have believed for a long time, but which recently has taken over a large portion of my private time. I don't mean to say that this is a bad thing, because, in an odd way, it gives me comfort and clarity in life.

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You really need to read the Bible!


Posted Friday, September 21, 2007. —
From Saphire

I have only read a few of the posts on here...some from "christians" and a few from the webmaster, and a few from non-christians. I am truly amazed and almost want to laugh at some of the things being said. Laughing though, is not the answer because it really is a serious subject, and some people are really stuggling with their effort to find the truth. The bible is not an easy read, its long, and takes some real attention. To make an intelligent argument for or against christianity, a person needs to be able to comprehend what's written, and actually read it.

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The Stumbling Block


Posted Thursday, September 20, 2007. —
From The Stumbling Block

Today's civilized person has a tiny, cushioned view of how the world's life is suffering because of us. People have marched in masses to make it so, bulldozing all other life out of their path without care or knowledge of what they're doing to the rest of the world around them. Today's culture has created a twisted logic that supports this status quo and prevents them from having to face reason, or be made to think outside of this destructive box, constantly struggling to stay within it themselves, for not being on top is synonymous to falling off the earth. It is a world screaming for a wake up call.

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Pastor Admits Stealing Church's Money


Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2007. —
A former Darien, Conn., pastor pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars of church money by setting up secret bank accounts to pay for a life of luxury, including traveling around the world and buying a condominium.

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Stop looking at imperfect people; look at 'GOD' instead


Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2007. —
Sent in by Laughing Buddha

I am sick and tired of one of the most worn-out arguments that Xtians use when they are dealing with people who don't believe anymore:
Stop looking at imperfect people; look at 'GOD' instead.

Guess what, people? I don't want to stop looking at people. Your Bible says you are supposed to be 'salt' and 'light' in the world. Your Bible says you are supposed to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Your Bible says you are to love your enemies and turn the other cheek.

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Creation Science Evangelism Ministries attempts to silence opponents


Posted Wednesday, September 19, 2007. —
It appears that Creation Science Evangelism Ministries is using the DMCA to silence critics by alleging their use of snippets of CSEM videos is copyright theft.

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Why does God hate me?


Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2007. —
Sent in by Atheist RN

I am an atheist nurse, and I can honestly say that one of the saddest things that I have witnessed my patients say is, “Why does God hate me so much to give me this illness?” There are numerous Christian apologist answers to this question, of which I am sure many of you can recite chapter and verse, but what I really want people to understand is why belief is so detrimental to the health of a patient.

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The idiocy of Creationism


Posted Monday, September 17, 2007. —
A short music video.

(Click here to view...)

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The only real truth


Posted Monday, September 17, 2007. —
Sent in by Margaret J

It was a cloudy, dreary fall day in November of 1971. I was an American spending my junior year of college in Avignon, France. The French guy I was dating, so to speak, decided to take me to a nearby tourist site – Mont Ventoux. He was from an unusual sort of family anyway and it was determined that his younger sister would accompany us – her function being a sort of chaperon.

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Upon death, you will see


Posted Monday, September 17, 2007. —
A letter to the WM from Joe McG

Your words make it questionable if you were a true Christian ever in your life.

(Click here for more...)

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Jesus is AWESOME!


Posted Sunday, September 16, 2007. —
By Brother Jeff

JESUS is just so AWESOME! I have been thinking a lot about God lately, and after the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sinfulness, I turned my life over to Christ! Again! This time it's for real and it's for good! I'll never turn my back on Him again! As for me and my cat wife Tasha, we will serve the LORD! I am so grateful to God for the way He has been helping me at school. When I don't know something, I pray about it, and Jesus gives me a revelation! And sometimes He is right! Glory! And I know that when He is wrong it's my fault for not hearing Him correctly, or it's Satan's fault for interfering with the spiritual transmission. Man, God is so awesome! If you're not God's friend, then you are His enemy and you are going to burn in HELL forever! Jesus loves you!

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God: a figment of the imagination


Posted Saturday, September 15, 2007. —
Sent in by Ziggy Blacktail

I grew up in a secular home (my parents are lapsed Catholics but that's beside the point) so the religion was never pushed on me. I remember back in the fourth grade when someone told me about the truth about Santa Claus, I didn't cry (yes, I believed in Santa Claus until I was 10. I mature slower than most people). I remember thinking it made perfect sense. I applied the same concept with God and felt the same.

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The opium of the atheists


Posted Friday, September 14, 2007. —
The following is from the Turkish Daily News. The author, an Islamic believer, maintains that a person needs a lot of faith to believe in the non-existence of Allah. He calls atheism a religion. And interestingly, he parrots many fallacious Christian arguments, even quoting Christian apologists to make his point. He suggests that atheistic regimes of the last century far exceeded the purported cruelty of the entire Middle Ages, and... Well, read for yourself. And feel free to comment. -- WM

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Pastor arrested on child molestation charges


Posted Friday, September 14, 2007. —
FRESNO, Calif. -— The Reverend John Bonine is accused of molesting two girls. John Bonine's public defender says the Pastor of Sierra Heights Baptist Church could be facing life in prison if convicted because there are two children involved.

Bonine faces more than 100 criminal charges of child molestation. John Bonine looked nervous as he made his first court room appearance Thursday afternoon and pleaded not guilty.

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Drink, Drank, Drunk


Posted Thursday, September 13, 2007. —
By Stronger Now

I find myself thinking of all the questions I had when I was a Xtian about the stuff I read in the Bible. One that always stuck out with me was weather or not wine was a bad thing or a good thing. It was explained to me that anything that is done in excess is bad. It was also explained that the alcohol in the wine was toxic and that made it bad. I was told that wine at small doses was okay, but one should never drink to excess. I was told a great many things but never how a Christian can even get drunk.

Stupid question right? Read on.

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Two C’s for Clarity and Communication


Posted Thursday, September 13, 2007. —
By Liniasmax

Please someone, lend me an ear

And I’ll tell you what I hear.

It seems that we get misunderstood because many people are formulating what they’re going to say before they even hear what’s being said, or just out-right denying it. It’s like “peas porridge micro-waved won’t grow mold.” I believe that we got some minds under erasure, to borrow from the postmodern folks that aren’t so post anymore. I like Truth with a capital T, but it can’t be found in the books. But no one listens to me. I’ll try and explain…

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Miracles and morals


Posted Tuesday, September 11, 2007. —
A short video by Pat Condell, which asks the question, "What do miracles and morality have to do with each other?"

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Church supports pastor charged with battery


Posted Monday, September 10, 2007. —
JEROME IDAHO - Sunday morning, the Rev. Ron Matheney led the First Presbyterian Church in Jerome as he always does. The choir sang, the congregation prayed and Matheney delivered a sermon on Christian identity, compassion and forgiveness.

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Church defends pastor charged with child porn


Posted Monday, September 10, 2007. —
WACO TX -- Members of a local church whose former part-time pastor has been arrested on child pornography charges don’t think he meant to do anything wrong, the church’s full-time preacher says.

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I realized that God does not exist


Posted Sunday, September 09, 2007. —
Sent in by Kyle

Hi. My name is Kyle, I live in Austin, and I am a former devout Christian.

I grew up in a semi devout family. By semi, I mean that my grandparents on both sides were extremely religious, but my parents were not too religious. I did the whole CCE Church deal on Wednesdays as a child, and went to Church on Christmas, but that was about all.

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I really need answers


Posted Sunday, September 09, 2007. —
A letter from Nisa:

Hello my name is nisa, a 34 year old single mother of two. I TOO AM AT A CROSSROAD IN LIFE. i can truly identify with webmaster's testimony from beginning to the end.

(Click here for more...)

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Don't listen to your head. Listen to your heart


Posted Saturday, September 08, 2007. —
Sent in by Colin E

I was raised in a home where my parents called themselves Christian: we were members of a protestant church, but I do not think that any of us took religion too seriously. Us children were sent to Sunday School every week to get proper religious instruction, but my parents never tried to encourage me or my sister to dedicate our "lives to the Lord". Moreover, being a white South African child in the heyday of Apartheid, with the church I attended openly supporting the Apartheid government, my parents did tell me to take whatever that church teaches with a pinch of salt: they certainly were not supporters of that regime, but all white South Africans in the '70s had to keep up appearances, or face at best ostracism, or at worst criminal prosecution.

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Separation of Church and State


Posted Thursday, September 06, 2007. —
A short, encouraging, public service announcement for people in the U.S.

(Click here to view...)

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I tried to believe, but...


Posted Thursday, September 06, 2007. —
Sent in by Josh

I cannot say I ever was a true Christian. I grew up fascinated by religions, and fascinated by the natural world. My family showed me Carl Sagan's Cosmos at age 5 and later The Demon Haunted World. I loved Sagan's expansive view of life, his respect and tolerance for the wisdom gained through religion, and his staunch support of empirical evidence and the scientific method. I consider myself thus a Sagan-style agnostic. Show me the evidence!

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Inconsiderate, unthinking and heartless...


Posted Thursday, September 06, 2007. —
Sent in by Jo

I was raised in the church by my mom, a single parent. We went to church most of my life, but not always consistently. Although my mom is not a "churchy" sort of personality, her faith in Jesus and God are very strong. So I was raised with an open minder parent but also a very spiritual and superstitious parent.

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Pastor Says He's Victim in Sex Abuse Case


Posted Wednesday, September 05, 2007. —
A high-profile pastor from Kanawha County says he's one of the sexual assault victims of another pastor -- and he's written a letter to the public.

Pastor Mike Lewis of the New Life Center in Cedar Grove sent a letter to local media outlets Tuesday night. In the letter, he says he was one of the victims of Sandy Martin Cook more than ten years ago when he was a teenager.

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Athenova, Freedoma or Freemas?


Posted Tuesday, September 04, 2007. —
By Bob P

America loves to invent holidays in recognition of great ideas and achievements. We have at least one official holiday for nearly every occasion and dedicated to nearly every group — except atheists. At 13-14% of the population, atheist Americans number between 30-50 million, making them perhaps the largest of any single identifiable minority. Atheists comprise a larger portion of the U.S. population than Blacks, Jews, or Gays, yet because of the social stigma cast by religion, atheists are largely invisible. Or worse, they are demonized and marginalized by buybull thumping Christians who equate atheism with immorality.

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Did I overreact?


Posted Tuesday, September 04, 2007. —
A question from Berkley H

This past weekend I was relaxing on my lawn (NOT really all that visible from the road), mostly dozing off (as one might do on a weekend in nice weather), when I was awakened by an "evangelical Christian" who had decided that I should be preached to on the subject of saving my soul.

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Christian significance


Posted Monday, September 03, 2007. —
By Dave, the WM

My son was enjoying some time in a small city park near our home recently, when a scruffy middle-aged man, accompanied by a singularly obese 40ish woman, walked up and began to preach – at full volume.

My son, IPOD ear buds embedded deeply in each ear canal, watched as others lounging on benches or in the grass, stirred to their feet to seek out a quieter perch.

“The sins of the youth in this nation are stoking the fires of hell,” shouted the evangelist. “Repent and believe the Gospel before the time of reckoning!”

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It's just pure nonsense


Posted Saturday, September 01, 2007. —
By Bill J:

Despite all the claims of healing people make in church, I never saw anyone's arm regrow because god healed them.

I was at a Vineyard Christian Fellowship church in California where this guy named Paul Cain was prophesying and calling people out of the audience. He supposedly revealed things about them that god told him. Years later I found out that he is a chronic alcoholic and closet homosexual.

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God has some explaining to do


Posted Saturday, September 01, 2007. —
Sent in by Caleb

"OK, listen and listen good. I AM NOT ANGRY WITH GOD YOU SIMPLE-MINDED MOTHER-F@#%ER!" This is what I want to respond with every time one of my Christian friends explains what is really going on in my head...

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