You probably already know how this complaint goes:

"How can you account for axioms in a materialistic universe? What part of your brain are axioms located in? Can you actually point to some neurons and say 'these are what the axioms really are'? Also, since the axioms of math are carried around in people's heads, are there really millions of little axioms of math running around? Finally, how come you also call an axiom written on the page the axiom' and the axiom in your head 'the axiom'? After all, paper isn't a bunch of neurons, and you are a materialist after all..."

Let's take this apart, piece by piece:

I just finished a portfolio for Creative Writing. Due to the theme of this particular portfolio, it was an enticing opportunity to express my dis-belief.
At the end of each portfolio, the class holds a reading so students can present their work to an audience; it is very enjoyable and I always try to participate. The piece I plan on reading (it is actually an excerpt of a much larger missive) lays bare much of what I think about gods and religion and I know there are a few very dedicated Christians and Mormons in the class with directly opposing viewpoints to mine. I do not wish to create a powder-keg though and I am hoping it will remain calm and reserved. I simply want to explain my standpoint on some things.

We've been debating via email. I realize I'll probably never change this person's beliefs, but if I can tackle arguments from one of the 'big boys' I can probably tackle any religious argument.
I've already picked up on mistakes I've made, things I wished I'd said differently, but the more I debate the better I'll get.
Here's the first part. I'm Chris, and Michael is the pastor.

Hi,
My name is Chris and I'm a friend of Josh, who attends your church. I've indicated to him I'd be interested in debating religion with you, and from what I've gathered, I think you're interested too.
You helped him out with a question I posed, which was 'Why aren't Christians killing gays now, as indicated in the laws of the Bible?'

Study
Learn
Reveal
Advance
Evolve
Create Change and
Rid your mind of the plague of oppression that is organized religion..

The Human Race will always be one capable of good and evil acts. No religion will ever put an end to that fact. Taking responsibility for our human actions and making humans responsible for their actions is all a civilization can do. Obviously the fear of a god hasn't stopped the evil. But, oh yea, they have their built in excuses for that. They had to invent a devil to blame it on. Right not the individual and his/her CHOICES, but the work of a demon. We can never expect the human race to live cooperatively with a true sense of compassion and responsiblity if we continue to allow heinous behavior to be excused in this manner. It does however, keep the sheeple coming back for more and the cash flowing.

The path to my atheism has been a somewhat long one. But, I won't go into it too much for the first post.

I was born into a Christian family like most children in the United States. I was exposed to the bible (presented as truth, of course). I even had children's books telling the major stories of the bible, such as the flood and exodus and Jonah. Even so, I had never prayed the acceptance pray (don't know what it's actually called).
I remember one day when my dad and I were driving home from a Men's Fellowship church group. He was obviously distressed due to my long-running non-acceptance. He told me all the things a Christian parent would tell a child. Though, I won't get into that as most of you probably already know what that is like.

In no particular order:

1: Education. When you learn how evolution works, and how we know it works, you are no longer able to honestly deny it's facts. When you learn the earth is round, and how we know it is round, you can not honestly deny it is round. An education may not stop a liar from denying reality, but there aren't that many people who actually enjoy lying once it's been pointed out that they are lying. A theif's worst enemy is recognition.

2: Diversification. I have little to nothing in the way of hard evidence of this position, merely personal experience. I'm unaware if large and/or long term studies have been done on the issue, though would recommend that they be done by those capable of doing them. But in my experience, irrational viewpoints become harder to sustain when not surrounded by those who share them. Racism in a small town full of caucasian people(merely an example) is, in my experience, far more common than in a large city with multiple ethnic groups. Religious beliefs in a small town of one ethnic group are far more centralized than in a large city of dozens of them. I don't think everyone needs to be living in cities, but I do think that minorities need to spend more time getting into small communities; and that majorities need to spread out more so as not to be such a majority. How much harder is it to recruit extremists when you're surrounded by people who believe something other than what you believe?