I recently read a news story regarding Mr. Mehta's involvement with your website. I applaud the fact that as a religious entity you are not only welcoming criticism but allowing it to provide insight into the views of the non-believer. I classify myself as an agnostic - or as I sometimes joke about it - the confused child of a Catholic and an Athiest. I have never been a true believer though I have been to Catholic, Christian, Mormon, and Jehovah Witness services thanks to my family and friends. I appreciate the idea of theology, which I suspect Mr. Mehta must as well, having created his ebay idea.
I believe that "faith" is a wonderful ideal, and that those who posess it have recieved a wonderful gift, even if what they believe in doesn't exist in my own reality. I do not judge people for their faith, in fact, I applaud them -- all I ask is that they allow me my own beliefs without judgement. When people ask what "agnostic" means to me, I tell them that it means I don't know if there is a God, but that not knowing doesn't bother me. I tell them that if their God is as loving as they claim, then in the end he will forgive me for not believing in him as long as I have lived a good life.
One line in the article did bother me ... "Some visitors to the site castigate Henderson for giving an atheist a forum. One said he was "rather misguidedly (throwing) money at someone to simply get him 'churched' for a time so he might possibly get 'saved?' " It bothered me as a non-believer, because it leads me to the following question ... What IS the price of salvation? ... according to that persons belief system, it is less than $504. Most of the people I know who possess "faith" would tell you it is priceless ... they would have paid their whole life's worth.
Again, I say that I applaud you for your open opinion of non-believers. I would never want to walk into your place of worship expecting welcome and only come away with disdain for my disbelief. Shame doesn't draw me in, it only puts me out and assures I'll never return. I have not read Mr. Mehta's postings yet, but again I appreciate that you are looking for his guidance rather than judging him. The fact that you allow someone to question your beliefs shows how truly close you hold them to your heart and trust in their veracity. Sometimes, it isn't the ideas you hold or the reliance on a book whose truth is based in true faith that draw people to your side, sometimes being truly "open" is all that someone really needs.

From those of us on the sidelines,

Jessica