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From:
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 3:17 AM

Dear Cliff:

Thanks again for having such a wonderful website. You are truly a bastion of sanity in an irrational, hypocritical, right-wing stinkin' of denial world. I have been reading numerous letters from Positive Atheism, and get more inspired the more I read. To hell with the Christians -- oh, that's right, there really isn't one, sorry (ha ha).

On a more serious note, I have been thinking a lot about something that maybe you could help me with. My question is this: Does it seem that the longer you are an atheist, the more superiority toward Christians in general you start to feel? Lately, I have been starting to feel animosity based solely on the fact that Christians believe in something that does not exist. Is it unnatural to feel superior to these people, or what? Is this a natural progression for practicing atheists like myself? The truth is, these people have trouble thinking for themselves, therefore they need a human "god-form" such as a priest or preacher to tell them what to think. I understand uneducated people turning to god, but what about the more rational, educated people? Why do they turn to god, instead of relying on their intellect?

I know that I addressed two issues in my last paragraph (bad internal segue), but could you please shed a little light on these subjects?

Thanx again,
Brian Grace

From: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To:
Subject: Re: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section Date: Tuesday, April 27, 1999 6:15 AM

My question is this: Does it seem that the longer you are an atheist, the more superiority toward Christians in general you start to feel? Lately, I have been starting to feel animosity based

Many have this problem resulting in animosity or intolerance. Others have it show in the form of compassion or tolerance. Thomas Paine said tolerance is no improvement over intolerance: Tolerance says, "We will allow you hold your views"; whereas, intolerance says "We will not allow you to hold your views."

Often this is just a phase, and we can grow out of it if we apply ourselves.

I have found a dose of good old-fashioned John Stuart Mill mind-your-own-business libertarianism to be a solid cure. The "Forum" section of Playboy Magazine is a wonderful source for this wonderful attitude.

Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
Five years of service to
     people with no reason to believe

Material by Cliff Walker (including unsigned editorial commentary) is copyright ©1995-2006 by Cliff Walker. Each submission is copyrighted by its writer, who retains control of the work except that by submitting it to Positive Atheism, permission has been granted to use the material or an edited version: (1) on the Positive Atheism web site; (2) in Positive Atheism Magazine; (3) in subsequent works controlled by Cliff Walker or Positive Atheism Magazine (including published or posted compilations). Excerpts not exceeding 500 words are allowed provided the proper copyright notice is affixed. Other use requires permission; Positive Atheism will work to protect the rights of all who submit their writings to us.