From the February 16, 2007, edition of the Tuscaloosa News:
Belief in a cruel God helps no one
Dear Editor: In her Feb. 13 letter, writer Linda Spiller asks, Where will you spend eternity?" I am frequently admonished: God says those who refuse to place their trust in Jesus Christ will be cast into a lake of fire and experience its torments for all of eternity." I ignore this threat knowing that a deity as cruel, vindictive, egomaniacal and irrational as the one described above could not exist except in the fiendish minds of religious fanatics.
Other than for personal gratification, why is it imperative that I trust in Jesus Christ?" There is no evidence that believing in God or Christ makes one a better person. Many of Americas most ethical, law-abiding and productive citizens are nonbelievers -- often found in the bastions of higher learning. Only the God-fearing are members of the KKK, and many believers subscribe to the homophobic hate that spews forth from the likes of the Rev. Fred Phelps.
After two millennia, threats delivered by Gods minions have convinced less than one-third of the worlds population to accept Christ as their lord and savior. If God and his fiery lake do exist, its time for God Himself to come out of hiding, confront me and ask me to revere Him. Until then, I cannot embrace a notion unsupported by proof.
Furthermore: Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man -- Thomas Paine.
David N. Miles
Orange Beach
From the January 14, 2007, edition of the Los Angeles Times:
Atheists in Politics and War
I appreciated Dan Neil's column "Atheist Chic" (800 Words, Dec. 17). So I
only offer one small critique. He wrote, "There are no atheists in foxholes
or in Congress." We know why there aren't any in Congress: It's difficult
for atheists, or even agnostics, to get elected to most public offices.
But as for those foxholes, it simply ain't so. Atheists have had foxhole
duty in nearly every war, though they've usually been in the closet at the
same time.
Fred Edwords
Director of Communications
American Humanist Association
Washington, D.C.
From the January 13, 2007, edition of the Pensacola NewsJournal:
Oath on Constitution
The swearing into office of an elected official using the Quran has prompted some to question why Americans should show respect for a book that "promotes hatred and violence." I suggest that those who find Quran-inspired violence and intolerance unacceptable take a critical look at the Bible.
The Bible's penalty for worshiping any deity but its God is death. "He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed." (Exodus 22:20.)
Biblical terrorists and Islamic terrorists are promised the same reward -- virgins. The Bible declares, "Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every women that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves." (Numbers 31:17,18.)
The height of dogmatic intolerance is expressed by, "He that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16.) This religious absolutism is not the foundation for impartial governance or fair trials.
If a prop is deemed necessary in oath taking, make it a document of reason -- the United States Constitution. Any object that places irrational belief and behavior above reason neither inspires nor assures integrity.
David N. Miles
Orange Beach