There Are So Many
Problems With
Your Web Site That
[We wouldn't have signed
something like this, either!]
From: [unsigned]
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Sent: November 09, 2002 1:44 PM
Mr. Editor:
You write of the arrogance of Christian fundamentalists, and, ostensibly, all theists; you elevate the status of the intellect, of the power of reason to shape our decisions and lives; you seem to think that a (scattered, somewhat flimsy) knowledge of religious, political and intellectual history can guide you through any polemical engagement with your readers ...
I applaude you for your search to find your authentic voice as an atheist -- and to help others do so as well -- but I find, for the most part, that you and your readers are (frankly) as intellectually weak and psychologically needy as any of your fundagelical foes. You adhere to your own kind of morality, you breed your own kind of discipleship community, you establish your own kind of orthodoxy. You fail to do what you have set out to do: to live according to some supreme habit of reason and logic (what is Reason? how is it different from Logic? do you know?). What you don't realize is that even this is a fallacy -- it's post-enlightenment baggage. And even if it were possible to live thus, what an impoverished life it would be -- not because it lacks faith or eternal life or whatever, but because it stops short of granting the full human range of experiences. You want truth? You seek it? Then why insist that it only comes in a single mode of experience? Why insist that your experience amounts to much in the first place?
There are so many problems with your website, and those who participate in it, that I cannot even begin to continue.
I'm sure you mean well. Best of luck with your life -- may it be rich and wondrous (or have you forsaken wonder, too?).
ST
Notre Dame University
From: "Positive Atheism Magazine" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: [unsigned]
Date: November 09, 2002 7:53 PM
You write of the arrogance of Christian fundamentalists, and, ostensibly, all theists
Where? Where do I write of the "arrogance of ... all theists"? Where do I write this way about all theists in general without carefully pointing out that it is fundamentalism, not theism, which I find to display arrogance? (Or perhaps you take my polemic against fundamentalism personally?)
As soon as you come up with the URL or the publication and page number, then perhaps we can continue. Until then, the remainder of this unsigned letter will remain unread by me.
If you wish to rewrite this letter, dremoving all instances of slander and any other forms of falsehood, and then resubmit the result as a new letter, feel free to do so, because this particular dialogue is completed.
Cliff Walker
Positive Atheism Magazine
Seven 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.