Sink To The Level?
Robert Inks
From: Robert Inks
To: Positive Atheism <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 1999 1:17 AM
Subject: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Cliff,
I have read your letters section and I am very happy that someone has finally stood up publicly to discuss the problems with theism. I especially liked the sane, intellegent way you dealt with the letters from "Greg" and his accusations that you are, in fact, a Christian (I use the term "accusations" here in the spirit of humor, because that is really how Greg's words sound when you read them).
The only thing I really didn't like was your saying that you were not going to sink to the level of a theist. It sounded as if you thought that theists were somehow lower than other people. I believe (I have no idea about you, for you may agree with me) that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and that people aren't lower just because they have a different opinion. You, just after condemning name-calling even in defense of atheism, alluded to the assumption that just because he was a theist he was lower than you. While this is not exactly hypocritical, it does do some bad things to your credibility.
In closing I praise you for having the courage to stand up to the people who say, "Believe in God (whichever God that may be)" and saying, "What if I don't want to ?"
Keep up the wonderful page,
Robert Inks
From: Positive Atheism <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: rink
Subject: Re: Positive_Atheism_Letters_Section
Date: Saturday, June 05, 1999 2:19 AM
It does seem, from his tone, that he is trying to "reduce" us in any way he can. One method he used (and that has been used by others) is to say that we have "faith" or that (in his case) I am a Christian.
I sensed an irony in this, and (I guess) that sense of irony is not shared by all.
Nevertheless, I added a PostScript to my response to his letter, and I appreciate you pointing this out. I will think about this metaphor before I use it again, to see if I can take your observations into consideration. I detect this is what is happening when those who write to us in a condescending tone, who also accuse us of having "faith," are, I think, trying to show that we're not superior to them because we do (in thier minds) exactly what we accuse them of doing.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
P.O. Box 16811
Portland, OR 97292
http://www.PositiveAtheism.org/
editor@positiveatheism.org
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