Buffman

Alonzo Fyfe

Outstanding points that Secular Elation could use almost verbatim.

Secular Elation

By the way, I wrote a letter to the editor a few weeks back, and I don't know if they will accept one now, since my last one was recent.

Alonzo Fyfe

Well, you can write it and find out. The editorial board of a paper typically seeks a balanced perspective, and will suspend its typical rules in order to maintain balance on an issue -- particularly if the response is well reasoned.

You can increase your chances of successful publication if you claim an injustice or bigotry -- if you are doing more than just debating facts and, instead, are seeking to correct an injustice perpetrated by the earlier letter. In this case, ample opportunity is available because the arguments appearing in the paper represent malicious slander against atheists, giving the paper a duty to print something on the other side.

And if your letter is the best response availble, it will get published.

And even if they do not publish it, at least they will read it.

[ September 02, 2002: Message edited by: Alonzo Fyfe ]</p>

Oresta

First, regardless of Hitler's religious beliefs, the bulk of the Germans who supported his policies and carried out his final solution were Christians. And they accepted Hitler's anti-Semitism for religious reasons. They rounded up the Jews and participated in their execution, while going to church on Sunday, saying grace before meal, and having their children say prayers before bed. And the anti-semitism that Hitler fed on did not spring from Hitler's mind on a virgin landscape -- it was there long before Hitler took power. It was a part of their Christian heritage.

Excellent point, Alonzo. Not only in Germany were Christians directly complicit in the Holocaust, they were throughout Eastern Europe; and continued to hunt down and murder Jews even after Germany's surrender.

Grumpy

I'd lay odds that the reason the two words are linked is to use "atheist" as a modifier for "secular." As in, Not only can we not trust those who don't believe in God, but you've also got to watch out for people who are merely irreligious! They might even be humanists!