Received 11.14.2001

I found your site while browsing the internet, and I really like your content and most of all the opinions and e-mails you receive from people concerning their atheist dilemmas.

What's interesting to me is that I live in the Washington, D.C. area and I am black man who happens to be an atheist. I have atheists stickers on my car and no one dares to say anything to me about it, that's why I can't figure why people in other parts of the country are having the problems that they do. I will not tolerate people who disagree with me, that includes my wife and mother and hers as well.

I will take any one to task on my non-beliefs mentally as well as physically, although I prefer physically, because I have so much anger in me, I'm about to explode, this anger is a positive driving force in my life and keeps people an check, because I promise you if they engaged me about my beliefs they will not live to see another day. 

My co-worker and all know that I am an atheist and they are fine with it, maybe because I live in a so-called liberal area, but I don't think so, because their are plenty of churches and hypocrites who reside in them. I don't usually write, but I felt the need to talk to you. These atheists with problems need to be more forceful and not let xians get the better of them.

Thanks for listening

My Reply:

Thanks for writing. While I think your point that atheists need to stand up for their beliefs is a good one, a few things you wrote concerned me:

"I will not tolerate people who disagree with me..."

"I will take any one to task on my non-beliefs mentally as well as physically, although I prefer physically, because I have so much anger in me..."

"...I promise you if they engaged me about my beliefs they will not live to see another day."

I hope you are being figurative and do not literally intend to kill those who challenge your atheism.  I cannot imagine a worse outcome from a discourse on religion than violence.  For those who question your beliefs a violent reaction is only reaffirming their position, that people who do not fear God have no code of behavior.

Judging from your note, I am guessing that you can be an intimidating individual, and the stickers on your car demonstrate for everyone your firm resolve on the issue of atheism.  It sounds like those around you do not challenge your atheism not because they understand your position, but rather because they are afraid of your reaction. Most of the letters you read on my website are written by people more timid than yourself, people who fear subtle consequences at work that are difficult to dispute or disappointing their parents or disrupting the sometimes delicate balance with in-laws.  A lot of these people feel that admitting they are atheists is not worth consequences.

You mention that your anger has been a positive driving force in your life, but I am having a hard time imagining how being full of anger can lead to any outcome that one could be proud of.  You sound like an intelligent man and I hope you can appreciate the value of using reason as a filter before taking any action.

I have always found it interesting to hear the opinions of those who disagree with me and have often enjoyed the dialogue I have been able to have with many of my critics.  I'm hoping you might see these types of engagements as stimulating too rather than a source of anger.

Thanks for writing.