To the editor:
It isn’t very often one finds an exclamation point heading a letter to the editor. But Frank Slason’s “God is great!” of Oct. 6 is one such exception. Honestly, those words give me the creeps, as much as they should the average American, since they were said by the 9/11 terrorists just before they crashed the planes. They’re still being invoked by terrorists throughout the world. Tradition. (Have you noticed how often scriptural mentions of “God” are accompanied by death and/or destruction?)
By saying that “science cannot solve all the unknowns in this earthy world … ” and “doesn’t have all the answers,” the author implies that unsubstantiated beliefs do. The solution for polio wasn’t found in any Bible.
Science is simply a workable method for finding evidence, i.e., facts which prove the truth or falsehood of claims. Unlike clergy, no scientist tells you to take evidence “on faith.” You are urged to see for yourself. Scientific investigation has freed us from religious fears. One example: for thousands of years, religion taught illnesses and physical impairments were caused by “sin.” The scientific method proved viruses, bacteria, and germs cause them.
Mr. Slason, like most people, is unaware we have many atheists in our military, in battlefields, hospitals, etc. And how many of us know of the organization Atheists in Foxholes? My oldest brother was an atheist and fought as a Marine against Japan in World War II.
One reason given for denigrating atheists is their unbelief. It seems people are willing to accept a person who believes in any kind of faith, no matter how bizarre, rather than have someone in their midst who checks off “none of the above.” One reason for doing this: there is no proof a supreme being exists or ever has. Personal feelings don’t change that. Honestly. Go anywhere in your town or in the nation, and see if you can tell the difference between a believer or non-believer. We all have the same day-to-day concerns, worries, and caring for each other.
When believers speak of a supreme being, they mean a creator who made the universe, consisting of billions of galaxies, with billions of stars and millions of planets. The vastness of it all is mind-boggling, and we’re not talking about the trillions of life forms on this Earth alone. We are taught from childhood that this fantastic universe, pronounced to be “good,” was spoiled, and evil entered everywhere, because one man ate a piece of fruit!
Carl Scheiman
Walpole
