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To the editor:
I am not a religious man, my faith lies in science. I believe the universe, in its present form, resulted from a big bang 13.8 billion years ago. Our planet formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago, life began organically in its primordial seas a billion years later and life evolved into the forms that now exist. I believe life exists throughout the vast universe as a product of the same natural processes that produced life on Earth.
While religion has served humanity positively, guiding behavior towards good, it has also been the cause of tremendous human suffering – crusades, pogroms, religious purges, ethnic cleansings and the Holocaust. Every religion has taken part in “holy wars” against one another and those battles continue to this day.
Religion has also caused great suffering beyond war, as orthodoxy insinuated itself into secular life and law. Inquisitions, witch hunts, stoning and scarlet letters were all products of religious zeal. As were bans on divorce, same-sex relationships and “heresy” such as teaching astronomy, earth science and evolution.
The dangers posed by religious intolerance is what led our founders to prohibit the establishment of a state religion in the opening clause of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights - what Thomas Jefferson called “a wall of separation."
Today we see that wall crumbling, brick by brick. The repeal of Roe v Wade is but one example of religion re-shaping secular law; bans on transgender athletes is another. As Marc Bullaro noted in his excellent op-ed, “far right religious ideology ... presently dominates American politics." While not guided by faith in God, I easily recognize the difference between good and evil. Religious zealotry, including America’s Christian-right movement, is much closer to the latter than to the former.
Joseph Cannisi
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Valete
I am a religious man, my faith lies in God. I believe the universe, and all life was created by the hand of God.
Religion has served humanity admirably, instilling the common good in mankind and society. Unfortunately. mankind has betrayed its moral teachings , and thereby countless evils entered the fallen-world of man.
My guidance is rooted in faith in God, not in human nature. I firmly believe that good is life, and evil is death. Without God, the world will plunge into darkness, losing its human soul.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
fcannisi
"I firmly believe that good is life, and evil is death" yet you vociferously defend a president who orders extrajudicial executions, the senseless slaughter of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the deployment of unwelcomed ICE agents who predictably engage in violence, including the use of lethal force against immigrants and Americans alike. Call me confused.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
Valete
Unfortunately, your letter doesn’t match up with what you wrote in your last post.
Thursday, January 15 Report this
fcannisi
It has become abundantly clear that you and I will never agree. Just as Galileo could not convince Pope Urban VIII that the earth circles the sun, I will never convince you that life on earth evolved over the eons.
As for your mistaken belief that atheism is the sole province of Communism, I will point out that Ayn Rand, the foremost anti-communist writer and philosopher of the 20th century was an unabashed atheist. So were Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek, Nobel prize winners for their economic theories supporting capitalism. Also note that Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are but two deeply devout Catholics within the Democratic party that attend services every Sunday.
I also cannot imagine Donald Trump kneeling before anything or anyone, including a deity, let alone admitting his sins in a confessional. He prays at the alter of his golf courses every Sunday.
I see no reason to engage with you further. Please don't confuse my silence in the future for acquiescence, instead I will be following the sage advice of Mark Twain regarding entering into pointless debates.
Friday, January 16 Report this
Valete
First and foremost, I did not mention atheist communism in my comments. Secondly, since you mentioned atheist communism, I’d like to provide some information on the subject.
Atheism is a fundamental aspect of communist ideology. It stems from Karl Marx’s perspective on religion as “the opium of the people,” which historicall resulted in state-sponsored anti-religious policies and persecution in communist states like the former Soviet Union.
Regarding atheism, it’s important to note that one doesn’t have to be a communist to be an atheist. Atheism simply means the absence of belief in God. While communism is a political and economic ideology, historically, many communist movements promoted atheism because Marx viewed religion as a tool of oppression.
In my opinion, your letter clearly expresses your position on the subject of atheism.
Saturday, January 17 Report this