I don't believe in the supernatural. This includes God (or gods). In the literal sense of the word, that makes me an a-theist (as well as an a-leprechaunist, a-goblinist, and so on).

Being an unbeliever in a predominantly Christian country can be a bit daunting at times, and I certainly understand the desire of my fellow unbelievers to speak out against hate, injustice, cruelty and prejudice, particularly when wrapped in a cocoon of religious rhetoric and passed off as love.

But the way some atheists go about it just makes me shake my head in wonder.

Take the recent flap in Olympia, Washington, where a seasonal message from the Freedom From Religion Foundation was erected next to the traditional Christian religious display in the Capitol building.

The message the FFRF chose to display was this: "At this season of the winter solstice may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

The FFRF is run by Dan Barker, a former fundamentalist preacher who abandoned his Christian faith many years ago. His story, as told in his book Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist, is a fascinating one, and Dan is obviously a smart guy, but I cannot imagine how in the world he let this message get past his laptop, let alone out the door and encased in a plastic slab in the rotunda of a state Capitol building.

No wonder many people think atheists are an intolerant and crotchety group.

Asking for reason to prevail is a nice sentiment, but it's laughable to espouse reason when you completely abandon it yourself.

There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Really, Dan?

You're one-hundred percent sure about that? I must have missed the memo, the one that demonstrates with absolute certainty the non-existence of these supernatural entities.

I agree there is not one shred of scientific evidence in support of gods or devils or heaven or hell, but a lack of evidence only gives us ammunition to disbelieve, not flat-out deny.

Atoms, gravity, the strong nuclear force, and quantum mechanics existed for millennia before humans discovered them.

There are, undoubtedly, a host of other mysteries yet to be unraveled. Perhaps the supernatural is one of them.

Granted, that possibility is remote, but reason dictates the door must remain slightly ajar. The FFRF has fallen into a faith-based trap that is as worthy of ridicule as the beliefs they seek to condemn.

The FFRF concludes its message by making a blanket declaration that is neither fair nor accurate.





I have to give credit to the governor and state legislature of Washington for agreeing to post the message in the first place, though.

Giving atheists a place at the table of ideas in the public square is not exactly good for the reelection coffers.

At the same time, I wonder why someone didn't rap his or her knuckles on Dan Barker's thick skull and explain to him that the best way to promote reason is probably not with an irrational and insulting sucker-punch aimed mostly at decent, hard-working people.

A simpler and gentler message would have sufficed: "At this season, may reason triumph over fear and superstition, and may we renew our commitment to life, love, and the bonds of our shared humanity."

That's a message, I think, believers and nonbelievers alike can agree on.

David Gleeson is an aerospace engineer. He lives in Superior with his wife and two children and can be reached by e-mail at davidrgleeson@me.com.
