> I commented before that I think atheists can be divided into two broad > categories: Those who are angry at their god and so say they don't > believe as an act of defiance; and those who really just can't believe. > It seems to me that the angrier an atheist gets at the suggestion there > might be a god, the more likely that atheist is to be in the first > category. It seems to me that, if one is angered at the suggestion a > god does exist, one should seek to understand why. > > The reverse is true of course -- if a believer becomes enraged at the > suggestion a god doesn't exist, the question "why" is very pertinent. > > Sometimes, it seems to me, anger is really a masking emotion for fear.
Anger can be a reaction to fear...just as depression can be suppressed anger. I think your suggestion that any atheist that gets angry at the suggestion that God exists has unresolved personal issues with respect to God has real validity. People who are very comfortable with their own beliefs can be very passionate about them, but are usually not hateful or angry towards people who happen to disagree with them. As for the pass given to Erik and Will, I've tussled with them a number of times over the past few years on that subject, and now tend to pick my spots instead of reacting to every statement. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
