by Jayne Scott

Created on: March 17, 2008   Last Updated: June 28, 2010

Sadly this topic title is not a debate topic but, never-the-less, I feel the need to respond!

Atheists and Agnostics are just people like any other people in this world. When you refer to 'unenlightenment'(sic), are you specifically meaning in relation to gods or other spiritual matters only? As an Agnostic, I came to my path of understanding after a reasonable study of religion and making an informed decision to reject what seemed to me to be a load of old rubbish. I understand from many others of a similar mindset that they came to a non-belief in gods and the supernatural after many years of study and religious interaction too. I would say that this makes them as enlightened (or not) as any religious believer - in fact I would be inclined to consider them more enlightened since they have studied and gone beyond what is normal for a religious person who relies mainly on faith to see him through.

This assumption that all Agnostics and Atheists must worship a god of science is nonsense! Truthfully, by looking around at the world today, it is obvious that natural science has and is still very much at work. However, for many non-believers the fact that the earth continues to revolve and that everything works is sufficient without needing to believe that either science or gods are wholly responsible. The reason I do not believe in gods has nothing to do with science - it is a feeling I have come to over the years and one with which I feel most comfortable.

I resent the suggestion that because a religious person feels that theirs is the only way, my way must immediately be a 'folly' and 'unenlightened'? It is this arrogant assumption of religious people that somehow they are better and more worthy that pushes Atheists and Agnostics even further away! Is it not possible in this supposedly 'enlightened' world to leave your judgements at home and to apply a policy of live and let live?

Is it any wonder that Atheists and Agnostics have become so with this narrow- minded attitude they have to put up with from religious people who seem to think they are the only ones who 'know' all the answers? I have heard people of religious persausion say that they are only trying to save us because they love us - I find this hard to believe given the obnoxious and aggressive way they go about it! What is it about religious people that they are so intolerant of others and are so convinced of the absolute rightness of their own views?

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