My Side - A moral code

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM an atheist. Yet, I have no problem with forming and understanding a "moral" code of existence.

When one comes to understand and accept the finality of one's own existence, the nothingness to come after the obscenity of human suffering becomes obvious. Religion has always had the task of explaining to the masses why they must endure the abuses that life heaps upon them. Atheism does not have the comfort of an after life so it is forced to examine the life we have.

To be able to have a good and satisfactory life, I understand that if I cause others to suffer I add to the possibility that some desperate individual may cause me to suffer. It is in my own selfish best interest to help others as much as possible. In a trite summation, "What goes around, comes around."

As for the rest of Mr. Boyne's article may I note the following. By his own argument "morals" can only come from some belief in a divine creation. I must remind him that agnostics do believe in a god, just not Mr. Boyne's or anyone else's. So to indulge in what seems to be a petty, personal, but misguided attack against a certain radio host by

equating atheism with agnosticism I find a bit amoral.

Murder, rape, genocide, oppression of the poor, slavery, apartheid, etc. have all been performed and justified as moral in the name of Mr. Boyne's and in other gods. It would seem that an acceptance of a god or gods, does not, has not, nor will ever guarantee morals.

Unlike Locke, I am more afraid of the damage to the human race as a whole and not just society that the fundamentalist of any religion can cause. One only has to look at the actions of the Taliban in Afghanistan to appreciate this. History has shown that intolerance is a far greater danger to society than any atheist.

In closing I must note that fear of the intolerance of this society causes me to have ask for my name and address to be withheld. I can only imagine the harassment I would receive by people who would presume to have my "best" interests at heart.

Please, I am quite comfortable with my religion and I do not ask you to join me. The morals you have are the ones you choose wherever you should adopt them from.

I am, etc,

ATHEIST