MAILBAG:Rabbi’s ignorance, intolerance may be at heart of global conflicts

I have to respond to Rabbi Marc Rubenstein’s article (“Why the uptick in atheism?,” In Theory, June 2). These three sentences got my attention: “People who are atheists suffer from a lack of intelligence…. Those people who don’t believe in God have little meaning in life. Without a God, there is no morality or sense of social justice.”

That is perhaps the most ignorant thing I have read. I am surprised to learn that Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein and Bill Gates lack intelligence and had, or have, little meaning in life. As to morality, we have such wonderful religious leaders to show us the way, like Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker and Jesse Jackson.

Rabbi Rubenstein’s comments are not only ignorant, they also demonstrate intolerance of opinions that differ from his own.

This combination of ignorance and intolerance may well be at the heart of most of the world’s conflicts over time. Protestants against Roman Catholics, Sunni against Shia and Jews against almost anyone.

The rabbi’s statements demonstrate an inability to accept that a wise and thoughtful person may have a different view of life; if the different point of view is expressed by an atheist, their opinion is rejected because they lack intelligence and are immoral.

How stupid is that?

DUDLEY JOHNSON

Money given to church doesn’t reflect pietyI’m not convinced there’s an increase in atheism (“Why the uptick in atheism?,” In Theory, June 2).

Consider the possibility that people might be wondering if their church leader is really any closer to God than they themselves. Perhaps there is an increase in the number of people who might question the need for a representative intermediary between themselves and their Lord. Organized religions are businesses that need money to operate. Businesses flourish when the economy is booming, but when living costs increase faster than incomes, budget cuts are in order. We can’t cut our food or gas expenses in any great amount, but we can cut some discretionary spending, and, considering my earlier possibility, money to the church could fall into that category.

But that decision certainly would be no reflection on a person’s piety or closeness to God.

Alan Remington

Small businesses take hits with health careJim Righeimer is mostly right on, but every article on health care and a single-payer alternative focuses on the cost to businesses, of providing health care for employees (“Costs of ‘free’ health care,” Rigonomics, June 2).

Forgotten is that other small businessperson, the practicing physician, who is always restricted in his/her earnings by any single-payer system.

Why should a physician take a hit so the corner liquor store or General Motors can have increased profits?

Also, I was disappointed in Rabbi Rubenstein’s comments on atheism (“Why the uptick in atheism?,” In Theory, June 2).

One can have a sense of morality without any religious philosophy, or if one practices Buddhism, a sense of morality without a belief in a creator.

DR. JEFFREY S. LEE