From: Fil.Sapienza@med.umich.edu (Fil Sapienza)
Subject: Re: Why do people become atheists?
Organization: University of Michigan Hospitals
Lines: 36

In article <May.7.01.09.59.1993.14571@athos.rutgers.edu> Bill Mayne,
mayne@pipe.cs.fsu.edu writes:
In article <May.7.01.09.59.1993.14571@athos.rutgers.edu> Bill Mayne,
mayne@pipe.cs.fsu.edu writes:
>In article <May.5.02.50.42.1993.28665@athos.rutgers.edu> 
>Fil.Sapienza@med.umich.edu (Fil Sapienza) writes:
>>I am interested in finding out why people become
>>atheists after having believed in some god/God.
>>In conversing with them on other groups, I've
>>often sensed anger or hostility.   Though I don't
>>mean to imply that all atheists are angry or hostile,
>>it does seem to be one motivation for giving up
>>faith.  Thus, some atheism might result from 
>>broken-ness.
>
>This is condescending at best and a slightly disquised ad hominem
>attack. This attitude on the part of many theists, especially the
>vocal ones, is one reason for the hostility you sense. How do you
>like it when atheists say that people turn to religion out of
>immature emotionalism?

I wouldn't and don't.  I thought I did a pretty good job of
qualifying my statement, but apparently some people
misinterpreted my intentions.  I apologize for my part in
communicating any confusion.  My intent was more to
stir up discussion rather than judge.   It seems to
have worked.

[rest of post noted - by the way, I did not originally post this to
alt.atheism.  If it got there, I don't know how it did.]

--
Filipp Sapienza
Department of Technology Services
University of Michigan Hospitals - Surgery
Fil.Sapienza@med.umich.edu
