Amen to that.

Put up billboards with the names and phone numbers of the Atheist Association leaders with the following tag line:

Next time you are in a crisis call these folks.

Earlier this week a study was released showing that seculars give less of their income to help the needy. When the needy seek out Atheists they can critique the religious.

We Christians and the church have been antagonistic toward non-believers for long enough that I think we can withstand a sassy billboard. And putting up billboards doesn't mean either side is not doing anything to help those who suffer.

Also, Michael, the study showed that the more religious, the more was given to charity, which doesn't necessarily mean more more compassion, but maybe just more piety.

Either way, I don't think it's a good occasion to bash atheists.

It's a Real (True) Myth.

I would hope the atheists would do such outreach to the needy . . . but from our side of things, Fr Michael, we'll catch more (proverbial) flies w/ honey than w/ vinegar.

JC Fisher

Compassion is the common denominator for all of us. Would it not be better to focus on that then create acrimony among us. Atheist, Christian Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindi or Pagan why debate the minutia why not rather work to the common goal.

Perhaps the American Atheists conveyed more truth than they realized in their caption, You know it’s a myth. The power of the story of Jesus’ birth, with its dubious historicity, is not located in its factual accuracy but in the story’s continuing ability to function as myth, powerfully transforming the lives of people who embrace and engage it as myth.

The myth of Jesus’ birth is a powerful story of God's light breaking into the world, of love triumphing over hate, of life abundant prevailing over death. Ordinary people – a young woman, a carpenter, shepherds – find the darkness of their lives flooded with light. This myth is so powerful that in annually retelling the story, millions of people find their lives similarly transformed. This transformation manifests itself in the outpouring of good will and generosity we experience every December. The power of Jesus’ birth is the power of myth, not the power of fact. Even if every detail in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth was factually correct, the story would have no power apart from its power as myth.

AMEN, George. A far greater challenge to our mission than a few bellicose atheists are those who apply the lens of modernism to the powerful myths of the Christian proclamation, making it, instead, a thin, Deistic gruel.Don't even get me started on fundamentalists!

John Donnelly

Okay, let's have a reality check.

how do you like it when Outsiders consider that as Christians, you rate with Jerry Falwell or James Dobson?

not great, eh?

So, please, stop the atheist bashing. Most of those without faith (including yours truly) are perfectly happy to find a modus vivendi with those who find common values tohelp those in need, and we aren't buying ads on busses.

In SAT terms, Professional A theists are to the majority of non-believers as Fundagelicals are to mainstream Christians.

on the other hand, some of the comments here suggest that some of you have the Christian Superiority complex that sees no common ground with the rest of us, especially the non-believers.

Fine. Go your way, I'll be happy to work with other Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, etc and non-believers to try to make this world a better place for everyone else.

--Susan Forsburg

IT, I'm not sure WHICH comments you're responding to? (I hope it's not me---but the fact that I'm not clear, says I may not be on your wavelength). Could you clarify?

Thanks,
JC Fisher