Letters to the Editor

They’re the 3rd and 4th letters down: “Prayer and civic business don’t mix” and “Willful ignorance of historical facts”

A couple quick quotes:

“Prayer and civic business don’t mix”

The writer laments that “morals and civility are coming unraveled.” At the same time, she suggests that the solution for what to do with people who object to prayers at council meetings is “sending them … into the Mighty Mississippi.” This doesn’t seem to be a very moral or civil attitude. [...] As a churchgoer, I can say that I don’t want to hear about city ordinances when I’m in church. So why should people have to listen to prayers when they go to a council meeting? They are two completely different things, and they should stay that way.

“Willful ignorance of historical facts”

I know it’s hard for someone like Loeffel to understand, but the foundation’s signs, billboards and slogans are shining rays of hope for those of us who belong to the last minority — atheists. The only place you will find intolerance and hatred in the foundation’s publications is in the hate mail that is mostly sent by her fellow Christians.

The phrase “wall of separation between church and state” was used by Thomas Jefferson in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists explaining the meaning of the First Amendment. This is a matter of historical record. With such widespread access to the Internet, it’s hard to understand why so many “educated” people in this country choose to remain ignorant of historical facts.

Religion like democracy has the unfortunate tendency to tell the minority to go f*** themselves.

Morality is a common thread that exists ( albiet subjectively) as a binder of society. The best enabler of morality is Religion and has been created such. That it has taken other connotations is a different matter altogather.Bottom line religion is a nescessary evil

It is nothing to take personally.If praying to god gets soem people going, you always has the right of refusal guarenteed and if there is any discriminatory practice SUE SUE and SUE. FI some people get their kicks reciting hymms let it go..it isnt a big deal.

This isn’t that hard to understand, so I don’t know why Loeffel can’t wrap her mind around it.

Really? You don’t know? It’s because prayer in a public place must be lead by the most authoritarian religious person present. “Let us pray together.” is an invitation to show that you are one of us, or you are one of them. That’s why public prayer is expected to be led by the most authoritative religious person or highest ranked (by faith then social position) person present. In their minds, the head of the city council or the school teacher must lead prayer as they are the most authoritative source of moral standing and faith. They believe that these authoritarian positions should only be held by people God has blessed with a greater understanding of God’s plan. If somebody who is not religious fills a position of authority it must be the Devil’s Work. Not leading public prayer is proof to them that you are the devil’s agent. That’s why they don’t want their kids in public schools. Teachers that don’t lead the class in prayer are agents of the Devil.

It’s really quite simple to them. Pray publicly and often or you must be evil. It’s a not so secret handshake to make sure you’re part of the club because truly evil people are incapable of prayer (in their minds).

A group in Wisconsin is interfering with our lifestyle down here in the Bible Belt. They want the Memphis City Council to discontinue opening its meetings with a prayer. If they knew how much this city needs prayer, they would stop meddling and mind their own business.

Sounds exactly like the complaints of “northern interlopers” and “agitators” coming down and meddling in southern affairs during the de-segregation era.

I’ve never heard anyone talk about “real conservatives” before but it’s the same thing.

Though I do have to point out I’ve come across the “not a real atheist” thing too. It’s just as funny and stupid coming from atheists by the way

*statistic made up on the spot for humorous purposes

So many weird hate letters end with “sincerely yours” or something.

Exactly! I always wanted to know how they themselves really know what God meant. Because, doesn’t he work in mysterious ways and all, and we aren’t meant to “know” God?

Or did God actually talk to them and let them know? That sounds like mental illness.