God In the Hands of Angry Sinners

Are atheists angry? Rabbi Marc Gellman thinks so, and he wants to use his superpowers of compassion to bring light to the godless:

I don't know many religious folk who wake up thinking of new ways to aggravate atheists, but many people who do not believe in God seem to find the religion of their neighbors terribly offensive or oppressive, particularly if the folks next door are evangelical Christians. I just don't get it.

This must sound condescending and a large generalization, and I don't mean it that way, but I am tempted to believe that behind atheist anger there are oftentimes uncomfortable personal histories. Perhaps their atheism was the result of the tragic death of a loved one, or an angry degrading sermon, or an insensitive eulogy, or an unfeeling castigation of lifestyle choices or perhaps something even worse. I would ask for forgiveness from the angry atheists who write to me if I thought it would help…

I can agree to make peace with atheists whom I believe ask too little of life here on planet earth if they will agree to make peace with me and with other religious folk who perhaps have asked too much. I believe that the philosopher-rabbi Mordecai Kaplan was right when he said, "It is hell to live without hope, and religion saves people from hell." I urge my atheist brothers and sisters to see things as Spinoza urged, sub specie aeternitatis—"under the perspective of eternity."

His essay is not a serious consideration of the subject, but if Rabbi Gellman really wants to strike at the root of atheist rage, he should reconsider that horrendous bowtie. That thing's a red flag to a bull!