We aught all do whatever we can to help humanity grow past religious foolishness.   My ways include gentle pointing out how peoples hopeS for heaven depend on their having chosen the correct god of all the past, present and future gods.  And even then that there is no basis for believing the heaven myth.   Also I believe that the bulk of believers got that way by accepting whatever was handed to them by trusted adults (Working Sundays, wearing mixed fabrics, not stoning to death homosexuals, etc. and etc.     Most know very little of their god's commands and I enjoy pointing out how they are violating most of them.   Many believers are steadfast but need to know that their beliefs are subject to critical evaluation and even sarcasm and derision.   When they recognize they are out of line as the numbers of freethinkers, atheists, etc. grows, I expect they will sheepishly abjure their magic just as they have held onto it to be 'in'.   One of my efforts is to wear blatent atheist pins, shirts, and so on.  Ity often stimulates questions to me and I start with kindness and continue it until I see it is useless and then...............    Another favorite activity of mine is writing letters to the editor one of which follows and the letter responses often show the ignorance of their writer.



VATICAN NEEDS AN EXORCIST

Recently (2010) the vatican's chief exorcist, Gabriele Amorth,  reported that Satan is active inside the vatican, (Yes, there really is an official exorcist and he really did say that!)  I would have to guess he was referring to the pope in view of recent reports.

It appears to me that parents should reconsider catholic education in matters of morals.  And just maybe catholic papal restrictions of reproductive medical care at local hospitals need to be jettisoned at last.

In view of this it is astounding so many in Duluth and Superior continue to fund and support such antiquated, superstitious and toxic institutions as the catholic church.

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My comments brought the following response,

LETTER WAS A VICIOUS ATTACK ON THE CHURCH

I was appalled by the News Tribune's  vicious decision to publish the letter, "Vatican needs an exorcist,"   which openly insulted both Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church.  If the newspaper really does edit letters for civility, it missed the boat on this one.

As a Catholic I was deeply offended by such blatant bigotry.  Had the writer been referring to homosexuals of African-Americans, I suspect his letter never would have seen the light of day.

I believe it is a scientific fact that abortion is the killing of an unborn child; it is not "reproductive medical care" as the letter stated.

Catholic morals are based on God's commandments. one of which is, "thou shalt not kill."  Apparently the letter writer's morals are derived from another source---as are the News Tribune's.