Reply to New Atheist Jim

Thanks for the clarification, Jim. The New Atheists that have come to my attention show absolutely no OLD SOCIALIST skills. If you believe that ordinary people can and must make profound social changes, you don't begin by suggesting they are stupid or ignorant because they believe in a rather anthropomorphic God.

Tell people you are an atheist and most of them will give you an indifferent smirk. Tell privileged people that you are a socialist and you most likely will see an expression of hate and fear on their faces.

As Engels was "a respected member of the London Stock Exchange" (and supported Marx) I have no quarrel with how you survive in this cruel society. But in his famous polemic with one Eugene Duhring he ridiculed that oh-so-German professor for wanting to wage war on religion in general.

Engels thought that religious confusion was rooted in the irrational social order. My heart breaks to hear a middle aged working man-burdened with a wife and children-now jobless- say he would lose his mind without his faith in God.

An intellectually honest socialist may not share his religious faith but he is definitely and uncompromisingly on the side of the oppressed.

If many individuals insist on ATHEIST as their public identity, I can only advise them to consult more competent public relations experts. They are not yet "winning friends and influencing people."


Thank you very much for your very reasonable response, Jim

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