Fundamentalist Christians think atheists are Satan Incarnate. Even mainstream Christians look askance at atheists. But atheists often look down their noses at people with religious beliefs, considering them stupid and irrational. Are any of these views reasonable or appropriate?

Years ago, I saw a movie starring Dirk Bogarde as an innocent man on the lam in turn-of the-century Mexico. A Catholic priest helps him when no one else would. Bogarde's protagonist wonders - what makes this man so good? Is it his religious beliefs (the Song) or is it something about this individual and his unique values (the Singer)? The protagonist concludes that it is the man, the Singer, not the Song.

I've never forgotten this movie and its profound message. Judge individuals by their actions, not merely by their belief systems. Is this individual a good person - kind, compassionate, thoughtful? Is s/he honest and non-hypocritical? Does this person have moral integrity? Does this s/he refrain from hurting or coercing others? If these qualities obtain, what does it really matter what their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are? Such an individual deserves respect for being a decent human being. Look at it this way. Wouldn't you rather live next door to a decent, honest person whose religious views are different from your own than a nasty, dishonest one who happens to share your views on religion? I would.

So my counsel is simple: whatever your own views about religion and God may be - Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, pagan, atheist or whatever - don't scorn people with different views simply because of their beliefs. Whatever you may think of these beliefs - and you are certainly entitled to your opinion - when it comes down to individual human beings, judge the Singer, not the Song.

Copyright 1996 by Resources for Independent Thinking