Sometimes it’s good to get a little perspective.
The following link is Carl Van Doran’s take on ‘Why I am an unbeliever’, from 1926:
http://www.skeptically.org/thinkersonreligion/id10.html
It is beautifully written. The quote is 90 years old, and I think that some contemporary atheists could learn much from Carl about how to speak of those with whom you disagree.
[Aside: The new Atheos app seems (from what I’ve seen so far) basically to be teaching non-theists not to be a***holes when talking with theists. I suppose that’s got to be a good thing inasmuch as it’s (sadly) needed. I’m sure the app will go much further delving into application of the Socratic method, but I’ve only just started looking at it.]
Van Doran’s piece has a gentlemanly dignity to the writing which doesn’t water down his position in any way, yet also tries to avoid unnecessarily belittling his antagonist.
oftenbetterthanfine 