It's surprising there aren't more atheists

On Oct. 4, Sanford Yoder wrote to express his doubt that someone can truly be an atheist. He told us "I'm sure there are [no atheists] in hell. They aren't there long before they realize that there is a God."

Presumably, he was talking about the Christian god. A Hindu once told me: "There is no such think as an atheist. Deep down, people know my gods are real! I have the most ancient holy book. My gods answer prayers. I know I'm right, because of evidence and faith."

When the Mormon missionaries stopped by to chat, they told me: "There are no atheists, just people who haven't yet experienced Joseph Smith's story. Mormonism changed my life and if you prayed about it, it would change you too! I know I'm right, because of faith and all the evidence."

I read one time (like Mr. Yoder heard the "swear to God" story) back in Ancient Greece, a person named Ambrosia told her doubting son, "there are no atheists ... especially not after they meet Hades in the Underworld! Aphrodite answered my prayers. I know the gods of Mount Olympus are real because of all the evidence I see and my faith."

The reasons that believers "know" their religion is true, are the same across the world and throughout history. When everyone claims the same justifications to come to starkly contrasting conclusions about their specific god or gods; and religious claims can be debunked with Google in real time - it is not at all difficult to believe there are atheists, it is actually amazing there are not exponentially more.

Colin Barr

Arlington Heights