The Editor, Re: "Please keep your religion out of my politics," the Now, Dec. 11.
Would you accept a commonly-held belief that there is a neutral, objective "middle" position that accepts only scientifically proven facts and eschews any religious viewpoint, which should guide our Canadian society, including lawmaking?
According to this view, any of us who hold religious or spiritual views are somewhere outside the centre, towards the fringe of society. The stronger our views, the more "radical" we are, "fringe elements" in a well-balanced and ordered scientifically non-religious society.
This is a fallacy. There is no such centrist position. There are only competing world views, of which the atheist's is one.
Atheism admits no absolute principles so how can you, of all people, tell us what should or should not be happening in our politics?
You are asking me to accept your position of "non-God" and live my life, including my politics, as if God did not exist.
Don't try to consign my beliefs to my private life, not to intrude on anything public, since you clearly aren't following that rule either.
I can only make moral judgments, including legal ones, decisions about finances, what the public deserves and needs, and any other political decision based on my beliefs, as would you. We cannot exist or decide otherwise.
So whose beliefs should rule? The majority? Or some elite who knows what is best for us all?
Best regards towards a good debate.
Mel Hoskyn
Surrey