Quit worrying, there is no god

Dear editor: The Okanagan Weekend paper had an interesting juxtaposition of Tim Schroeder’s usual toxic column and Jim Taylor’s less-accusatory column with that of a letter on the opposing page by Guy King which actually challenged both writers’ belief in their religious faiths.

Thank you, Guy King for suggesting that far too many people accept a belief in heaven and hell simply because someone says one or the other awaits us when we die.

And so we are condemned to a life of speculation of whether we are good enough to go to this wonderful place where the streets are paved with gold; where everyone is cheerful, happy and loving; where nothing bad ever happens; where you meet all the friends and relatives that passed on before you; and everyone is flying around on gossamer wings and there are no ugly people like Hitler or Stalin or Netanyahu or Trump or your third-grade teacher.

And then there is this other place. You have heard of it — fire and brimstone, with this horny guy with a pitchfork who was cast out of heaven because he was so bad, like your third-grade teacher. Can you imagine spending your after-life in a place like that exploding volcano in Hawaii? Molten rock, and you’re sitting in the middle of it, just because you were a bad person here on earth.

Not as bad as Hitler, or Stalin, or Sharon (look him up), but nevertheless, you didn’t go to bed when you were told, or you stole some cookies and blamed your sister, or whatever.

So it is nice to know that there are a lot more thinking young people who have joined me and my atheistic way of thinking. As long as we go along with the golden rule, which, by the way, was introduced by the Egyptians long before it was written about in the good book versus the bad book, then there is no need to worry about what will happen in your afterlife.

Don’t believe me? Then, read the book, “The God Delusion.”

Frank Martens Summerland