I have tried, for years, to be moved by the arguments from Atheist about the freedom and the openness of living without God. Unfortunately, I have yet to be moved by any writer or speaker on this subject.

My main point is that being anti-religion is all there is to Atheism seems to be. Just disliking a certain way to think and live is not the basis to a way of life. I heard Philosophy Bites (a podcast) which had A C Grayling talking about the subject of Atheism. Again, all I got from is ‘we don’t do that’; surely there’s more to it than that?

The attack on the history and current difficulties seem a little misguided; just pointing out what’s wrong is lame, showing what is better is far more positive and directive way of moving people to a new way of being human. The biggest attacks on the Christian faith have, actually, come from Christians, some even quite high up. If the main commentators on Christianity’s failures and reform come fro within - Rob Bell, Adrian Plass, Tom Wright, John Ortberg - then Atheism is failing.

The whole thing of putting down Christian leaders, of history and the present day, seems easy and, has to be said, emotion rather than evidence driven. The author Sam Harris is quoted in saying ‘If I could wave a magic wand and get rid of either rape or religion, I would not hesitate to get rid of religion‘. He has also said ‘there’s nothing more natural than rape.’ I know this is only one of a host of Atheism speakers, but the fact that others are willing to support such a statement is troubling. Surely the perceived view of repression of religion cannot be a greater evil to the physical, psychological, and emotional abuse that rape causes (for all parties). The view of we are brilliant beast, but fundamentally beasts, unable to hold back our urges seems confusing and unclear to me.

So, if you are an Atheist, or a former one, please tell me: what is the attraction of Atheism that does not include any reference to religion?