Among the Nonbelievers.

• Author: Bernardin, Andrew
• Position: Letters - Letter to the Editor

Chris Lehmann's review of Sam Harris' The End of Faith ("Among the Nonbelievers," January) made me chuckle in disbelief. If Harris can be accused of flying off the handle in places in his book (and yes, I have read it), Lehmann's review was one full flight from the handle.

Lehmann contends that "village atheists" (his second of at least four uses of the term) "are as numerous, and as shrill, as they've ever been." What planet does Lehmann live on? Here in Florida we've got Christians on television and radio and in newspapers denouncing the decline of moral values: Abortion is murder; gays are abominations in the eyes of their god; schools are corrupting children by teaching evolution. Vocal believers vastly outnumber vocal nonbelievers.

In the spring of' 04 an atheist was prevented from giving the opening convocation...