The evils of intolerance

The Times article concerning atheist signs on buses ["Local atheists lift voices in bus campaign," Local News, March 29] contains this remark by Pastor Richard Dahlstrom. "atheists disregard both the good things that religious people have done and the atrocities committed by the nonreligious."

Our Founding Fathers were well aware of the evils of intolerant religionists, evils such as restricting Galileo's celestial truths, the execution of Micheal Servetus for differing with a priest on anatomy, the burning of Joan of Arc at the stake for heresy and witchcraft, execution of unauthorized translators of the Bible and countless wars over religious differences.

Consequently, the very first amendment to our constitution stated, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Throughout history, the harm done by the righteous far outweighs that of the nonreligious; that imbalance continues in wars by and between religious factions today.

We agnostics and atheists are willing to stand up for our rights -- but few of us are barbaric enough to kill or maim, as are the faithful.

-- Spencer M. Higley, Edmonds