Atheist and accident, politics and religion

An atheist is a man who believes himself an accident. – Francis Thompson

Retort 1

 

Whereas it is not a contradiction to say that a man of faith knows himself to be a product of intelligent design.

 

Retort 2

 

It’s ungenerous for a man of faith to put so little store by the verb ‘believe’ with reference to another man.

 

Retort 3

 

But you wouldn’t know this from casual observation because atheists plan their families whereas Christians are happy to let accident decide.

 

Patriotism is in political life what faith is in religion. – John Dalberg (Lord Acton)

 

Retort

 

Or rather, rancour is to politics what fear is to religion, and what a dung ball is to the dung beetle – both nutrient-rich food and a nest to lay its eggs in.