Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 5, June 8th, 1949.

Dear Veritas

Dear Veritas

You have given a very neat little proof of the existence of something, but what exactly has induced you to correlate this something with that confuted bundle of dogmas and superstitions, the Christian religion? And granted again that there is some "final uncreated, uncaused, and unplanned [ unclear: Cause,"] why should this have anything to do with the anthology of Hebrew beliefs the heretical Graeco-Hebraic philosopher, and a large number of fanatics of all ages.

No, Veritas, I am afraid it will not quite do, there is nothing in your "proofs" which could not be used by anyone wishing to exalt something as a "god," and as the original was directed specifically at Christianity, you have not answered it in any logical way. You will find it very hard, I am afraid, to justify on any ethical ground the futile disputations and persecutions of Imperial Roman Christianity, or the Inquisition, or the Church acceptance of Fascism in Italy. And if you are unable to see what the "taboos in sex, science, amusement" have to do with the "natural desire to help one's fellows," then you must have a much smaller intellect than I gave your credit for. I would tender also the humble suggestion that all of the five traditional proofs of the existence of God depends not on causalty but on casuistry.

I remain, As sincerely as usual,

Junior Atheist's Anti-Godfather.

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