Letters: A little bit difficult to acceptconcept of God as vindictive

Although not an atheist, I am among the "Godless minority" referred to in the Aug. 21 letter, "Don't let loud voices of godless minority take over."

I do admit that I find it a little difficult to accept their concept of God as a primitive, vindictive, vengeful tribal American chieftain suffering from severe sexual hang-ups. I am sorry, but I cannot accept such a being as morally superior to myself, and I hope my own concept of morality extends a little beyond an obsession with other people's sexual behavior.

I believe that the letter writer and I both see some of the same problems in America, but our interpretations of causes and solutions are far different.

History is not my major field, but I have read enough beyond the primary level to know that the history that the letter writer wants taught in our schools to "protect our children" is nothing but flag-waving, slogan-shouting, hero-worshipping, religious-sectarian indoctrination. Does the greatness of our country really depend on this kind of brain-washing, which would make any dictator proud?

Our schools certainly need a complete reform from top to bottom, but how about teaching the "three R's" for a change? It is reported that more than half of American adults are now "functionally illiterate." I have talked to too many teachers with master's degrees who think that quadratic equations are "advanced math," which they should not be expected to know, and even some who were unsure about verbs and nouns.

I took a German language class years ago and discovered that several students, college students all, insisted they had taken English in high school (of course!) but had never heard of verbs and nouns, much less of such things as dependent clauses or subjunctive mood.

The letter writer calls on God to "continue to bless America, the greatest nation on Earth!" I for one am a little leery of the blessings of a god who glorifies ignorance and calls it worship.

John P. Cupp

Smith River