"The obvious response to this tragedy is that he didn’t do it because of his atheism because atheism has no doctrines or tenets, but I certainly hope no one uses the 'he wasn’t a true atheist' argument. Atheists are every bit as capable of and prone to violence and brutality as any other group of people. One of the distinctions between a rational atheism and religious belief is the recognition that all human beings are capable of both extraordinary kindness and horrifying brutality, often at the same time. In contrast to religious beliefs, we do not claim that being an atheist will make someone a better person. I think one thing it brings into focus is the fact that atheism is not enough. Atheism only indicates you what you don’t believe, not what you do believe, not the ideals by which you live your life. For that we need more. For me, that more is humanism, but not all atheists are humanist. And some atheists, as we’ve learned from harsh experience over the last few years, are really terrible people. I see no need to run from that fact or pretend otherwise."

http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2015/02/11/atheist-kills-three-muslims-in-north-carolina/

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