Discuss “Letter to the editor”

Steven Weinberg began his Oct. 15 “Reevaluating our motives for discrediting other peoples’ faith” article with the example of the “ardent atheist” versus “the ardent religious person.” Somehow, this story’s villain ends up being the one who doesn’t consider life to be nothing more than one long pass/fail exam for eternal judgment. The article then asks “what would happen if a non-believer effectively persuaded the religious person to renounce all of his former beliefs?”

Mr. Weinberg, from personal experience, the answer is that the persuaded becomes much happier. But that doesn’t even matter, if you think about it.

The crux of Weinberg’s argument is that if someone believes it, then it must be okay! Never mind “happiness,”...