A few days ago, from my kitchen window, I watched a baby hummingbird while it tottered back and forth on the feeder stand not 20 inches from my window. Occasionally it took a sip of nectar then remained on the stand. It blinked then looked at me, but made no attempt to flee. It sat there for a very long time so I went about my morning routine trying to forget about the bird. My thoughts were of sorrow for that tiny innocent creature. Hours later I noticed the baby hummer was back. It was swaying from side to side and I was sure it was dying.

Yesterday the hummer did not come to my feeder. I’m sure it died somewhere in the tall grass. This tiny creature had harmed no one and did not deserve to suffer and then die. It was just a beautiful baby hummingbird, which brings me to my point; if there were a god, a kind, loving and gentle god, one who supposedly cares for us all, this could not have happened. It’s similar to a child, pure and innocent, who has cancer or any other fatal illness. If there were a god, I wouldn’t need to feel this deep sadness for the unfortunate pain and suffering of other humans and creatures, because the innocent wouldn’t be suffering.

Faith is no more than an excuse for not understanding the workings of nature. Scientists are able to comprehend, make sense out of, things we did not understand hundreds of years ago. Then they were called miracles, magic, omens or God’s will. Now, there are explanations for these occurrences, thus the workings of our universe are understood more clearly.

The existence of a god is a state of mind. I say, if going to church does it for you socially, or sooths your conscious, then go to church. I won’t badger you for it. The same should apply; nonbelievers do not deserve to be bullied into believing. That’s why America was founded, so people could be free of dogma, and freedom of speech could be exercised without penalty. As those of you who are “believers” do your thing and we “nonbelievers” will do ours.

JANIE HANSEN

Coeur d’Alene