All people of liberal persuasion, be they atheists or believers, are horrified by the oppression of anyone by dictatorial believers (as in many historical instances both contemporary and past) and they are horrified equally by the oppression of anyone by dictatorial atheists (as in communist countries for example).

Perhaps the distinctions between believers, liberal atheists (often called humanists nowadays) and communists are best seen in the area of moral theory.

Believers hold that morality comes from god and has no basis other than belief in, and submission to, his will. The difficulty is in identifying what that supposed will actually consists of concretely; it often boils down to obeying the religious leaders with the loudest voice . . or else . . .

The communist believes that morality is, so to speak, doing the will of godless historical law. The trouble is how to identify the workings of that law in the concrete; it usually boils down to 'toe the Party Line or else . . '

Communist morality is now passing into history and need concern us no more but religious morality is still advocated energetically and monopolistically.

The liberal atheists think that morality is none other than a summary of the way we should behave if our potential as co-operating social animals (which, inescapably, we are) is to be realised satisfactorily. If any god exists then his role is simply 'to have made it so' and that seems to be a quite peripheral and optional addition made mainly by force of habit. Perhaps God wants us to be liberal sceptics and stop bothering Him! Religious belief rests on faith and generally involves believing tall stories as one of its essential supports. 'A miracle is an event that produces faith' is a well known precept.

To anyone who thinks that morality is contingent upon traditional religion (as distinct merely from being habitually associated with it in some people's minds) may I ask the following question? Would my neighbours' wives be correct to feel safer from my covetousness if I were to come to believe that Jesus really did walk upon the water? If they think they would then I fear I have overestimated their intelligence all these friendly, reasonable and uneventful years.