( Clicky )The Pope wrote:It is important to state clearly the God in whom we believe. Only this can free us from being afraid of God — which is ultimately at the root of modern atheism. Only this God saves us from being afraid of the world and from anxiety before the emptiness of life.
So Joseph Ratzinger, commonly held to be one of the finest theologians of modern times, thinks that atheism is rooted in a fear of God?
Wow. Thanks, Pope, thanks for telling me that I'm afraid of a God that I don't believe exists. Perhaps he thinks that the reason I don't believe in unicorns is that I'm frightened of them too?
It's a good job that no atheist has reacted to this deeply offensive comment by running out and shooting a nun in the back eh?