In his letter, “Atheists have a God” (BDN, Aug. 2), Wesley Matthei states that atheists believe in an almighty God. He apparently misses the obvious and self-evident absurdity of such a statement.

Given that atheists lay no claim to having an invisible friend who will grant wishes, help us score touchdowns and smite our enemies if we ask nicely enough, then, no…we do not believe in an almighty God.

In answer to Charles Sykes’ follow-up question, “Why protect evolution?” (BDN, Aug. 6), we “protect” it for the same reason that we “protect” gravity.

Jay Hall

Brewer