In his letter to the editor, “Show Compassion for Atheist Friends,” Professor Phil Bishop demonstrates a fundamental misconception that most theists have about atheism. The problem is that they assume atheism is something more than it is. In fact, atheism is not a hypothesis, or an ideology, or a substitute for religion. Atheism, in the simplest terms, is the rejection of claims made by theists for the existence of, and access to, the supernatural.

In other words, atheism is the belief that the burden of proof required to satisfy the truth of theistic claims is not satisfied. That’s it. While many atheists express opinions and beliefs that go beyond that simple principal, being an atheist does not require more.

Because of his misconception, Professor Bishop assumes that the truth of evolutionary theory is indispensable to atheism. This is untrue. While many may be struck by the fact that evolution explains the diversity of life without any need for supernatural intervention, this says nothing about whether or not there are any gods. An understanding of evolution is merely compatible with atheism; it does not necessarily precede it.

Will Turner?is a student in the School of Law.