"He then studied comparative religion and became a devout atheist".

That explains exactly why Randy Newman became what you choose to call an "atheist". There isn't a religion in the world, and never has been, that doesn't consider the rejector of that religion to be an atheist. Any person who rejects the "God" dreamed up by a roving band of nomads several thousand years ago, is an atheist. To the Romans, two thousand years ago, you would be considered an atheist. And so it goes, always has and always will.

It is hard to accept it when someone we admire has different beliefs than us, granted, but you need to accept that Newman is an atheist, through and through, and has been for a long time. If you study him, as I have, this will be reinforced.

His comment about "when I'm sick" is his brilliant sense of humor and irony, which comes through in most of his songs. And even the most devout atheist can WISH there was a god, especially in moments of fear and weakness, such as being sick, or elderly.

He makes a good point about atheism too, it is no joy ride, it isn't very pleasant sometimes. That doesn't mean that we can have a conscionable belief in god just because it makes us feel like shit to not believe.

Accept it and let it go, then enjoy his music as you should no matter what he believes.

So in my corner of the world, much was made of pretty miss Carrie Prejan because she sort of kinda gave the right answer to the gay marriage question in the Miss USA pageant. Many folks were ready to crown her a hero.

Yet there she was parading her surgically-enhanced body around on a stage in a bikini. And this is who folks want speaking for them?

I may disagree with JW and Mormom theology, but I have a deep admiration for how seriously you folks take James 2:14-26. I'm afraid too many folks in my circles read Ephesians 2:8-9 and stop there without reading 2:10.

I realize that this is all a bit different than a famous atheist, but I think it's along the same lines.

sigh....I swear some people positively delight in sawing off the branch they're sitting on. Even as they know they're doing it. As RN says, turning 60 "doesn't make you want to run out and hold up a banner for atheism." But he hoists it up just as high as he can anyway, with remarkable musical talent.

It's as if a person finds himself on death row. Now, I guess, if you believe you're there, then you believe you're there. But, reasonably, you'd expect a person to be bummed over it, and not carry on as if they're enjoying a most pleasant party and inviting others to join in.

But I still lay primary blame on false religion, which denies people any reasonable explanation as to why God would permit evil and suffering. They do this because the Bible's explanation contradicts doctrinal nonsense that they already swallowed whole. In such a spiritual vacuum, what's a thinking person to do? They're left on their own, and to reason 'God has taken his eye off the ball' does not seem too farfetched given today's world. A small step from there to 'there is no God.' Adding fuel to that position is that, in taking it, you get to tweak religionists, who surely deserve it. Doesn't Newman hail from the bayou region? Which Katrina has devastated once, and now the oil spill makes K look like child's play? No wonder people become bitter/ridiculing when they hear pious preachers claim such is God's will, and when they combine that observation with the hypocritical conduct these people so often display.

To be sure, I am surprised by the 'evangelism' atheists sometimes display. But I guess it's in keeping with stressful times today, in which all positions are given to extremism.

Aaron: I don't know that I would say it is "wrong" as much as I would say it is unnecessary and cuts short one's horizons. And my comment immediately preceding yours bears repeating:

It's as if a person finds himself on death row. Now, I guess, if you believe you're there, then you believe you're there. But, reasonably, you'd expect a person to be bummed over it, and not carry on as if they're enjoying a most pleasant party and inviting others to join in.

And the rest of it, too, I guess.

Thanks for chiming in.

Fred.....I didn't know that about Mark Twain. I mean, I knew he was an atheist, but I didn't know when he became one and if it had connection with his daughter. I wonder if it is similar to this experience regarding Darwin:

http://tinyurl.com/5wbcb7

You know, I hate it when I demonstrate my ignorance, and I always hope people won't notice. But it doesn't always work.

"But Daddy, I want to believe in God!"

HA! It has to be a hard sell, I would imagine, persuading small children the virtues of atheism. (not to say that there's not plenty who rise to the challenge)

Lookin forward to the post.

Jehovah's Witnesses used to refer to "men who are sighing and groaning over all the detestable things that are being done" in the name of God. (Ezek 9:4) But as years have gone by, many of this group have simply given up sighing and embraced atheism. That doesn't account for all atheists, of course, but it accounts for a lot.

Still, atheists have many obstacles to hurdle, such as 'how did life get here in the first place?' An excellent discussion of this can be found at jw.org/publications at which point you have to search a bit. It's a brochure with an orange color. (sorry, my web skills aren't all that great)