Regarding the letter from BPR: just a few points: atheism isn't a belief; it's a title bestowed on non-believers by the same religious zealots who once named us heretics. Also: the 'nothing' BPR refers to is commonly known as various sub-atomic gas particles. I also believe the 'magic' he/she refers to is some sort of science.
I may be wrong, though, as I'm obviously a barmy, ill-educated atheist, who questions the world around him, whereas BPR has all the answers he/she will ever need.
May 'his/her' god (as opposed to the thousands of others that exist) go with him/her.
MARK RODGERS
Belfast