NYT covers murder of Indian skeptic

It was good to see an article in the NY Times today about the murder of Indian skeptic Narendra Dabholkar. He was the sort of man I admire.

PUNE, India — For nearly three decades, an earnest man named Narendra Dabholkar traveled from village to village in India, waging a personal war against the spirit world. 

If a holy man had electrified the public with his miracles, Dr. Dabholkar, a former physician, would duplicate the miracles and explain, step by step, how they were performed. If a sorcerer had amassed a fortune treating infertility, he would arrange a sting operation to unmask the man as a fraud. His goal was to drive a scientist’s skepticism into the heart of India, a country still teeming with gurus, babas, astrologers, godmen and other mystical entrepreneurs. 

That mission ended Tuesday, when two men ran up behind Dr. Dabholkar, 67, as he crossed a bridge, shot him at point-blank range, then jumped onto a motorbike and disappeared into the traffic coursing through this city. 

He was a good man who spoke the truth, so the fools killed him. In every religious country, there are rational people fighting the woo. It does my heart good to know this. We'll win in the end, though it may take several generations. Dr. Dabholkar, you led an admirable life. I salute you.

You know what cheers me up?

One great thing about the battle between rational, thinking people and braindead religious zealots is the difference between the two groups.

I enjoy looking into the empty, dead eyes of those on the wrong side of history. I mean, they look awful. There's no one inside, nobody home in their heads -- and it's apparent to (almost) everyone.

I love that everything they say sounds so stupid to intelligent people, that they don't know how to mount a rational argument, and can't see how hollow their beliefs are.

I love that the enemy doesn't understand the internet. I love that they try to ensure that people in need don't get help. I love that they're obviously hateful gits who wouldn't get into heaven, if heaven was real.

I love the fact that they're dead inside. It gives me uncontrollable giggles.