This is in response to Dan Dormer's May 15 letter titled "What is an atheist?"

Mr. Dormer is a human with every right to his beliefs. The only question is, are they valid and logical?

In an attempt to answer this, I would like to employ the use of several simple mathematical expressions wherein 0 equals nothing and x equals something.

1. 0=0= nothing exists

2. 0=x, or its opposite, x=0=an impossibility

3. x=x= something equals something.

A clearer way to express this is to say that the total sum of everything in existence (organic and inorganic) is equal to "what is."

The believers and nonbelievers can call "what is" anything they like. The scientist will face the dilemma of discovering all the various known and unknown factors of the sum.

In summation, although mathematics proves the existence of God, it does not prove what kind of God. Until more research and knowledge is obtained, this will have to be left to conjecture or hearsay.

Norman Goodridge

Spotsylvania