Positively Aware is an HIV treatment education journal. I’ve never read it, but given their latest cover, which asks “Can faith help sustain us when living with HIV?” maybe I don’t need to…

Perhaps it wouldn’t be a big deal if it was only talking about religious people with HIV who can use their faith as a crutch… but it’s not. The issue focuses on how religion can help everyone deal with it.

Mark at The Honest Atheist is HIV positive and he offers this quick rebuttal:

I’m living on 300 mg of AZT, 600 mg of 3TC, 300 mg of Abacavir, and 600 mg of Sustiva every day (and trust me: luckily, for now, that’s enough). But no: I’m not living on any prayers.

Mark actually read the entire issue and rebutted it, article by article, explaining where they got it right and where they got it wrong.

You can read his responses here, here, and here.

In the next few days, Mark plans to post (and respond to) rebuttals from the magazine’s staff.

Everyone has their own way of dealing with crises, but turning to religion will introduce a whole host of additional problems. You don’t need god to get through tough times. You need good friends and a loving family or potent medicine and skilled doctors, etc. God isn’t necessary.



