That is great! I remember how liberated I felt when I dumped my religion (baptist). I only wish I could help others feel the same way. I hope my mom takes it well and actually listens to what I believe in and is rational about it. I doubt she will be but whatever. Good job. 

Elton John can now write a song for the magical underwear, joining Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana. I'm not exactly sentimental about the garments though. 

I hope that she can find some real relief in plotting her own course, and that letting go of the religious aspects of her life isn't too difficult. That can be a hard thing for people to do -- especially when they've put so much effort into it.

But the feelings of relief are definitely worth it in the end. I'm happy for your mother.

That is so awesome and inspiring. She's only a step away from feeling the glorious liberation of atheism, and undoing those barbaric chains of religion that have oppressed her for so long from being fully human. Your testimony makes me long in anticipation for that beautiful day when the sun shines, and all these silly wars are over, and we all sit at the picnic table of disbelief, free of ants that science has dispelled. 

Thanks you so much for the words of encouragement. 

And all praise and glory to Mr. Science for that one. 

Yes, wars over fictional beings are silly, as silly as wars over which cereal box character is the best, a war of Trick's rabbit vs. Count Chocula.

That bright and shiny day when disbelief reigns supreme by the efforts of all of us here, is the day we can all look upon a bright and glorious future, where we have learned to live better, by knowing this is the only life we have, and no one but ourselves are responsible for the tending of it. i feel like cumming in my pants just thinking about it. 

Excuse me while i put John Lennon's "Imagine" on repeat. 

Anyone who thinks a war over imaginary beings is silly is right.

I couldn't agree more. Wars over invisible people? I'm wondering how it is the previous poster is the one with the issues...

Sounded a lot like a fairy tale, but it was still a valid point. And I recall seeing the South Park episode but it has been so long that I can't appreciate the humor anymore, sadly. 

A person is happy that her mother is finding the courage to draw her own conclusions about life, and some other people express their sympathy and happiness for both mother and daughter.

Your response: a sarcastic putdown, insisting that the original poster, and her responders are naive, and selfrightious in their beliefs.

But what you wilfully ignore is that this has nothing to do with atheism, and everything to do with human hapiness and selfconfidence.

Her mother has finally begun to remove herself from an abusive relationship with an organisation: The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; an organisation whose purpose it is to make that woman give all her time, money and attention to the likes of Mitt Romney, simultaniously robbing her of her, some would say, God given right, to draw her own conclusions about life, the universe and everything.

Had she been in a smaller cult, would you have responded with the same snarky attitude? There are many large organised religions in the world, so widespread, so old, and so battered by differing cultural influences that they do not inherently hold any sway over a person right to define their own beliefs (in any meaningful sense).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not such a religion and you know it, so stop being such a dick.

And if you truly don't know it, then I suggest you read up on it my friend, because Mormonism is not "just another religion".

I take it you would prefer it if people where Scientologists, as long as they are not "dopey" and "shallow" atheists?

And just to clarify, I know that not all religions are alike, and within any given religion, not all people are alike, because generalizing is stupid. But just as one can draw some basic conclusions about a person if they say they are a pacifist, a national socialist, or a creationist, so can you know something about a person if they say they are of a particular religion, especially if that religion is young and has a strong cultural grounding in a particular set of beliefs.

You, however, clearly think that all religions are alike, in that any religious belief is inherently better than atheism, even if that religion makes you think the Earth is flat, all black people are the Devil's minions, that women are less inteligent than men, and that the smartest guy ever to have lived is the Prophet Bob, from West Virginia.

Atheism does not bring about a perfect world. I've never claimed anything of the sort. Some people might, because some people are stupid, selfrightious, or both. But you deride atheism for claiming just that, while ignoring the fact that atheism itself does not claim anything of the sort.

There are atheists that are dickheads out there. I've never claimed otherwise. I even know that for a fact because I've met some on these boards. But you claim that atheism is what makes you a dickhead, while ignoring the fact that you yourself has suggested Denmark as an example of a place with many decent people, even though most here are atheists.

So you yourself recognize that it is perfectly possible to be an atheist and a smart, friendly, loving person, and yet you now in this thread suggest that any religious belief, no matter how vile or absurd or both, is still necessarily better than atheism.

You think the atheist arguments you have heard are shallow and dopey, and since religion, and religious people have been the "victims" of such arguments, you conclude that religion must be good.

Well, I suggest you stop your single-minded self rightious attacks on anything with the label Atheism, and instead engage in an honest open discussion about what makes a good person, and what makes a good world, instead of taking the easy way out, and sarcastically put down a thread in which actual, empathetic human sentiment is expressed!