"An Atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god.  An Atheist knows that heaven is something for which we should work now - here on earth - for all men together to enjoy.  An Atheist thinks that he can get no help through prayer but that he must find in himself the inner conviction and strength to meet life, to grapple with it, to subdue, and enjoy it.  An Atheist thinks that only in a knowledge of himself and a knowledge of his fellow man he can find the understanding that will help to a life of fulfillment.  Therefore, he seeks to know himself and his fellow man rather than to know a god.  An Atheist knows that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An Atheist knows that a deed must be done instead of a prayer said.  An Atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death.  He wants disease conquered, poverty vanquished, war eliminated.  He wants man to understand and love man.  He wants an ethical way of life.  He knows that we cannot rely on a god nor channel action into prayer nor hope for an end to troubles in the hereafter. He knows that we are our brother's keeper and keepers of our lives; that we are responsible persons, that the job is here and the time is now."  A quote I live by from Madalyn Murray O'Hair

Intersting quote. I have never read anything from Mrs. O'Hare. Nice sentiment.

very good - i agree with the idea it creates of those who decide religion is not for them.

An atheist knows that the fundamental reason the human species has survived is the beneficical nature of altruistic behavior. Development of cooperative human endeavors has built the necessary infrastructure for humanity to survivie and not drown in a toxic pool off it's own waste.

Superstitious religious ####, in this day and age, are simply those who cannot or will not learn what interdependent humanity means, who prefer to think their privilege relative to other humans in the world, has a divine origin, or who, for purely selfish reasons, wish to believe their life is more important than other forms of life, and granted by god the right to abuse those other forms by pollution and waste, without accepting responsibilty for their own actions.

There will always be big mysteries, but they are not about abortion, war, oil, money, churches, or governments.

Anytime god is invoked in those argurments, it is a lie.