Thank you!

Yup, I agree.

a good ethical compass helps . there are other religions such as money that can be equally misused

I totally agree mcfrank! Who are we to impose our beliefs on others! If a belief makes you more humanitarian and inclusive, I really don't care what that belief is. I know a lot of good people who truly care about the earth, humanity, equality, ETC and really believe in their GOD.
Our ultimate goal has got to be a better live on earth!
Because we all know that this is what we get.

If we don't speak up about our position, think of all the people out there who would still be fooled by their religious beliefs.
There are a lot of 'fence sitters' that might hear what they need to hear that will turn their thinking around.
There could be some of those people here on this site right now browsing through our posts learning about agnosticism and atheism and gathering information from us.

I agree. Unless someone expresses a desire for such a conversation, I just go about my business, and feel what I feel ! I need no one's approval to do that.

I am pleased that I got this discussion going. In my previous comment I was just trying to say that "We should feel comfortable in our own skins" and not feel like we have to justify ourselves to anyone. As for the issues surrounding what religion has done, and is doing to our country and world, I can only say that it is disgraceful! All these religions preach love and peace and then champion hate and violence against those who do not believe as they do. There is also the issue of religious terrorists like the KKK, PLO, Taliban, Bocker haram, (forgive the spelling) et al. These are groups that do as Hitler did and mass murder in the name of their god. Yes, there are a lot of things that need to be addressed and dealt with, but we can not turn into them to do it. Education is the enemy of religion because once you teach people to think for themselves they come to see the light. That should be the goal and mission.

I agree, in that the burden of proof shoudl not be on us to try to prove a negative belief, Those who have positive beliefs have the burden of proof if anyone does.

But they are in power. If they want to roll around in shit and pray to a piece of goal, let those sickos go for it, but they want me to not only do it, they want me to acknowledge it in my gov, my school, and they want my taxes to supplement them.

It's astounding that so many different religions can each prove that they are right...