I know some folks live lives so difficult that they need the hope provided by religions. I would not begrudge them that. I recognize that my life has been easy enough. I've got the wherewithall to deal with what life has brought for so long that I doubt I could even transition to religion should I lose that wherewithal. And professionally I get to play in the promising scientific explorations for alternative explanations of life's extraordinary properties. I'm lucky and won't criticize those whose circumstances make a religious outlook the much more obvious solution.
Still, mine is not your typical 'It's all good" surrender to the mystery approach. On the fringes of religion there are some people who would convert to atheism if they knew more about it and I'm happy to poach for what I think is a virtuous cause. Atheism isn't the first spiritual belief system to do so. To that end here are a few short quotes that moved me this morning:
