register for atheists?

[ksst]

Sometimes people choose to be slaves. I have very little religious baggage I guess. I went to a very liberal church when I was really little, then no church at all. I have no fear of hell or the devil or anything like that, and don't believe they exist. Still, prayer can be comforting, especially when praying over something that is completely beyond our control. And sometimes you get an answer.

I don't think people in general would live long with hope. The alternative is suicide. Without love, babies fail to thrive and they literally can die. Without trust there is no banding together against adversity. These things necessary to our survival as humans.

[Thorne]

Still, prayer can be comforting, especially when praying over something that is completely beyond our control. And sometimes you get an answer.

I've never denied that prayer can be comforting. Just as meditation can be comforting. Or a good night's sleep. Or taking a good afternoon nap. It's a way to focus your mind, allow some introspection, and let yourself think things out clearly. Adding in religious gobbledygook would tend to cost you more focus than simple meditation, I would think.

And you don't GET an answer, as in some being providing you with one. You MAY find one within yourself, if you can relax enough, but ultimately it comes from you, not from some god.

I don't think people in general would live long with hope. The alternative is suicide.

Depends on the person. Some people can get through by taking things one day at a time, not allowing hope OR despair to control their lives.

Without love, babies fail to thrive and they literally can die.

I've never heard of this. There are a LOT of babies who manage to grow up in horrific conditions, certainly not in any king of loving family as most people would recognize it. I don't say they would grow up mentally healthy, again as we understand it, but they do survive.

Without trust there is no banding together against adversity.

Again, there are many people who live relatively solitary lives, not trusting others, not depending upon others. They may not be living the kinds of lives that WE would want, but they are living, and some are even happy that way.

These things necessary to our survival as humans.

I think necessary is too strong a word. Desirable, yes, in most cases. Important in a highly integrated social environment? Yes. But not necessary.