This was a great thread idea, Luger! I've always wondered how someone could rationally point out negatives of the absence of belief in a deity. Well, you put the opportunity out there and it seems that no one can. Maybe this thread will help dissipate that erroneous notion. When asked, 'what are the negative aspects of religion' we see dozens of pages of real world current and historical examples, but none here. Instead it served to clear up some misconceptions of what atheism really is. I think even the theists here can identify with our stance, after all, they are all atheists and skeptics (they don't believe in the hundreds of gods others believe in, and are skeptical of claims of gnomes, fairies, dragons, etc.) we just take this stance, to which we can all relate, a little further...