Hi Kristin, this really is an interesting topic and there is so much potential for conversation if we do not, as you say, draw lines in the sand. As an Atheist, I do feel uncomfortable when fellow Atheists take a combative stance and argue that we have some sort of monopoloy on reason, that religion is a crutch, and so on. I feel no superiority to anyone based on my beliefs and enjoy hearing about the beliefs of others and discussing the differences and similarities.

Ed, I think you bring up a good point that when (mostly in this country) Christians say that you can't be good without God or some variation of the same that it is very easily rebutted. I think the question I have for those that would have me change my beliefs is if I am just as good, just as happy, just as peaceful and just as fulfilled in my life as you are in yours with religion, why would you have me change?

I do feel complete and wholly capable of acting with self sacrificial love without any relationship to any Deity. What evidence does anyone have that I am not?  I suppose the good without God was intentionally meant to be a play on words, yes we can behave without God and also we're fine without it, which is not to say that makes us in any way better, more self-directed, more reasonable than those that say they are better with God. We all come into this world with different needs, and I believe a need for faith or spirituality is present or absent in each of us in different amounts.

I think this is why, on the whole, I support these ad campaigns, not because I want to change anyone's personal beliefs but because perhaps it will open up some minds that there are so many ways to lead a happy, moral, fulfilled complete life.