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Functionality, divine revelation, explicit atheism, and "Santa Claus isn't real and I can prove it."

After reading the first few highest rated articles under this title I was surprised to not see a more thorough defense of atheism. Snyder is correct when she says that we all "function" in the world, Flourfingers implies many atheists ignore "divine revelation", Draven discusses potential dangers of so-called "explicit atheism", as Stephenson writes that to tell the truth that "Santa Clause isn't real and I can prove it" is somehow harmful. The following should not be taken personally in anyway, because it is only some of the issues mentioned in some of the highest rated articles under this title that I would like to discuss.

We do all "function" in the world, and always have. Religions are designed (albeit, perhaps unwittingly) by us for this purpose, to in part, facilitate us to function in our world together. I realize that there are so many who believe in some form of supernatural or in a god or gods, and that perhaps this is a factor to why we do seem to all at least function together in our world. Functionality should not be confused with knowledge or truthfulness, for these are all different concepts. Religions often promote or advocate blind faith, but at the expense of reducing critical thinking skills acquisition in its believers. I don't know about you, but I want to know what the truth is about my world and not just function in it. Atheism offers me a foundation to a more realistic view of my world; after all (as is true with many atheists, I have seriously contemplated the existence of the supernatural and god). Some religious insight or tenets could be useful to future peoples, but only if we begin now to uncover what, if any of these beliefs offer benefits to us that will not only function, but functions well for us. In the future we will "function" better without god.

"Divine revelation" is not something many atheists ignore; in fact I would argue that it is seriously considered by most strong atheists. Consider for a moment the plight the atheist must undertake in his path to truth and knowledge. Most atheists believed in some supernatural first, and therefore understood and feared the consequences of not believing before converting. Most of us grow up with learnt religious beliefs! "Devine revelation" is no more than a brain-state experienced by all people of all beliefs, even atheists. I am not saying that divine revelations are real, but I am

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