[khnyny]

[In the secular account, "You are the descendant of a tiny cell of primordial protoplasm washed up on an empty beach 3 1/2 billion years ago. You are a mere grab bag of atomic particles, a conglomeration of genetic substance. You exist on a tiny planet in a minute solar system in an empty corner of a meaningless universe. You came from nothing and are going nowhere."]

Now that's a depressing worldview. There is no dignity or respect for life, especially human life, in the above interpretation of the universe.

No wonder the Russians drink.

[TrisB]

Respectfully, this is utter rubbish. I'm an atheist and me and my kin have the same respect for human life any theist does, and are so DESPITE the rather bleak view described. This speaks volumes about our independence of opinion, that we can respect human life for what we see and measure, rather than relying on our parents and priests to tell us when to ascribe divine significance to something.

And who's more dignified, the one who arrogantly insists they are special from birth, or the one who humbly and gracefully accepts the insignificance of one's self.