That's a very good definition of rational atheism, Jack. Rational atheism is positive, constructive, and good in its intentions.

(Then there is negative emotional atheism, quite different from rational atheism. Emotional atheism is generally a very hostile reaction of some kind against religion...usually due to some sense of being, or having been persecuted or threatened by organized religion...or just a sense of being superior (to say "religious people are stupid"). Many persons brought up in the churches have become emotional atheists due to having been subjected to very unenlightened treatment from the religious organizations they grew up in...this is specially true, I find, of ex-Catholics. Their painful childhood experiences may have set them at war with organized religion for the rest of their lives.)

Some people are a combination of the rational and the negative emotional atheist...just as some religious people are both rational and negatively emotional in their approach to life. If negatively emotional, for instance, they may focus a lot on guilt, hellfire, aggressive conversion of non-believers, and punishment for sin.

The rational atheist essentially believes in all the same positive and constructive things that the rational religious person does, only he leaves out any references to God and to things he can't observe in the material world.

Both the rational atheist and the rational religious person make very good neighbours, since their basic approach is to help other people and do positive, constructive things in the world.

Any sensible religious person believes in prayer AND action, not just prayer. You pray AND you do the deed. The rational atheist believes in positive thought AND action. The primary difference is that the rational atheist thinks he's alone in his thought (and in a spiritual sense), while the rational religous person thinks he's not alone in his thought but is connected at all times to a higher purpose and presence that works with him and helps him.

Given the same good intention, both of them will essentially do the same useful things when they are required, meaning they will help other people who are in need and treat other people in a kind fashion. One feels he's doing it all alone...but in relationship to other people. The other feels he's doing it within a larger spiritual relationship that extends into everything and everyone. They both in any case DO the same things. They render assistance and practice brotherhood.

This puts both of them on positive ground, and, in my opinion, makes them potential friends, not enemies.