I tend not to like to be called an atheist. Reading oldude's diatribe, there is no wonder...

Why do superstitious people get all precious over their delusion? Is it because deep down they realise the imaginary friend bit is in fact just a metaphor for the whole mindset? or is it because again deep down, they either knowingly or otherwise resent being told how to behave by people in charge of their faith?

Nobody is denying anybody's right to be religious. the problem is that many interpretations of religion are profoundly jealous of either other religions or lack of religion so try to impose their religion on others.

That and that alone is reason enough to laugh in the faces of those who try and ram it down your throat. Next time a Jehovas Witness knocks on your door, ensure they waddle back down the drive, with a copy of their Watchtower protruding and causing the wobbly walk.

Anyway, I have had occasion recently to fill in a few forms where my religion has been asked for, (I thought it was illegal to do so, but there you go...) rather than a box with none in it, there was a "rather not say." This was not satisfactory, but there was a "other" box with a field for you to fill in. I trawled the net and signed up to The Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

I am a Pastafarian! Whats more, I ruin silly ethnic monitoring forms by stating the fact.

That makes me so happy, I suppose it is a little bit sad really.....