As a FreeThinker (I prefer that term to atheist) I think it's important to study the world's religions at least to know what they say. There are valuable elements in any of the world's religions as there are things to ignore.

In the Bible, I think, Matthew 25 deserves mention as a social ideal. The Sermon on the Mount offers the main element of the ten commandments, "Thou Shalt Not Kill".
There are those who separate "killing" from "murder" in defense of so-called "just wars" but I feel that this is sophistry and parsing language (ala Bill Clinton) who does this in his biography.

I think we can find nuggets of wisdom in the Quaran, Ghita, Torah, Bible, and other religious books because the motivation behind these precepts are meant to improve society and the way we get along.

Joseph Campbell says quite importantly that we need our "myths" as educational societal tools. This is the value of folklore, not to be taken as actual and literal truths but perhaps a different kind of truth, an underlying reasoned approach to getting along as a species.

There are scientific truths (actual) and mythical truths (not actual but universal precepts by which our behavior as a species can be defined.

Hitchens represents only one point of view of the non-religious community, often argumentative and aggressive, but not to be taken as religious doctrine. The interesting thing is that he brings the discussion of religion into focus, which has long been taboo and assumptions made about it that don't reflect an overall picture of how religious people think and act.

His is only one point of view, however, and other points of view need to be aired. Some of these viewpoints are not religious in nature, however, and should not be construed as being so.

Being a FreeThinker requires an open mind and understanding of many points of view regardless of whether you agree or disagree.

Happy New Year John, Jack and everyone on Mudcat.

Frank