What does 'vale of tears' mean in English?
Noun. vale of tears (plural vales of tears), (in the singular) The world, a place where difficulties and the sorrows of life are felt, especially (Christianity) as a place to be left behind when one dies and goes to heaven.
Where did the phrase vale of tears come from?
The phrase appears in some translations of Psalm 84:6, which describes those strengthened by God's blessing: "As they pass through the valley of tears (Hebrew: ????? ????????), they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools"

I think it does not mean what he thinks it means. If he does, he's pretty religious for an atheist or a nontheist.