501. Why Darwin matters

Comment #126751 by Richard Morgan on February 14, 2008 at 6:27 am

Catsyk :

People like Rowan Williams are essentially good and highly intelligent, but why do they persist in such nonsense?

Whatever you may be doing at the moment, you must immediately purchase this book:
Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time Michael Shermer.
You'll love it!

502. A Tyrannical Romance

Comment #126748 by Richard Morgan on February 14, 2008 at 6:17 am

LorienRyan:

Richard, You really do have a one tracked mind, my friend.

Absolutely!
Why else would I feel in such good company here among the immoral atheists?
"Love is the answer, but while you are waiting for the answer sex raises some pretty good questions." - Woody Allen

503. A Tyrannical Romance

Comment #126645 by Richard Morgan on February 13, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Geoff - if you knew what the slang meaning of "queue" was in French...!!!

504. Murder plot against Danish cartoonist

Comment #126644 by Richard Morgan on February 13, 2008 at 5:33 pm

Murder plot against Danish cartoonist

Mint tea and marmalade.

???????

Oh, well, I guess I'm going to have to plough through all 156 comments to get the gist of this thread....

505. A Tyrannical Romance

Comment #126640 by Richard Morgan on February 13, 2008 at 5:24 pm

For the first time, I enjoyed the Notes more than the article!!!

For the penis of crocodiles see the extended version

But my favourite has to be:

For the distribution of the penis in birds,... and for the measurements of various ducks

I have clearly missed my vocation in life. But at least now I know what to do with my retirement.
This is...priceless!

506. Conservative Rabbis to Vote on Resolution Criticizing Pope's Revision of Prayer

Comment #125763 by Richard Morgan on February 12, 2008 at 1:56 am

oriole :

So by all means, Richard Morgan, go on describing people as stupid when you think the adjective fits, but then don't start wailing and rending your garment when they do the same.

Thank you for giving me permission to do something that I don't do : I describe the stupidity of acts, not people.
And as for wailing and rending garments, I had actually been planning a knees-up one evening on this precise theme - you're invited. Rending garments is for consenting adults etc etc

507. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125387 by Richard Morgan on February 11, 2008 at 9:56 am

I'd much rather be "Richard" to you lot.

Moi aussi.

508. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125211 by Richard Morgan on February 11, 2008 at 4:23 am

Good suggestion but Baroness Greenfield already holds a chair at Oxford.

So what? I change chairs at least 15 times a day! What's so special about Oxford chairs?
Or am I missing the point?
(Hehe)

509. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125204 by Richard Morgan on February 11, 2008 at 4:12 am

Here are instructions for being a pigeon:

1. Walk around aimlessly for a while, pecking at cigarette butts and other inappropriate items.
2. Take fright at someone walking along the platform and fly off to a girder.
3. Have a shit.
4. Repeat.
-- (Notes from a Small Island,Bill Bryson 1995)

Not even Skinner had this depth of understanding of pigeons. LOL

Bill Bryson? Why not? I can handle science at this level.
Seriously though, I go with Steve Zara here - Baroness Susan Greenfield.

510. Why Darwin matters

Comment #125109 by Richard Morgan on February 11, 2008 at 1:37 am

Steve Zara, you tease!!!!
I'm going to answer for Wooter:


Muffled voice comes from behind the toilet door: "Yes, as a matter of fact, I do own a satellite navigation system. So what?"


Now, Steve, will you end the suspense, please?

511. Conservative Rabbis to Vote on Resolution Criticizing Pope's Revision of Prayer

Comment #125004 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 4:41 pm

Martin S :

Calling people stupid for calling people stupid doesn't quite sound sound - if you know what I mean.

I fully agree with you.
But I maintain that the kind of comment I referred to was an act of stupidity.

"... but it takes debates over religion for intelligent people to say stupid things."

512. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #125001 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 4:22 pm

Hey, you guys think you have problems with the Arch Bish?
Look at what's happening in my beloved France.


http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/sarkozy_and_god


I am weeping into my Armagnac as I type this...
Fortunately, Sarkozy's popularity is diminishing rapidly.
I think the secular state is safe in France.
But I'm looking at property in New Zealand just in case...

513. Sharia fiasco

Comment #124999 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 4:17 pm

Hey - you guys think you've got problems with the Arch-Bish?
Look at what's happening in my beloved France.

http://www.opendemocracy.net/article/sarkozy_and_god



I am weeping into my Armagnac as I type this...

514. Sharia fiasco

Comment #124897 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 11:58 am

Paine :

post-colonial guilt does not mean compromising on right and wrong.

Ah, if only things were as simple as that...

515. Sharia fiasco

Comment #124881 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 11:43 am

Paula!
You're back!
Hallelujah!
And just when I was getting used to the idea that resurrection is a myth!!!
Back to the drawing board.
(Very, very happy to see you again, incidentally.)
(Well, very happy, at least.)

516. Sharia fiasco

Comment #124873 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 11:37 am

Diacanu

That's what it is, empire guilt?

Not guilt, my fine transatlantic friend, (though I must admit it might look like that!) but just a way of pointing out to simplistic posters that certain problems could be more complex than they appear. Often the solutions are not as simple as some might think them to be.
As a teacher, I am well used to receiving complaints from angry parents about the "trouble-makers" in their children's classes. "Can't you just expel them, or make them stay at home or flog them in public?" they ask.
The answer is "No, we can't" and the reasons for refusing sharp, swift methods are usually too complicated for the angry parents.
I can understand them perfectly well, they have my sympathy, but....

517. Sharia fiasco

Comment #124861 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 11:26 am

Negasta :

Why can't the British (and the European people in general) just tell the Muslims to piss off and go back to Arabia if they want Sharia?!

Rule Britannia, Britannia rules the waves...
Land of hope and glory...
And did those feet in ancient times..
Oops, excuse me, just felt like a little sing-song.
Hope my choice of songs didn't make anybody feel too uncomfortable.
The sun never sets on the British Empire...well, perhaps it does now. I'm referring to the "good" old days.
Of course, Pat makes valid points in a direct and simple manner. The solutions, Negasta, are urgently needed, but they cannot be simple, I'm afraid.

518. Conservative Rabbis to Vote on Resolution Criticizing Pope's Revision of Prayer

Comment #124848 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 11:11 am

terradea :

There may be good reasons people believe in religion (e.g., because they do not possess the ability to engage in critical thinking), but there is no good reason for religion belief.

dhudson00! :

in speaking of "good reasons" to believe in religion, I'm pretty sure PZ Myers was speaking broadly.

I quoted PZ Myers from a lecture he gave entitled "There are no ghosts in your brain."
Please have the intelligence to listen to it before deciding for yourselves what he meant.

519. Conservative Rabbis to Vote on Resolution Criticizing Pope's Revision of Prayer

Comment #124806 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 9:58 am

ronfac :

So much time, effort and emotion concerning who says what, and how they say it, to an imaginary sky fairy. Is there no limit to the stupidity of these people?

This kind of comment is typical of the kind of stupidity and childishness we could well do without on this site.
Deeply held religious beliefs have nothing to do with "stupidity".
PZ Myers himself has said: "It's not idiotic to be religious... There are good reasons people believe in religion."
Calling religious people "stupid" will not incite them to look for better reasons to renounce their beliefs.

520. The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes

Comment #124799 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 9:43 am

scottishgeologist :

the "amputee argument" AFAIAC, this is the "killer" argument against faith healing. At a stroke, if this were to happen and to be independently verified, and REPEATED, it would kill atheism stone dead.

I fail to see the connection between the inexplicable appearance of an amputated limb and the existence of a God or gods.
I hope we have grown out of the argument from ignorance!!!

Wonder if anyone has ever had a miracle cure for impotence.... :-))))))

Change partners! ;-)

521. The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes

Comment #124650 by Richard Morgan on February 10, 2008 at 12:12 am

"I need to get better. I need the miracle."

I live in the South of France not too far from Lourdes.
I have often been there, because members of the family who come to visit expect to be taken to the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean and... Lourdes, all three are about ninety minutes from where I live.

"I need to get better. I need the miracle."

This cri du coeur is what Lourdes is all about, isn't it? Isn't this what religion is all about?
The existence of the thousands of tacky souvenir shops is no more surprising than the grotto itself - because all are aspects of the human condition : doing business in this life (selling plastic Virgins and striking desperate bargains with God) and getting guarantees for the next.

"I need to get better. I need the miracle."

Don't we all?

522. Richard Dawkins talks about The God Delusion

Comment #124322 by Richard Morgan on February 9, 2008 at 5:10 am

Steve Zara :

God isn't impossible. Just very, very, very, very, very, very unlikely.

I've always been a little unhappy about this kind of affirmation. Mostly because what is referred to as "God" is not clear.
What is clear to me is that there is no evidence to prove the existence of any of the Gods described in religious writings. These Gods are not just "very, very, very, very, very, very unlikely." They are impossible.

523. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #123909 by Richard Morgan on February 8, 2008 at 1:30 am

Steve Zara : I was was very touched to learn that your avatar is, in fact, a photo of your husband.
I have just mentioned this to my wife. Alas, she doesn't want to have her face associated with my opinions.
I guess I've gotta accept and respect that.

524. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123824 by Richard Morgan on February 7, 2008 at 5:13 pm

Flip.......FLOP!
OK, Communist, Keith, Diacanu, Steve Zara... you have convinced me.
I think my original reticence in condemning RW's remarks was due to the fact that I could not believe that was what he was really trying to say.
BTW - do any of you guys live in an American state which still applies the death penalty? If so, I hope you are vociferously, and continuously protesting against it...also.

Perhaps you should all read (or read again) the last chapters of Michel Onfray's "Atheist Manifesto". It's interesting to realise how much Christian notions are at the origin of many of our ideas (and laws) today. (And please don't bother reminding me that morality pre-dates Christianity bla bla ba..I know all about that, and that is not the point.)

EDIT - Poking fun at symbolic clothing and photos is the kind of childish mud-slinging that people engage in when they have no valid arguments. It says a lot more about the person posting than about RW.

525. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123632 by Richard Morgan on February 7, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Prime Numbers :

...treacherous and traitorous words.

This is worrying language. I've heard this kind of stuff in other contexts. You can imagine where...

526. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123625 by Richard Morgan on February 7, 2008 at 12:11 pm

Perhaps we should hold fire here until he tells us precisely which aspects of Sharia law he is referring to.
And has adequately answered the question : "Unavoidable? Otherwise.....what?"
Is this some sort of containment strategy?
You know, "let them fight it out amongst themselves" sort of approach.
RW is not stupid.
Even PZ Myers said, "It's not idiotic to be religious." (This in the context of an explanation of how the brain works.)
Scoobie :

Who's wearing the pearly dress and pointy hat?

This kind of silly remark does not strengthen your credibility.

527. Christopher Hitchens on Books & Ideas

Comment #123506 by Richard Morgan on February 7, 2008 at 9:20 am

Steve Lara :

However, if there is a consensus this such discussions are a waste of resources, I am happy to divert to other tactics.

No, no, please stay with it, makes me feel comfortable and "at home".
I'm a married man with teenage children, so I'm quite used to not understanding what's happening around me, people talking amongst themselves in a strange language, that kind of thing.
So, yeah, that's fine.
Just throw me a mircotubulus (with chorizo to go) from time to time and I'll be happy.

You would be surprised how often this sort of knowledge is useful

Not during the Six Nations Tournament, surely?

528. Christopher Hitchens on Books & Ideas

Comment #123427 by Richard Morgan on February 7, 2008 at 6:22 am

MPhil :

it has even been mathematically proved that quantum-effects in microtubuli cannot amount to any significant effect

Try explaining that to my mother-in-law!!!
Seriously, this is the kind of life-changing stuff that draws me back to RDnet day after day, night after night.
I'll never be able to look a microtubulus in the eye again.

529. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123422 by Richard Morgan on February 7, 2008 at 6:14 am

nanaj Please don't be naive - a polite manner does not exclude being violent.
The violence is in the message, not the manner in which it is delivered.
"Excuse me sir, awfully sorry to bother you, but I'm about to terminate your life with this firearm. Have a lovely last five seconds of life. We look forward to shooting you again soon."

530. Christopher Hitchens on Books & Ideas

Comment #123312 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 11:45 pm

Artcane Viper : Please, please, please try to post your comments without the hieroglyphics. I understand the trick is to start with a plain text version. But I'm not sure.
I'll read your piece when it's been (typographically) cleaned up.
Thank you.

531. Christopher Hitchens on Books & Ideas

Comment #123306 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 11:17 pm

LorienRyan :

Futhermore, I believe that the underlying attitude in the statement "believe what you want just don't try and make me believe it too" is admirable, don't you? Why is it not admirable?

As so many have said before me - it depends on the context.
No believer needs Hitchens' or your permission to believe what he wants. And saying "believe what you want just don't try and make me believe it too" is plain nonsense to an Evangelical Fundie.
Think about it.
An integral part of a Fundie's beliefs is that he should spread the "Good news". In other words, he has a moral and spiritual responsibility to try to make other people believe what he believes.
He "believes" this.
So what Hitchens is saying to an evangeligical is:
"Believe what you want (ie that you should try to make me believe the same things as you) just don't try to make me believe it too.
In fact the sentence that you quote from Hitchens that you find so admirable is little more than a feel-good audience-pleaser.
Coming from Hitchens, it "sounds" so reasonable. And at times, Hitchens needs to "sound" reasonable. It's part of his style.
But the case in point is one of his emptier aphorisms.
If you want to take this whole business a little further, think about this :"All forms of communication have one objective in common - to change something in the ideas, the attitude, the opinion or the behaviour of another person."
Don't react too glibly to this, please.
But react, please.

532. Blasphemy

Comment #123294 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 9:54 pm

Shrommer :

Muslims who turn to Christ become selfless, passionate people who aim to love and do good...

Dream on, Shrommer.

533. Christopher Hitchens on Books & Ideas

Comment #123292 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 9:49 pm

LorienRyan :

I really admire Hitchen's general position of "believe what you want just don't try and make me believe it too"

Why?
Is this not the attitude of any normal person?
What do you find particularly admirable here?

534. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122935 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 9:31 am

epeeist :

So take your fucking smarmy posts and the efficacy of prayer and stuff em where the sun don't shine.

You mean the part of his body that he tries to think with?

535. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122929 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 9:26 am

hes2@usa

Have you ever prayed to God about
anything before?

Good point.
I have a little confession to make here : I was so screwed up by religion, I prayed to God to make me an atheist.
Hallelujah!
Amen!

536. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122909 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 9:13 am

annabanana :

I will just remind me of how you scolded me so around Christmas-time...

Please do NOT edit this comment to correct this little error. Your Freudian slips are as delicious as your avatar, and your contributions a real joy to come across.


EDIT : Oh shit, that sounds so patronising, doesn't it. Sorry about that. But not much.

537. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122818 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 6:40 am

SRWB

Although I'm not sure I would have given an openly religious symbol - but that's me.

epeeist

did you need to send the bottle of water

Thank you so much for your comments.
No, I didn't in fact need to send water from Lourdes, and I could have avoided an openly religious symbol.
It was after all the expression of my caring that counted more than anything.


(Without forgetting, of course, that I am that same person who swore and hissed and blazed and cursed at the idea of RD singing Christmas carols. Just a sec while i dig out my old sack-cloth and ashes uniform.)

538. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122776 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 3:48 am

Steve Zara:

Hello, Anatalanta aptera!


(Just to show you guys that even if I can't be intelligent or handsome, at least I can be obedient.)

539. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122760 by Richard Morgan on February 6, 2008 at 1:58 am

epeeist :

what is needed is something that shows the positive side of what life without religion could be like.

Life without religion... but for whom?
And how?
And when?
On my visits to Brazil I have met some lovely people. Particularly the "maids" of the people I was staying with. Oops - with whom I was staying.
Since there is no longer any racial prejudice in Brazil, it was , of course, pure coincidence that none of the "maids" had white skin.
In one house where I stayed, there was a sort of little scullery behind the laundry room behind the kitchen, where the maids changed, ate and... prayed.
There was a little crucifix pinned to the wall and several pictures of the Virgin Mary.
One of the maids, Linda, was a particularly lovely person, very reserved, quick to help with a smile - totally endearing. And strong in her catholic faith.
A few months ago, I learned that her brother had been killed in a car accident.
I sent her some flowers (the first time she had received flowers in her life!)a short note of condolence...and a little bottle of (miracle) water from Lourdes.
Since she is illiterate, she got her son to write a reply to me, and she was clearly very touched by my thoughts which had given her quite a lot of moral support.
Her life has always been difficult, and will not change in the near future.
She will never fly a plane into a skyscraper, neither will she reject a homosexual.
In a way, one could say that her faith helps her to survive.
To survive with a smile!
Now everybody here knows that I am totally "atheist" (since we must use the word occasionally).
But I would never be able to say to Linda, "Take a bunch a flowers and accept that your brother has gone forever, there is no life after death, no Immaculate Conception, no Jesus to save you, so wipe your tears and get yourself a life."
Of course, I'm exaggerating the situation, but it gives me pause for thought.
Some of you here will disapprove of my hypocrisy in sending the little bottle of miracle water from Lourdes. And I will understand your disapproval.
I remain convinced that I did the appropriate thing. And I know it was appreciated as coming from my heart.
But the whole question of " the positive side of what life without religion could be like", while remaining an essential question, becomes a little trickier in its application.
My RD friends : your thoughts, please.

540. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122737 by Richard Morgan on February 5, 2008 at 10:53 pm

Steve Zara :

I am also fascinated by the history of human reasoning, and I would love to write a popular book on the subject.

This whole subject suddenly becomes even more exciting. Does this mean that one day I will get to write my book on animal reasoning or inhuman reasoning?
(If you've ever met my ex-mother-in-law you'd understand that I am well-placed to expound on the latter...)
More seriously, Steve, you're just going to have to accept the fact that we folks enjoy and benefit enormously from what you have to say. So say it in a book, for RonaldMacDonald's sake!!!
Also Diacanu, if you're going to nourish your life with angst, at least make a living out of it!
We will be able to savour your style, and the critics will say intelligent things about your books like : "It's boulder-liftin' good!"
Non?

541. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122641 by Richard Morgan on February 5, 2008 at 5:54 pm

Steve Zara :

I am about to start a blog, and I even have ideas for books.

Thank you Steve - I'm sure you've just given Diacanu at least two good reasons to want to wake up tomorrow.
Tomorrow i will celebrate Zara Day. before getting back to my unbroken series of Morgan Days.

542. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122638 by Richard Morgan on February 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm

Diacanu :

This is horrible.
I wish I could just not wake up tomorrow.
Not looking forward to the future.

I just heard a Fundie snigger, "Typical nihilistic, neurotic atheist."
There.
I just smacked him in the face and made him eat teeth.
Please continue to despair as much as you want, my dear Diacanu.

543. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122583 by Richard Morgan on February 5, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Bruce R. McConkie (Mormon big wheel):
"When the Brethren have spoken, the thinking has been done."
An indication of the intellectual originality we can expect to find in the Mormon church.
A Mormon President?
Interesting.

544. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122473 by Richard Morgan on February 5, 2008 at 10:04 am

hes2@usa

I appreciate people who think. And interact intellectually.

Well, I never thought I'd see the day, but there, I have to admit, we have something in common: I, too, am appreciative of people who possess talents that I don't.
Keeps us humble, huh?

545. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #122417 by Richard Morgan on February 5, 2008 at 8:45 am

The Reverend D'Arc:

The end has been near for 2,000 years.

You know, 2000 years is less than the blink of eye on geological time scales.
It took more than 2000 years to evolve the eye and get it blinking!
In France a man can be expected to live to the age of 77 and a woman, 84. That means that the end is less than a century away for the French population.
Strangely, nobody's panicking.
Which just goes to show that men have a better deal than women - they marry later and die earlier. That's called "putting saltation into yer punctuated equilibrium".
No salvation without saltation!

546. Atheists to celebrate at Darwin Day in Coconut Creek

Comment #121838 by Richard Morgan on February 4, 2008 at 8:21 am

My wife says I have a "Selfish Gene" day every day. Since I've put on weight, she complains that every Friday night she celebrates "Climbing Mount Improbable", whereas she's be more interested in an Extended Phenotype.
Women...

547. Atheists to celebrate at Darwin Day in Coconut Creek

Comment #121791 by Richard Morgan on February 4, 2008 at 7:09 am

Steve Zara :

"Look at how those Godless people worship Evolution".

Reminds me of a discussion I had with a Brazilian evangelical biologist a couple of years ago.
I kept trying to point out to him how huge geological time periods were.
He said, "In a way, you could say that for evolutionists, Time rules."
I replied, "In a way, yes."
Of course he came right back at me with, "For me, Jesus rules."
I didn't actually hit him...

548. There Are No Ghosts in Your Brain

Comment #121734 by Richard Morgan on February 4, 2008 at 3:51 am

LorienRyan :

Atheism might not be a categorized philosophy, like Zen buddhism. Not believing in the existence of God would be a tenet of a philosophy, wouldn't it?

OK - just try this (it's something that is often suggested here) "My philosophy in life includes not believing in the Loch Ness Monster or fairies at the bottom of my garden (and anything my mother-in-law tells me about my wife.)"
Doesn't work, does it?

549. There Are No Ghosts in Your Brain

Comment #121721 by Richard Morgan on February 4, 2008 at 3:22 am

Thank you, Steve Zara. I don't know if there is anyone else here whose opinion I value more highly than yours, and I was hoping you would react.
Is it perhaps a cultural phenomenon, as LorienRyan suggests (and as I suspected), or is it just a "nobody's-perfect-not-even-my-mother-in-law" thing?
I'll post this in PZ's Blog to see how he reacts.

550. There Are No Ghosts in Your Brain

Comment #121712 by Richard Morgan on February 4, 2008 at 2:57 am

A very nice lecture. PZ was very polite with those people who kept interrupting with the "Aren't-I-a-clever-boy?" type questions. More power to yer elbow PZ!
But...
At the end I was left with a feeling of unease which may be due to the fact that I am European (British, living in France.)
Here are some examples of the kind of remarks that bothered me:
What atheism has to do...
Personal responsibility is the message we have to get across...
How atheism addresses common social needs...
Our challenge is to develop a coherent rational world view...
That's why I'm saying the ultimate solution is a "godless philosophy that fulfils certain needs in society and that can displace that religious impulse."
How can not believing in gods be a philosophy? And who, exactly, are the we that PZ refers to? Oops - to whom PZ refers?
And why should Atheism have to do anything?
Did this angle shock anybody else here? Or do you think PZ was just trying to adapt his remarks to his audience -
Minnesota Atheists practices positive, inclusive, active, friendly neighbourhood atheism in order to:
Provide a community for atheists -
Educate the public about atheism -
Promote separation of state and church?
When I look at countries that are largely secular, and where the majority of the population claims to have no religious belief, I am not aware that this state of affairs came about my replacing one philosophy with another.
Is is not rather a question of education and being reasonable?
Or do Atheist groups have to explain to people, "Now that you know there are no gods, this is what you need to do to be happy, fulfilled and behave in a moral way?