[gojomo]

While generally I agree with you, in this particular thread people are sharing personal, impressionistic origin stories.

He's providing colorful detail, a small part of a larger story, and offering a bit of emotional support for the earlier commenter's attitude. (He's not proselytizing, or inviting anti-/pro-religion as a main topic, though there's always a risk someone else will take it that way.)

I would suggest that in such a thread, there should be more space for heartfelt honesty, rather than self-censorship-for-the-sake-of-decorum-and-equanimity. There's a time and place for all styles and topics of communication... and it can shift in just a single screen or replying under a different parent comment.

[mindcrime]

Exactly. I'm not here to start a big atheism / christian debate, but my life experiences have left me with a very negative view of the outcomes associated with religious belief and some of the stereotypical mindsets you find among religious adherents, vis-a-vis education, achievement, etc.

I don't hate Christians, and - being from the "Bible Belt" - many of my family and friends are Christians. But I still consider it (and most - if not all - other religions) to be a scourge on society.