For one reason or another, what most people fail to acknowledge is, that religions are a BUSINESS, and just like any other profit motivated business, they are out to SELL a product. In the case of Christianity, the 'product' is Jehovah and his life governing book of laws (the Bible)

I am well beyond the notion that religion is harmless, I realize that religion has set the progression of mankind back thousands of years and is responsible for the MAJORITY of pain and suffering in the world thru out the course of history, but the true evil of religion has been so disguised with family gatherings, acts of kindness, and 'words of wisdom', that it is all but impossible to see. How can we propose to separate the good from the evil without seeming negative at times? To only address the 'good' is already the Theists view of religion and any time you address evil you run the risk of sounding negative, because EVIL IS NEGATIVE.......

But getting back to common sense.....

Beautiful churches and mosques don't build and maintain themselves, and although religions are equivalent to tax free investment corporations, they still compete with all other religions for a share of the market for their base investment capital. Now I don't know about other religions, but if you examine the first 4 of the Christian's 10 commandments, it's clear to see that their first order of business, is to keep THEIR business in order. 
        

Thou shalt have no other gods
No graven images or likenesses
Not take the LORD's name in vain
Remember the sabbath day

Seriously? These are the 4 most important things to remember? Now I'm not one to tippy toe around the 800 pound gorilla in the room and I have seen with my own eyes that most people, especially these days, would rather do something that's popular, than something that's right, or historically correct. This makes 'remembering the Sabbath day' more of a social event, than a learning experience and I think more of the minions go to church to visit with their friends and participate in the church's organized activities, than they do to dwell on the inconsistencies found in the Bible. The Atheist may think he's still welcomed in these places after confessing his atheism, but more than likely, the religious administrator only allows him to be there because he knows an open act of bigotry wouldn't be good for business, in fact, the Atheist's cause would be greatly accelerated if the Atheist were to be thrown out on his ear.

I'm not saying that all Atheists enjoy or miss the topics and activities offered by organized religion, I'm just saying that the professed lack in the belief of God should not stop him (or her) from taking part in the harmless activities they may enjoy. But sadly, no tithes or donations, (their base investment capital) or the sale of their favorite deity, (their product) means no beautiful buildings or harmless activities TO enjoy...... simple as that.
       

"We" may believe that one is more likely to achieve happiness, if his or her decisions are based on beliefs closer to 'our' reality, but every being in the Universe has a totally unique version of 'reality', and the fact that a fellow Atheist would ask the question "why are you Atheists so negative?" clearly demonstrates this point. Essentially what the Atheist is saying is, "we believe people would be happier if they were better informed and believed what 'we' believe". Now, while the Atheists version of reality may be closer to MY own personal version of reality, it still doesn't address the fact that 'reality' is a relative term (relative to the believer), and the notion that the Atheist's opinion is any better than the Theist's opinion, rubs many people the wrong way and is often times taken as negative.

I believe that the only real alternative to preaching against religion, where the Atheist will ALWAYS run the risk of sounding negative, is to preach that WHATEVER IT TAKES to make a person become a better informed, kinder, and more caring, HUMAN BEING, is the only thing that really matters, and I believe if the Atheist would include this disclaimer and present his well thought out position on religion as a 'humble opinion', the possibility of sounding negative would be far less likely, and fewer people should take offense to it. (including other Atheists)

- John~