On atheism being more accepted, yes we are off in the right direction. But its ridiculous how covert the discrimination is and how overt forms still exist. A Mormon can be elected president quicker than an atheist can, regardless of their qualifications for that position. People are estranged from their family members and childhood friends because of it. There are a lot of irreligious people out there, people who have little tolerance for the bigotry espoused by religious fanatics and people who believe in God but don't wish to confine it in an anthropomorphized sapient being who "tallies the fall of every sparrow." Religious fanatics--they are the ones in the true minority. They are the ones people rush to accommodate, to protect their right to bitch, to preserve their already fragile moral fabric. I have a mother who is deeply religious and religious or not the psychological fragility of people who can't think for themselves but wish to control others, remains the same in every instance. It is akin to the Manichean (belief in pure good and evil) world view that inspired Sartre himself to criticize it, when it was representative in the anti-Semite. These are people who view things in black and white, who have absolutely no tolerance for ambiguity, doubt or subsequent research. They are unreasonable and cannot be convinced otherwise. If there is anything that I have disagreed with before, but readily see the consequences of now is the claim that religious belief is like mental illness.