One telling fact from the criminology field: Atheists were almost absent from our prison population as of the late 1990s, comprising less than half of 1% of those behind bars, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics. This echoes what the criminology field has documented for more than a century — the…

I don't think you're picking a nit. I think that comment gives "higher education" too much credit. Plenty of people with graduate degrees practice religion to one degree or another. Our education systems seems to be closing, rather than opening, minds these days. I think it has much more to do with being critical…

I suspect that this might get some serious eye rolls around here (and I fully acknowledge the reasons why), but I'm Catholic. I just wasn't raised by crazy people and found some kickass faith communities in college and afterward.

I do think that anti-intellectualism in faith communities is definitely an issue (no one's faith needs to be threatened by the geological age of the earth), but I also come from a church that's 100% down with evolution and the big bang. But again, that's a church with a longstanding tradition of education and…

I was raised in an atheist household (I'm 25 now), and I'm always surprised at how uncommon it is. I know lots of atheists, but all of them came to their atheism as teenagers or adults. I don't know anyone else with atheist parents.

"Overall, not believing in God seems to make people and their offspring more tolerant. Less racist. Less sexist. Enviro-friendly."

yeah, without knowing her relatives' sense of humor I think it's pretty rude to declare her a bitch for a simple gag. My dad's side of the family would be offended; my mom's would find this hilarious.

She'll be fine. Many people who hate others do just fine faking smiles and small talk for money. It's when they have to do it free that they're aggravated. A lot of people in public facing jobs are "on" at work, & clients aren't seeing their real personality.

Thank you. Just bc people share a space doesn't mean they have to constantly talk. You're already related to each other. It's not a damn job interview, and quiet doesn't mean that anything is wrong.

I once told someone that I was planning on adopting an actual child, not a reborn doll, so it was indeed gonna be "real".

I am perfectly content sitting in utter silence as opposed to attempting to carry on awkward, plastic 'small talk.' Silence is only awkward if you perceive it to be, personally, I think silence is golden.

I could not agree with this girl more. If you can't think of something creative to ask me, don't talk to me. Why is it the family members I enjoy talking to can figure out something more interesting to discuss? The topics are out there, but the family members that go back to these questions are the ones that don't…

You're my hero.

I remember when I was in my first marriage (yeah, there have been a couple), my then-mother-in-law was crazy about the idea of being a grandmother. Since we spent many holidays with my wife's family, we were bombarded with 'when are you having kids?' One Christmas, I'd finally had enough of politely replying 'we're…

People are annoying.

I am afraid this may be a rhetorical question but, do you understand satire?

You don't her family situation. She may have relatives from hell that nitpick her to death over every little thing. Glad YOUR family is so fucking perfect.

Skip College! Become a comedienne. Also, I would like to see this in versions of 25 year old (college = career), 30 year old (marriage = biological clock) and 40 year old (spinster = cat lady) single women attending family functions/holidays.

My husband and I should make one which includes:

This is the best thing ever. I am taking notes, and will hand mine out at my next family reunion.