I'd agree with you and Febri, and you both know it.

However, given the context of the post ("Pray for Violent Fleas"), I think Hiero was completely correct in making this point.

"Pray for her"
"No I can't I'm an Atheist."



That would be the difference between, to use your Greek mythology analogy, "I hope she reaches Olympus - I don't, I'm an atheist", which is what d did; and a hypothetical (not THAT hypothetical, as others here expressed this wish in less mythological terms) "I hope the Gods punish her like she deserved - I don't, I'm an atheist".

While I see Hiero's Atheism as just a rather cheap pretext for his negative to pray for her (that's like saying "I eat pork because I am not a Jew/Muslim"), I think it is appropriate because it gives one possible reason, among many, why someone wouldn't.

At that, I do perceive d's post itself as more anti-religious, as it, to me, seems to make explicit fun of "prayer healings".

In any case, I am sure this is related to the fact that Violent Fleas claims to be very religious, even fundie. That too is as cheap as what many Atheists do in GC, btw.




And yes, you are for the most part right. I am just trying to say that I don't think Hiero's comment was ungranted here.