> One of the things I definitely understand but don't miss is the defensiveness that comes out when someone says they are better off without religious belief.

> One of the things I definitely understand but don't miss is the defensiveness that comes out when someone says they are better off without religious belief. The "defensiveness" wasn't in response to an expression of personal experience as you claim. The pull out quote was characterizing a diverse group of people, including scientists, scholars, and former atheists, as somehow oblivious. I think patronizing hand-waving about defensiveness is unfair.