>>It is hardly a revelation that people of faith very commonly dedicate themselves to amassing great wealth and power.

In the interests of fairness, here is my point to which you are responding:

It is hardly a revelation that patrician atheists very commonly dedicate themselves to glittering careers and other material things. I thought it was interesting that such a one might suddenly change his mind as his life draws to its close.

When I read that paragraph, I do not see that the first sentence by itself contains the actual point. It would seem discourteous to pluck out that sentence in isolation so I can object. We can agree to disagree.

In any case, I've already made the point you raise. As I said, if such a person were to change their mind when they got old, I would understand that. (Few religions value mammon as high as morality).

>>It is also hardly a revelation that large numbers of people of faith and aetheist lead fulfilling, moral lives and want that to be as much a part of their legacy as any other accomplishment.

OK. Do they change their minds when they get old as well? You know, start wishing they'd pursued wealth instead? If not, I'm not sure why you feel a need to post that to me.