^{How many times have you been at an occasion where a meal is placed in front of you, but before you can start eating, someone decides to say grace. What happens? What do the non-religious people and agnostics do? Most of them bow their heads and close their eyes. Why?! Because they defer to religion!}

^{S.M.A.R.T. people do not close their eyes or bow their heads when someone says grace. They don’t start to eat or talk either, that might embarrass the host, but S.M.A.R.T. people never defer to religion. They cannot stop religious people indulging in their fantasy of a heavenly super power who somehow involves himself in the preparation of a meal, but they will not participate in the fantasy. However, they will make sure that at some time during the meal, they thank those who are truly responsible; those who prepared and/or paid for the meal.}

^{Many non religious people defer to religion in an oblique way. They will say, “I’m not religious… but I respect those who are.” Maybe what they really mean is, “I know religion is a bunch of bullshit and the world would be a much better place without it, but I like the quiet life. I don’t want to get involved.” Unfortunately this passive stance ensures that the initiative remains with the zealots and fanatics who want religion kept alive.}

^{Another example of deference to religion comes in society’s attitude towards marriage. How many times do we hear that one in two marriages, “fail”? Religions have conditioned us to believe that under almost all circumstances a married couple must stay together till death do them part - but why? As people age, they grow, they change. If your partner changes in the same way as you, that’s great. But that compatibility isn’t solely the result of a willingness and ability to compromise, it’s also just plain luck. Sometimes, even with the best will in the world, a couple will grow apart to the point where they are both just miserable living together. In that case, surely, they “fail” if they stay together! S.M.A.R.T. people know that life is too precious and too short to stay in any relationship that makes them unhappy. Remember, no religion is interested in your happiness. All of them just want to keep you in line, following their rules, and adding to their numbers!}