Time for a rant!

Out of respect for the "90% mindless" policy, I wasn't going to say anything about this. However, I have been stewing over this for a few days now and can't contain it anymore. Since I don't expect anybody here to disagree with me, I think it's ok.
Rabbi Avi Shafran has some pretty ridiculous things to say about atheism.

Atheism, in the end, is a belief system in its own right, one in which there can be no claim that a thieving, philandering, serial murdering cannibal is any less commendable a member of the species than a selfless, hard-working philanthropist. In fact, from an evolutionist perspective, the former may well have the advantage.

What a load of crap! I'm so tired of hearing religious nutjobs say moral values are meaningless without god. As social animals, humans have had a long time to figure out guidelines that make society function smoothly. They vary slightly from culture to culture but the basics (murder, theft, etc.) are fairly universal. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that a group gets along better if they don't kill each other willy nilly. And let us not forget empathy. I prefer that my neighbors not rape my dog, therefore, I extend the same courtesy to them. Funny how that works!
In fact, I would go so far as to say (in terms of justifying behavior), atheism is morally superior. Is it not better to do right out of compassion rather than selfish reasons (like trying to get into heaven or stay out of hell). Say, for instance, a man helps an old lady to cross the street. Would you respect him more if he did it because a) he wanted to help or b) he thought the big guy in the sky was watching?
If atheists lack true moral compasses as he implies, perhaps he would like to explain why only .2% of the U.S. prison population are atheists. That alone seems to be a pretty good refutation of his assertions by itself considering atheists make up about 15% of the general population!
He also made an egregious factual error in saying "Adolph Hitler was no believer in God.". Hitler was very much a Catholic as anybody who did any research would know. More importantly, the minions who carried out his horrific orders were predominantly Catholic/Christians also. Of course there are bad apples in every group but the atrocities of Pol Pot and Stalin don't hold a candle to those done in god's name throughout history. Have we forgotten the Crusades? The Inquisition? Witch trials? Ethnic cleansing in Sudan, Croatia, Iraq, Turkey?
Ok, I've said enough. As a proud member of the one of last groups who it is socially acceptable and legal to discriminate against, I feel a responsibility to speak out against slanderous disinformation like this. The saddest thing is there are hoards of people reading Shafran's words and nodding their heads in agreement. Pity the poor fools who have not the intellect to see through the lies. Pity the poor atheist who suffers at the hands of the mislead.