My wife and I are both atheists. But she's allergic to most cats. And to some dogs. So we have 2 birds--Gracie, an African grey parrot, and Casper, a Goffin's cockatoo. They're very entertaining, highly intelligent, and they both talk (the grey vocalizes more clearly than the cockatoo. Which is typical of their species.) But they're high-maintenance pets, and definitely not for everyone. Also, parrots are long-lived. Gracie is 31. If she stays healthy, she could live another 10 years or so. Casper is only 8. He could easily outlive us. So, as responsible parrot owners, we've made arrangements for their care if we're gone. Just like parents would do for young children.