[Skybird]

You are blinded by your anger. I have not bashed religion in general here, until here I namely addressed fanatism, zealots, and fundamentalism instead. I indicated that religions shall not have more freedoms than non-religious attitudes, and should not enjoy their self-claimed freedoms if they come at the cost of freedoms of people not sharing these world views. It surprises me again and again, how easily religious people will to discriminate others - and not seeing that they do - but then, it surprises me not at all, and that is why I am so hostile to religions whenever they raise their head. But relativize their freedom to the same levels others have, and they immediately accuse you of being intolerant and attacking religion, not seeing the double standards they operate by.

And you are surprised when raising opposition? Maybe you just claim and demand too much for yourself...?

Your radio is then not too loud when you do not demand your tune finding the state's support in being mandatory played or being played in schools and at courts, the volume set to a level that the people in the neighbouring flat can live their lives not needing to listen to it whenever you turn it on, and not needing to come to you and ask you to reduce the volume. You also can paint your flat in a colour that I find distasteful - as long as I am not getting asked to paint mine the same way.

You indeed repeatedly display an attitude that takes it for granted that you have the right to put your freedoms and rights over the rights and freedoms of those not agreeing with your belief. And that is why you raise the resistance from people like me.

Your freedom ends where you demand your freedom executed at the cost of others' freedom. And you are expected to make sure all by yourself that you do not push that far that others need to be bothered. You have the same freedoms and rights - and not more. But the truth is that atheists are discriminated in your country. Are excluded from holding public office in certain states (by states' constitutions) although this violates opposite rules be federal law and court sentences. Plus in many schools - or all? - they are confronted with religious references without them being able to avoid them.

The pledge of allegiance originally was without reference to "under God". Religious campaigning tricked the state into introducing this, a Catholic order. The constitutional legality can be questioned. The same is true for that certain text added to your bank notes.

The stronger you push,m the more force returns. Bother others, they will bother you in return. Reduce their freedom, and see them questioning yours.

Leave them as they are, and they well leave you what you are.

You just do not understand this, because to religion, freedom means not unconditional freedom, but freedom for itself, freedom like said religion understands it - with the others expected to play by its rules, no matter their own attitudes. But the US is not an explicitly Christian or religious state, and it never was founded as that. Not even the inetion was there to acchieve that. The US was funded as an country with explicit freedom for all - not accepting priviliged freedoms for any religions.

Your view may be religious. But it is not secular. And to me, secularism is of more importance than religions' claim for special benefits given to them. Where you put religion, no matter which one, over freedom, you are every free man's enemy. And free people like me will set up a fight. Every time.

That's why I am unforgiving about Islam. Totalitarianism in general. And the churches. Jewish orthodox. And Christian zealots as well.

Your belief is your private thing, an intimate relation between you and the object your belief is about. Other should need to be concerned as much by it as by the color of your underwear. Keep it where it belongs, that is: to thyself, and we all are fine. Bother or annoy others with expecting them to witness it time and again when you try to spread it's influence, or missionize, or try to anchor it in legislation and public education, or in global politics, and don't be surprised about being greeted by hostility. It does not matter whether you are Jewish or Christian or Muhammeddan, I don't care. The message is the same for all three of you.