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Indeed, I’ve heard it said that anti-Christianity is the last socially acceptable prejudice. I see that played out on a day to day basis.

Okay, let's stick to reality. In a country where more than 80% of the population considers themselves to be a part of the Christian religion and find support for their beliefs in the majority of the people surrounding them....Who do YOU think is going to react violently to differing ideas?

I'm not saying that there aren't people out there in America who are irrational and automatically hate every Christian....

But a few weeks ago when Rajan Zed gave a Hindu prayer in the Senate...who do you think rudely disrupted it by standing up in the middle of his speaking, and started ranting about Jesus?

The reality of it all is that in America, Christians can claim far fewer instances of prejudice than any other groups. As far as I'm concerned, no instance of prejudice is okay....but, you know what? Christians certainly send the message that it is---Unlike your assertion that it's the other way around. "Indeed, I’ve heard it said that anti-Christianity is the last socially acceptable prejudice." No, dear. No.

When Christians stop pushing for prayer in schools, for Christian materials in official buildings, for the "sanctity" of heterosexual marriage....and every other thing which clearly demonstrates a religious prejudice against those who just MIGHT have other ideas....then I'll believe your statement.

For one thing, (as far as Christianity is concerned) intolerance and lack of reason is NOT just an attribute of Christian fanatics. The sects identified as "radicals" may go about spreading their ideas in more overtly hateful or illegal ways, but their actions are always have a basis in common Christian beliefs. I mean, the typical Christian may not go out and parade offensive posters which say "God hates fags", like the Westboro church. No, instead they're asserting the "sanctity" of heterosexual marriage and voting against gay rights when it comes to the marriage issue, even though it logically poses no threat to anyone.

Instead of ensuring that every teen gets comprehensive sex education, they're instituting multi-million dollar abstinence-only programs that teach false information about birth control and reinforce outdated gender roles. Even though this approach is absolutely harmful, most believe that efforts to wipe out pre-marital sex are more important than healthy prevention measures of std's and pregnancy.

Instead of actually taking the time to understand scientific concepts, evolution is accepted less in the United States than in any other western country. This is largely due to the beliefs in Biblical creationism. As a result, ideas with religious agendas...such as intelligent design...are frequently put forth as being scientifically credible and suitable to be taught in schools.

All I'm saying is that it's the liberal Christians that are in the minority who might meet undue prejudice, but certainly *not* the majority. The majority of Christians ARE the intolerant ones with no respect to people outside of their belief system. They may not be killing themselves and others in the name of religion, but that's probably only because that belief which is evident in some Muslim sects, doesn't really appear in any Christian sect. However, don't think for a moment that they aren't practicing tactics which are just as devisive in order make sure that their beliefs are carried out socially and legally.

Yeah, senseless hatred will always take place among those who refuse to think, but I've got to say that to the community of Americans who base their standards around logic (instead of ancient, primitive ideals), the majority of Christians really are bringing this negativity upon themselves. To the people who do value reason, the irritation with the Christian religion is definitely *not* senseless or unfounded.

So essensuly while you see only the thousands who are narrow-minded bigots, I'm seeing the thousands who silently practice Christianity and do nothing to oppress or insult anyone of other faiths. Where you see only the small sects of Christianity such as the Westboro Baptist Church (I have yet to meet a single Christian who approved of them) I see the thousands of Christians who work in support of the gay/lesbian movement.

And as for "intelligent design," I don’t see what the problem is with teaching alternative theories of origin. While there is certainly fossil evidence to support evolution, there are also large gaps in the fossil evidence, places where thousands of years of mutation are completely absent from our fossil records. Furthermore, it has NEVER in the history of man been observed where a species has mutated so far from its parent species that it can no longer procreate with that species. Until that can be proven evolution is still just a theory, not a law, and certainly not a proven fact. I have continually watched anyone who opposes evolution as the only option get verbally, and in some cases physically, attacked by evolutionists. In terms of belief, evolution is as much a religion as any other, with just as many convoluted relics that it drags out to prove it's case, without ever really being able to.

Don’t get me wrong, evolution is a useful theory. But it is still just a theory. to treat it as fact without proving its truth beyond question is to elevate it to a religious position, at which point evolutionists become no better than the Christians they so forcefully oppose.

Actually I have heard of them. I hold a lot of respect for what little I know of them. Although the first place I ever heard of them was in a religious joke making fun of them and Jehovah’s witnesses.

Well, of course that's perfectly acceptable. In that evironment, children are actually learning that relgious beliefs are highly subjective. They would be able to come to the understanding that supernatural "belief" differs from observable "fact"- and then be free to choose or not choose a belief system with freedom of mind. Plus, I like that they would actually be learning about different religions- that would encourage tolerance of different ideas.

I certainly advocate that children be exposed to religion, just not told that a certain religious viewpoint is a fact of reality before they can even understand that religion so subjective. I think doing that is very damaging.

You get approval. whee

Here is a couple UU jokes I like:

Three children were talking about their religions.
"I'm a Catholic," said one, "and our symbol is the cross."
"I'm Jewish," said the second, "and our symbol is the Star of David."
The third child said, "I'm a Unitarian Universalist and our symbol is a candle in a cocktail glass!"
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This one makes fun of everyone:

HOW MANY (xxxxxx) DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB?

Anglicans: 8. One to call the electrician and 7 to say how much they liked the old one better.

Charismatics: Only one. Hands are already in the air.

Lutherans: Change ?!?!?!?!?!

Mennonites: At least 15. One to change the bulb and 3 or 4 committees to approve the change. Oh, and a casserole.

Mormons: 5. One man to change the bulb and 4 wives to tell him how to do it.

Pentecostals: 10. One to change the bulb and 9 to pray against the spirit of darkness.

Presbyterians: None. God has predestined when the lights will go on and off.

Roman Catholics: None. They use candles.

Unitarians: We choose not to make a statement either in favour of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey, you have found that light bulbs work for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb. Present it next month at our annual Light Bulb Sunday Service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, fluorescent, 3-way, long-life, and tinted, all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence.