Lexi,

I couldn’t agree more that we need to live and let live. That’s my ethos too. But at the same time, we need to remember: everything in moderation.

I think you “get it” more than you realise. You confirm this in the last sentence of your post. Only you fail to realise that even those who hold the more benign beliefs, still act as a cover for the extremists. If you belonged to a social club that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, violence, and sheer ignorance as religion is, you'd resign in protest; to do otherwise is to be an enabler for the extremists who draw their legitimacy from the billions of their fellow travellers.

But the bottom line here is that our beliefs inform our actions. That’s why it matters. We have millions - possibly billions - of people around the world (some in positions of power) who think that it’s alright to rape the Earth in any way they see fit because they think the world will come to an end soon - and possibly in our lifetime.

And that’s just one of many, many examples. You could list hundreds more. Just look at the US - it’s a basket case full of examples.

Religious belief is dangerous because it allows people who don’t have all the answers to think that they do. And while it would be unethical to attempt to (and just plain delusional to think that we can) stop people believing what they want, we can at least attempt to make them too embarrassed to voice dangerous views if they are clearly nonsense.

The only path religion leads anyone is UP THE GARDEN PATH. Its all bunk, made up fairy tales, put in place to subjugate the mass of people. keep those in power, in power. What ever good comes from Religion is purely accidental.

Oh, I forgot to mention those who would welcome the "end times" and purposefully try to bring it on.

And to be fair, I really should mention the basket case that is the Middle East when pointing out why out beliefs matter - and how they inform our actions.

Sorry, I had just finished reading an article on the lunatic governing Texas and running for president, Rick Perry, and had America on the brain.

AJ When has being a lunatic disqualified anyone from running (and winning) for president of the United States? They all have one thing in common. They all believe that God is on their side and they can do no wrong.

"Why can't we let people believe whatever they want to believe as long as it doesn't hurt anyone."

We can, Lexi, but they can't… For one of the most recent examples just check out the fight in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity between the Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics.

It appears there is something innate about a religious attitude that the more publicly vehement an individual's "belief" is the more externally violent is that person's denigration and treatment of others whose "faith" is wrong.

Then mix in mob psychology and the rest is not just history… but what we are living with in most places in the world today.

The psychopathy of religious fervour is really interesting – or at least it is up to the point where others are not trying to control or kill you, especially when they think it is for your own "good".

As a concept for social behaviour, I'm not 'souled' on the idea!

just wondering to what new reformation
this deconstuction leads us to

i agree with lexies post
just wanted to addin..the jesus clause
love god by trying to love nerighbour
not his wife..or asss...

but ass leads [in the end]..to class
or to assinine..[to silly for words]
[ignore thy brothers nakedness]

havnt read ammonium nitrates yet
so really nuthing to say as yet..[as use-u-all]

the fight...at the christs birth place...
[with mops and brooms and buckets...and water]
could be seen as a baptism of water..that leads to the union of the fires..[passions]...

but what use imagining
that which may never cum..
christs house is just as divided
as his [our]..fathers other houses

[we all got them skelitans..of them strange uncles
wierd aunties..in all our closet-ings]..regardless of creed

one speck of greed
seeds the whole bunch
tars them all with the same thrush

mud sticks..yet is seldom actually sticky
but enough sticks..for someone to judge wrongly

[think of it like mum..critisising her child...

but you join her
and see where that gets ya