What's so bad about worrying over "occasional" wrong convictions, Bill? Sounds like you'd be a better state governor than some others (the republican governor of Illinois being an obvious and honorable exception of course).

irishajo, if I undertand you right, you are definitely not among those I was intending to splash with my broad brush. I just think that where fundamentalism takes people to Hill-type extremes we need to be clear that their first responsibilities are to those they share the planet with, rather than any particular god/code they might have got into their heads.

I hold Hill's supporters every bit as guilty as he is (was? not sure if his hour is come), but equally I believe that in many cases such people are victims of brainwashing, where but for the grace of God.....

If you have been anywhere near there, irishajo, then I wish you the very best in reclaiming your life. Your experience tends to support my point that if he had lived, Hill might have got his head sorted out and "repented," as the believers would say. Although I am a believer, I don't like seeing people being denied that chance, any more than I like seeing people being murdered. (And people will be murdered with or without a death penalty, Clinton.)