Guest AFitC, the Americans I know personally are rightly like that - good, sensible people. However I'm aware there are areas of the US where the "very noisy religious fringe" are seen as the role models, and everyone else feels ashamed they can't live up to the same high moral standards as their idols. Idols like Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker, et al. I know a few Brits like that too - I'm considering investing in a Flying Spaghetti Monster T-shirt for the next gathering they're likely to be at, since I can't hack much more religious music. Ho hum, such is life.

Graham.