"What matters is forcing your beliefs on other people".

Could you not be suggesting we do the same thing, but from another perspective?

"Religious people are fond of reminding atheists that we can't prove there's no God (even though we don't need reminding), forgetting that they can't prove that there is one"

Maybe so, but why join in? What is the point of jumping into that practice and belittling the beliefs of others by regurgitating ideas and concepts on why their beliefs are wrong? Why not just realize it is pointless, agree to disagree by saying we likely both don't really know for sure and move on to a more productive discourse?

Why not focus on discussing alternatives to better public "ethics, education, democracy and good government, tolerance, and justice—and how all in society, not just those who believe in religion, can help these flourish?

"Yet they act with cast-iron certainty in the passing-on of their highly questionable dogma to their children. I can respect any individual for holding any beliefs they like but I can't respect anyone who passes it on, or who defends this abominable practice, to impressionable people who are strongly discouraged from questioning".

I suspect you will ever have much say on what people pass on to their children in their own household.... as religious folks have little say in your household. In open society, as in public schools, that is a different matter.

But, I see many more harmful ideas and practices passed on to children by parents than a belief in a God... that they will have an opportunity to challenge to decide later in life. I suspect many choose a balance, accepting all concepts of science, and with "some" belief in a God (what may seem to be an in conflict, but likely is not). There will be those on the extreme edges, but not likely most.

I was thought as a child to believe in a God. I do not see it as a bad thing, nor do I see it as limiting my mental reasoning.

I also believe in all the science stuff, including evolution, which I learned in school.

I have shook off the shackles of all organized human religions...and both respect and disrespect their good and bad social and historic records.

I also learned tolerance of other people's views and beliefs, especially where they do more good than harm.

Recently, I saw Richard Dawkins on the Bill Maher show, condemning the bad effects of religion on children. The worst example he seemed to come up with is in British Islamic schools children are taught that salt and fresh water do not mix, because it is stated in the Koran. Well if that is a terrible thing, I fail to see any real negative result as they go on with their lives.

In a University philosophy of science course, I recall reading that a case can be made that there is no such thing as movement from point A to point B. You know, this was interesting. But, I don't feel that, theory right or wrong, this revelation changed the lives of any student in the class, we all moved on and thrived.
:)