At the risk of seeming flippant in this already far too light-hearted thread, I wish to say that, in my opinion, very few hate crimes are directed at people because of their religion as such. It's a matter of attacking "the other" just like it always was with "religious wars" in the past. The Crusaders were not fighting for their better God, were they? That was a ruse to justify their quest for power, wealth and expansion of empire. A conspicuous Cross on your battledress to distinguish you from the heathen you were conquering looked good back home too. If there were really a God he'd be bloody angry at anyone using his name to justify hate crimes.

And as for us being 500 years more "advanced," try telling that to the women being hassled by Christian hypocrites outside abortion clinics.

Not trying to egg anyone on, you understand....