CarolC
You're right. I don't disagree. I will say however that there are some general ways in which the offence is taken----1. It is often caused by the fundamentalist's manner. 2. It is because another's faith in what they say they believe is weak and they feel threatened by the presence of other beliefs (one reason why cults often tend to isolate----their system tends to break down in the presence of more "reasonable" beliefs). People whose faith is tenuous don't really want to participate in the arena of ideas (where they'd have to "prove" their belief system)---they want to be left alone. 3. Certain belief systems may be truly "dangerous" to a society.

Having said all that though, I will also say that I think that "fundamentalist" Christianity is acting so goofy these days for much the same reason--it has become severly weakened by (at least) two major heresies, Gnosticism and Legalism. The heresies have made Christians feel a stronger need to convert everyone out of a sense that their weak faith will be proven as it is strong enough to convert others (misery loves company?).

I'll give it a rest----I'm not writing clearly