>>So, if I got this straight, Moyers words carry gravitas with some because he is a religious man ....... even though you don't care for religion?<<

Exactly. He is an example that religious and non-religious people alike can find common ground. I can't write what Moyers writes and be called anything but an atheist not to be taken seriously. When an ordained minister writes it, however, you have to take it seriously. To write him off is identical to not being able to answer his points which is identical to admitting he is right. And he is right.

>>Or is it that he condemns religion along with you and so when he says he's still "religious" you see that he's winking as he does so?<<

Nowhere does Moyers condemn religion. He condemns the way this adminstration and this GOP-controlled congress have abused religion to justify their policies. Look at how we are being held back as a nation by religious stupidity in the political area: killing stem-cell research, promoting pro-life agendas, anti-woman legislation, the dismissal of science simply by accusing it of being "godless" and demanding creationism be taught in public schools as though it were an acceptable replacement for science, etc.

Bush believes and has outright stated that he is involving the U.S. in the affairs of the Mideast because god wants him to. The instability of that region frightens normal people but delights abnormal people as fundie Christians because they see it as the fulfillment of Christian destiny and heralding the 2nd coming. Pile on top of that devastating hurricanes, tsunamis, influenzas, melting ice caps and earthquakes--all proof that the end-times are near and therefore something to be desired. Congress and Bush have no qualms about tapping into this lunatic fringe for money and votes. But it cannot be simply to get into office, they have to agree with the religious right on these issues--it could hardly be otherwise.

But under no circumstances does this mean that anyone who attacks this behavior of the GOP is attacking religion. It does mean, however, that I can find communication with Christians who understand the dangers of what our current govt is doing. It may not scare you but it scares the flying fuck out of me and I think the public--although mostly fundies at heart--is finding itself forced to put its money where its mouth is and finding its own heart failing it for fear and these people WILL vote out the GOP in November. They would love nothing more than to rub Bush's bullshit in the faces of people like me but are now realizing they are ignoring Bush at their own peril also. And that is scaring them into my camp whether they want to be there or not;) But don't blame me. I didn't force them.

>>Or when he condemns the religious, he's only condemning everyone who doesn't believe in it as he does.........and you love him because of his tolerance and inclusiveness?<<

I have no idea how tolerant or inclusive he is and I don't care. I respect and agree with his views that Bush and the GOP-controlled Congress are dangerously delusional and inexcusably ignorant of the consequences of their own amazingly irresponsible actions. And to justify it all with religion is totally unacceptable and it matters not if you are an atheist or an intelligent Christian.

>>And though he doesn't share the religios beliefs as others do, still, he is accepted as the last word on what they claim to believe?<<

Quite the contrary, he is accepted as a voice of reason. That he is an ordained minister only proves that not every Christian is a goddamned nutcase who should be shut away for their own good as well as the good of society. He represents to me that there is hope for the Christian religion (although I doubt it personally).