Like Willie-O, I am a committed atheist, with perhaps one difference - I'm not particularly offended by anyone's voicing his/her belief system unless that person's behavior belies his/her words. This said, not having any knowledge of Praise which would seem to contradict the words with which she started this, I must take her statement on face value.

On the other hand, I've been disturbed lately by the number of posts to various threads which attack individuals for their positions. I believe these sorts of comments have no place on a public forum, but should be sent as a personal message to the individual involved. Granted, if the post which offends is done by a nonmember, a personal message is impossible, but such is not the case for this thread or for a number of others in which I've noted personal attacks made publicly.

Come on, folks, this is a community and, as in any other community, some common-sense rules of behavior are necessary. What possible reason can there be for attacking an individual publicly other than implicitly declaring one's own self-righteousness? Let's think before we post: "Is this something that needs to be said to the community as a whole, or is it a private matter that should be dealt with in a personal message?" If so, act accordingly.