it's a mystery why so many Mudcatters are so violently opposed to religion--and Christianity in particular.

I can't speak for anyone else but I suspect the context in which one has experienced life's lesson's might have wrought some influence. Those of us who grew up in North America, the British Isles or Oz (thus covering a significant proportion of 'catters) have done so with a lot of argument and, occasionally, a little rational discussion of religion and/or atheism going on in the background and most of it was probably couched in terms relevant to judaeo-christian notions of culture, ethics, morals etc.

It would be rather difficult to not have a few entrenched opinions by the time one became fully adult and many of these would be firmly attached to emotionally charged experiences. It's rather rare that a purely rational argument can effect a change to an emotionally charged belief, irrespective of whether religion is involved.

But most of us try to rub along with the diversity around us; it tends to enrich our experience.

Cheers, Rowan