I must agree wholeheartedly with what Joe says just above. And I, too, find that those who say things like "religion makes me sick" or want to blame all the world's problems on religion to be offensive in their willingness, sometimes eagerness, to be offensive. That viewpoint is extremely narrow-minded, and springs from emotional reactions rather than any (as they always claim) really well thought out rational base.

The church I frequently attend (Seattle's Central Lutheran Church) has been fortunate in the pastors it has had over the decades. I have never met one who was of an authoritative nature. In fact, our current pastor (who is resigning to leave with her new husband for a post back East—and I sincerely hope we can get a new one who is as good) once held up a copy of the Bible and said firmly, "This is not the Boy Scout Manual. It is not full of answers. It is full of questions!"

Those who try to base their power and authority on religion more than amply demonstrate that they really haven't a clue as to what real religious belief is all about.

And that especially includes our better known "electric" preachers like Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, et al.

I have talked to Muslims who despair over the way the media talks only about the wild-eyed fanatics of their religion, giving a grossly distorted idea of what the belief is all about. And I can most certainly empathize with that despair.

Don Firth