Yes...and I agree with some of what you say Suibhne, but the root of the problem lies in the fact that "religion" has been used as a political card in many places, and so has not evolved as I think you and I would have liked it to do (I too am an atheist)

In Scotland and Ireland, one's religion is widely used to define one's political beliefs....I fear that is also starting to happen in the US.

Here on mudcat, the anti-religion lobby are using the archaic parts and contradictions of old style christianity to bolster a political ideology just as dogmatic and unreasoning.
The fascism of the "liberal" left.