Joe, I would agree with you. There are many religious folks who are good people and have done important things for society. My view is that behavior is more important than professed ideology.

Dawkins has been unfairly attacked by people who haven't taken the time to absorb
what he has to say.

I think that those who lump any thought religious or otherwise into a category without examining it is not only ignorant but reprehensible. Painting everyone with the same brush is a manifestation of bigotry. As a FreeThinker, I have met fellow "atheists" (a word which is loaded) to find that there are issues with which we don't agree. Some of
these issues are related to politics and warfare. I don't expect every religious person to agree in lockstep on issues and the same is true for fellow FreeThinkers.

I have great admiration for some religious people, MLK, Ghandi, Dorothy Day, the AFSC, the Berrigans, Chris Hedges and others. I can be in agreement with many religious people on specific issues, for example, some of the people in OWS for example, with whom I share their convictions.

I think, Joe, if we really can listen to each other with an open mind, we can solve
problems together in society. Attacks against anyone in particular is a dead end street.
I don't think supplanting one form of fanaticism with another solves anything.

Frank



"Hi, Frank. I agree that the word "tolerant" is inadequate. I don't know if I'd say that I'd agree with Dawkins, but I am open to his perspective and I do think he has much to say that is very worthy of consideration. The people I have trouble with, are those who lump all religious thought together and reject it all without consideration.
-Joe-"