I made the point in an earlier post that some atheists seem to have a very rigid view of what constitutes religious belief. Basing my judgement on Steve Shaw's posts over a considerable time to various threads I believe him to be guilty of this. I recall one occasion when I responded on another thread, I believe courteously, to an equally courteous query about my beliefs from another poster, Steve Shaw reacted with a sneering post telling me to 'get up of my knees'.

Not every believer is an anti-logic, self-deluding fundamentalist. I suspect (but I cannot know) that I derive at least as much delight from science, from the natural world and from humanity's ingenuity as he does. My enjoyment of art in all it's forms is not tempered by the artist's beliefs or lack of belief. I am fortunate in having a wide circle of friends - I am unable to say in every case what beliefs they may hold because I do not find it necessary to enquire. Some I know are atheists, but so what? I am open about my beliefs but do not feel the need to force them on anyone else.

Steve, I feel that you are very keen to pontificate and you appear to have a visceral hatred of religious faith; sometimes you give the impression that you extend that hatred to individuals who hold such beliefs. My beliefs, and the beliefs of many others, are one facet of our personalities. Just as your beliefs contribute to your personality.
They do not of themselves make us any better or worse. How we behave determines that.