Frans de Waal is a non-believer. He is an "apathist" by his own definition and declares he doesn't care about whether a god exists or not.

Ron, I think you would have to provide chapter and verse on your criticism. I see brickbats being thrown on both sides of an argument that has never been clarified for if it were, there wouldn't be so many brickbats being thrown around like you just did by your accusation about some on Mudcat.

"Fair play" is in the eye of the beholder. There is a reason why religion is being held under scrutiny today and it's because it hasn't historically provided fair play for everyone. This causes some to react emotionally and perhaps not with clear communication. But there are reasons for these reactions that need to be explored.

"Militant atheism" is a canard that is used as a brickbat to stifle the concerns of those who hold non-belief. It is an attempt to stifle and tell others to shut up. The purpose of any discussion is not to stifle those with whom we disagree but to bring out in the open the concerns of different points of view.