Joe - I think your words are very reasonable.

I don't get involved in debates about religion here because, having read through many Mudcat threads in which religion is discussed, it seems that there never has been, and never will be, any change of opinion on either of the pro- or anti- religion factions. No chance of any constructive debate or give and take, as far as I can see. So it nearly always descends into insult, anger and mud-slinging.

There used to be a tradition in the British Army that "politics, religion and the memsahibs" were not suitable topics for discussion in the Officers' Mess - and you can see why, with the discord these topics (at least politics and religion) usually sow.

I'm a case in point. I became a convinced atheist when I was about 13 or 14 - and I remain the same 55 years later. I genuinely believe religion to be a waste of space but (apart from this one statement), I'm certainly not going to debate that here on Mudcat. It would go nowhere, so I don't bother - and I'm damned sure that the religious-minded people here are just as adamant as me. So what point is there in any debate?

My perhaps simplistic advice would be: if you can't debate the topic in a civilised manner, don't bother raising it in the first place.