Steve Shaw says that it's not what you believe. It's what you DO with those beliefs, especially to children.

Well, that's nice, Steve. While I realize others do similar things without being believers, I've used my beliefs and the wisdom of those who taught me in religious schools as a starting place to work to end racism, warfare, capital punishment, poverty, homelessness, capital punishment, and mass incarceration - and I've encouraged my children to do the same. My belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ has led me to oppose these evils and to work against them.

I've also worked a lot to promote environmentalism and pacifism.

Others work for these causes for other reasons, but my religious faith is a primary motivator for me.

Oh, and I taught my children the same principles of critical thinking that I learned in seminary. Note that none of them practice any religion - but they do respect mine. They don't waste their time on rude, vicious, silly attacks on faith like what I see so often here.

-Joe-