I must admit that I have often found that people's attitudes to me have been - You can't possibly be an athiest because you have "Christian" moral values. This is more that a little irritating considering what moral values some "Christians" have. Conversely, I have friends whoes religion is so part of their being that it is impossible to tell if they would be a different moral person without their religion.

In terms of the raging mobs etc described above. I think we athiests can't claim the higher ground. There are many religionists who have no part in these activities and there are many non-believers who simply vent their rage, bad behaviour in other groupings. If there was no religion there would still be groups of people behaving badly based on Nationality, race or the size of their little toes.

Julie