Why can't all people whether theist or atheist respect each other and get on with life without all the anger and derision?

Good idea. I won't be volunteering as usual tomorrow down at my local church, but I will be spending Christmas Eve with family in church in my home town. I am an atheist but not an anti-theist. I used to be a theist myself.

Peace on Earth, good will to ALL men. I can't imagine why an atheist would take issue with that, or a theist resenting an atheist for taking such a message to heart.

Because that sort of life is not worth living.

Just because you're afraid of anger and derision doesn't mean I am. Some things should make you angry. Some things should be derided.

To say we shouldn't is to advocate that human life devolve to the insect level.

Because people keep thinking its ok to push their beliefs onto others and to codify their prejudices into law (and its mostly theists who do this).

Look at the arguments put forward in opposition to Gay marriage in the US, a lot of it was basically "the way I read my holy book says its a sin".

Its important to point out that not all theists and not all christians think that way.

Most can and do. But this YA. Do not come here for looking for peace between alternative views. This is purely an entertainment venue. Or at least for the politics section.

Because humans are rather petty that way. It's easier to blame all our ills on whoever the "other" happens to be, rather than acknowledge that they are people just like us who maybe do things just a little bit differently.

Respect is earned. If you don't work for it, you don't get it. If you give it to someone who hasn't worked for it, your respect is nothing.

Hey if you don't want me to tell you that you believe in ridiculous things, don't speak about them publicly.

No problem.

But I AM going to have to require that religions keep their beliefs out of our legislatures, out of our schools, out of our courtrooms, and out of our public spaces. Otherwise, we have a problem.

As soon as fundies stop torturing and murdering "witches" as we speak and stop screaming hatred on street corners.

We respect, but simply cannot allow lies to be touted as truth