Interesting indeed. I would love to have a side discussion with you about this, where we wouldn't be interupting hobbit talk or distracted by trolls. I know you believe what you wrote, so I am willing to hear you out and interested in why you feel there is hatred.
I have never smelled a whiff of the hatred you speak of, especially of Christianity. And this is after years of listening, and numerous live performances I have travelled to see. I just don't see it. When he tells stories about the folks I know so well at the church garage sales, or putting up storm windows and things, he is telling stories about my very relatives, and I see them as being told with great affection, while poking fun at their very real and very funny oddities. I don't see a lot of politics in it, and when we do, my family just casts shrugging glances at each other and it is over.
I am more of a fan of his old show than the new one... I don't dig the New York stuff as much as The News from Lake Wobegon... I mostly just tolerate the rest of the show to hear that segment, when I settle into my chair for thirty minutes and let him take me back there. I have never read much of his books. We had one around the house... short stories, but I found that his writing was not as enchanting as his voice, so I lost interest and put it down.
Yes, clearly he is liberal in his beliefs, but I guess I have gotten pretty tolerant of Democrats... I don't agree with them, I try to change their minds and influence them where I can, but they surround me and are included among my friends, employers, coworkers... so I don't discount people on that basis alone. I have converted more of them slowly by earning their trust than I have by writing them off.
I may have said too much here already, but I did want to stand up for the good side I have seen of him "publicly" because I just haven't seen evidence of what you have alledged yet. Perhaps FReepmail me? - or better yet maybe we could go to the chat room sometime and talk about it? Anytime is good for me.