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Huh? I point out to you that there is an unprecedented surge in very visible Christianity that is in no way whatsoever being squelched or silenced, and you draw from this yet more fodder for your self-pitying "I am persecuted" rant?

And what on earth makes you think that I disapprove of the current upsurge in Christian visibility and community presence? The fact that I do, in fact, disapprove of mixing state and religion? One does not follow from the other.

You apparently want the state to embrace and advance your particular brand of protestanism. But if you'll pause long enough to think it through, you'll realize that you don't want the state telling you how, when, where, or what to worship (which is, after all, the simple flip side of that constitutional coin you're tossing around).

The very best solution to this balancing act is what currently exists -- freedom to shout your beliefs from the rooftops, preach it on street corners, profess it in the construction of churches, and broadcast it in any form of media you choose. And concomitantly, to draw a bright and assiduously guarded line between the state and your religion.

I also think you need to step away from the computer for awhile and maybe take a walk outside. Get some fresh air. You seem to be on the verge of an "aimless rage implosion."

"...I also think you need to step away from the computer for awhile and maybe take a walk outside. Get some fresh air. You seem to be on the verge of an "aimless rage implosion..."

So many of us are conditioned to see any religious speech as kooky, or fanatical, that now you can't make any comment without "scaring" someone else. It's sad to see how well conditioned the general population is to this. Mentioning God or Christianity used to be fairly mundane, but in the last 30 years it has become shocking to hear any mention of religion in public. So, to ask Christians to publicly expose their beliefs, must have come as quite a shock to any random group. Obviously even FReepers find public displays of Christianity to be beyond the pale. I don't. We will never agree. I think you should not be prevented from making such comments, even on the job, even if you're a pilot, but I guess religion has now become so controversial, that it can be frightening to hear someone espouse their faith in public. After all, we're so used to it being shouted down, you'd have to be crazy to publicly proclaim it. Therefore, anyone who does, is a nut, a fanatic, and is shoving something down your throats. Fine. I get it. But I think you are all wrong. I'm especially unnerved to hear this coming from Christians. Even Christians now think that there is a time and a place to even mention their faith, and that it's inappropriate under certain circumstances. I don't think it's EVER inappropriate to mention it, or to ask if others are Christian. This isn't preaching, it's just asking, or commenting, but suddenly it's too "controversial" a topic for general consumption.