1. The religious have always "targeted" younger generations. They have no just complaint if atheists do the same.
2. The atheists are not alone in seeing science and religion as opposed. To borrow a phrase from William F. Buckley, religion (specifically Christianity) has repeatedly stood athwart the path of science yelling "Stop!".
3. When the atheist declares that religion is false, the believer must agree with respect to every religion but one. Would Mr. Norris care to estimate how many religions exist, have existed, or will exist, of which only one - at most one - can be true?
4. While science has made a persuasive case that the past of the universe is finite, that case also shows that the age of the universe is vastly greater than the theologians ever conceived. The claim that the latter have been proved right is ludicrous.
...a number of your points are debatable...
It may be semantics, but I think ‘targeting’ for instruction of youth in moral and ethical behaviours is off kilter...I might agree if, say, Christians were recruiting youth from some other definable path, such as Buddhism or Hinduism, but to simply provide youth with a moral path as opposed to an empty trail hardly deserves the pejorative ‘targeting’
...also, a believer may limit himself to one specific stated belief system, but the concept of deity is as unlimited as the human mind itself...that a Christian can view the pantheism of ancient Rome as a valid belief sysytem is not impossible on its face...I know this, because I believe it...
...also, if religion and science come acropper upon crossing paths, how do you explain the tremendous sceitific acheivements of the United States, an avowedly Christian (or should we merely say religious) society...
Oh, we can complain, just as atheists have complained about us for decades. (Also, it always helps to keep informed on what the 'enemy' is doing.)
The atheists are not alone in seeing science and religion as opposed. To borrow a phrase from William F. Buckley, religion (specifically Christianity) has repeatedly stood athwart the path of science yelling "Stop!".
Oh, well, William F Buckley. He is the authority on all things. ::sarcasm tag if needed::
When the atheist declares that religion is false, the believer must agree with respect to every religion but one.
And? Does the fact that one claims all others are false mean that whatever the person doing the claiming believes in is also false? Sorry that does not follow.
While science has made a persuasive case that the past of the universe is finite, that case also shows that the age of the universe is vastly greater than the theologians ever conceived. The claim that the latter have been proved right is ludicrous.
It is just as valid an argument as trying to claim that the current belief in the scientific community as regards the age of the universe proves the atheist right. (Not saying you are making that argument, but plenty have tried to do so.)
Have you always been an atheist?