[Jedi Master Pikachu]

If muawiyah is not being facetious up to this point, then can see why some atheists would have a big chip on their shoulders toward Christians and Christianity—not all Christians are so belligerent towards atheists, or other non-Christians.

[muawiyah]

Who's belligerant? Certainly not me. Atheists are the ones who leave us with no way to value the validity of their pledges, promises or other claims to adhere to the law.

If someone "pledges" within the framework of a known, well-practiced, worked-out religious standard, we have a way of judging them.

BTW, the Yakuza request knuckle pledges from their subordinates for much the same reason. I thought it might well be applicable here.

So, absent religious belief I'll accept a pound of flesh as a surity.

Makes me quite liberal when you get down to it.