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or feel it necessary to prove your atheism by arrogantly attacking or mocking those with a religous conviction?

You know what? Religionists have been trying to put atheists to death for so long that I really don't give a rip if they feel their religion is being mocked. They certainly have never considered my feelings when they get up in their pulpits and condemn me to infinite hell. So scr*w 'em.

I'm afraid you can't paing all "religionists" as you call them with the same broad brush. Many won't condemn you to hell as they believe that is up to the God they believe in. Many believe that how you treat your fellow man will have a bearing on your ultimate fate, while others feel quite the contrary. I react to extremism from both religious fundamentalists and from "atheists." My point is that the guy driving around with a fish with legs bumper sticker has just as much relious conviction in his belief that there is not God or that religion is evil, as the guy driving around with a fish without legs on his car.

I personally prefer to stay out of the fray. And as people have pointed out, those pushing to eliminate God entirely are also responsible for much evil and murder (Stalinist Russia, Red China... Virtually all Communist "Anti-God" Totalitarian States). I hold the evil men and women responsible for atrocities in this world, not religion or lack of it themselves. Ultimately, religion that is co-opted for the purposes of evil is quite often done so by non-believers themselves. They just find it a convenient tool to manipulate ignorant masses. Perhaps this, and the extreme fundamentalists is what you are reacting against. If so, great. Just be careful not to become an extremist yourself "on the other side."