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I must really take exception to this sweeping generalization. I am honored when I am called a Jesus Freak by my atheist relatives, yet politically and fiscally, I am a libertarian.

The only difference I have with the Libertarian Party platform is in the area of Abortion. One of government's legitimate powers is protection of its citizens lives, and a preborn person is still a person.

One of the most passionate advocates on this threads in defending Libertarianism is a hard core Christian , and coincidentally, a hard core atheist and libertarian posting on this thread is also a hard core "Right to Life" advocate (from what I've seen on this forum before).

Please select a narrower brush before you start painting.

Knowing both of the posters to whom you addressed your comments, I would state with confidence that the characterization "god-shouting-fanatic", is not one which they would apply to you, or to any rational theistic human being.

I didn't think his brush was broad, he was describing a particular subset of Christians, who think that it's just fine to use government coercion, to force their behavioral preferences upon others who disagree.

You'll find that many libertarians actually agree with you on the abortion issue; most all the ones I know here on FR do, including myself.

The only difference I have with the Libertarian Party platform is in the area of Abortion. One of government's legitimate powers is protection of its citizens lives, and a preborn person is still a person.

I agree wholeheartedly, although I'm only a "little-l" libertarian. Matter of fact, I've only seen 1-2 libertarians on FR who disagreed.

Well, I think that I've got the right bush and the right color. The crux of what I was trying to get across is that men and women of good will and of differing faiths can agree to disagree without resorting to violence. As a committed follower of Jesus, surely you don't think that you have a right to change my beliefs at the barrel of a gun. I don't think that you believe this, and most people of faith don't think that way, either. So that's not really the point I was trying to make.

If you consider the case of Islam - a religion of inolerance, coercion, conquest and cultural genocide - the distinction's pretty clear. And not even all Muslims embrace that particular worldview.

What is clear is that those who resort to violence in order to silence those with whom they do not agree, those who would murder others whom they believe would stand in the way of the achievement their perfect world share a common heritage and pedigree of ideas.

My own personal take on faith and matters of belief is that the farther one looks outside onself, the farther one is from the truth. It's one the very very few of Jesus the Master's messages that has survived intact over the centuries. It's a message that every great teacher/master has in common.