Is defense of the separation of church and state enough? [View All]

[More Than A Feeling]

I read Sam Harris' Atheist manifesto, and I realize that he does not speak for all atheists, but I did see many favorable comments attached to the thread containing it, so at least a few people did agree. Also, the suggestion of removing religion from 501(c)3 tax status, so that churches pay taxes, always receives many favorable responses.

Now, the rise of the religious right has put all liberals, religious or not, on the defensive regarding the separation of church and state. On that issue, I think that we are mostly united. I also understand that atheists have more of a problem with fundamentalists that those of us, while not fundamentalists, have a religious position closer to theirs.

Atheists/agnostics, is it enough that religious liberals defend the traditional understanding of church and state (pre-W)? Would you have us support it even further (churches paying taxes, or other new measures?) Or will we not be acceptable until we have renounced our faith and become atheists/agnostics as well? (When I say acceptable, I mean that some of the bitterness that I see in non-believers posts about faith won't be taken out on those who measure up to your standard, and the sentiments expressed in the manifesto mitigated)

Given the amount of conflict in this forum over basic believer/non-believer differences, as opposed to focusing on the First amendment and other progressive issues that unite us, I fear that it may be the latter, but I hope I am wrong. I like discussing theology as much as anyone, but when the discussions I read/participate in are clouded by the various issues people have before coming to the table, well, it may be more trouble than its worth.

I apologize if the above is incoherent. I am trying to put my feelings regarding the current state of affairs in this forum into words, and it may not be as clear as I would wish.