Reply #104: as the du'er who started this thread [View All]

[onenote]

First, I want to thank everyone who posted...whether you accepted the premise of my question or challenged it, I was interested in seeing your viewpoint.

Second, in hindsight, after seeing everyone's posts, I regret using the term "indiscriminate hate". Hate is far too loaded a term and I should've steered clear. Better I should have used disrespect. And its not really that its indiscriminate, as much as its 'unthinking'.

Finally, as I made clear, I have am in no way defending those who use their religion or their standing as religious leaders to preach exclusion or hate. The position taken by many religious leaders on gay rights, on war, on the death penalty, on religious freedom (at least when its a religion other than theirs) is vile.

The point I was trying to make, albeit inartfully, is that I can't fathom how someone can broadly label religion as hocus-pocus or something only 'idiots' would adhere to, unless they also "unthinkingly" think that Rev. King or Father Berrigan or the many current religious leaders who are working against the war and for social justice, or the priests that counsel gay and transgendered individuals etc etc are just snake oil salesmen.

onenote