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All my life as a Jewish person, I've had various religious types try to convert me, hinting that I'll go to hell if I don't (while at the same time praising Jews as the chosen ones). Then they find out I'm an evolutionary biologist they make the assumption that I don't believe in god because of that (which actually while is the case for me, I've met plenty of scientists who know what evolution is but still believe in god..they keep science and faith separate in their lives as far as I know). I've worked at various places where embryonic stem cell research went on, so I've been accused (in general) of being an amoral baby killer. So I've been harassed and treated like a fool AND have had my professional life affected by religion. So maybe one can understand why I've picked up a PERSONAL dislike for religion. You certainly can argue that not everyone is like the assholes I've dealt with and thats fair...but, the worst I've ever done is to say I don't like religion and my life would be better without it. I've read Dawkins and quoted him on the evolutionary aspects of religion and other social behaviors. But I've never done more than post what I think on the internets. However, because I have been known to read and agree with some of the stuff Dawkins and Harris say (I'm in no way a fan of Hitchens but he makes the occasional good point) I have found myself lumped in with a group of people called "fundamentalist atheists" who are now being compared to crazies like the guy in Norway who killed all those people. Why? Because I have said, MY ideal world would not have religion in it? When did expressing an opinion, unpopular as it may be, make me dangerous? I've been around atheists all my life and while some of them would probably never be invited to parties or activities because they are rude and snarky and loud in expressing their beliefs, I've never actually met anyone who actually wanted to destroy a church or a synagogue or take away ones citizenship for believing in god. Everyone has the right to say what or what they don't believe in. What people don't have the right to do, is label a group "dangerous" and try to marginalize them SOLELY on the fact they say unpopular or rude stuff. If they actually do attempt to impose their will thats a different story (Westboro Baptist Church is an example, they have a right to say offensive stupid shit but by picketing at funerals they are imposing themselves and do cross the line). But I've never seen that. Until then trying to say people like me are a threat, is much like the islamaphobes who see Sharia law everywhere....its the first step in actual oppression of the group.
If you don't like what Dawkins, Harris, et al have to say, thats fair enough. But trying to marginalize/censor them as "dangerous threats" is not appropriate and is truly the first step to theocratic dictatorship in this country.
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