I hate it when religious lashings like this occur. You may plug your ears, if you so wish, while I rant.

Religious intolerance sickens me. In any form. I am a Pagan, once a Christian. I looked very much into Christianity, realized that I didn't agree with it, and now I openly refuse to accept the teaching of any church. But that doesn't mean that I don't like Christitans. In fact, I have many good friends who are Christians. I personally believe there is no one RIGHT path to Deity, Heaven, good afterlife, etc. There are just several different paths.

I do have an aversion to organized religion. It does tend to adapt a "holier than thou" attitude. So what? happens. We're all only human. I do have an aversion to Christianity, as well. Mainly because I too, have been endlessly persecuted for my beliefs, even by some of my own friends. Yet I do not go out and say that everyone should cast down the teachings of the Church. I DO RESPECT the majority religions, as well as the minority religions, and I respect the choices people make on what to believe. I DO NOT, however, respect people who try to destroy someone else's beliefs, convert others, do not give other religions respect in front of their practitioners, and oppress other ways of life and spiritualism. I do not think CHRISTIANITY is bad; I think that the hypocritical extremists and those who adapt a "convert all" attitude, however, are NOT good people. I do not think the priests and followers who burn books and say "AIDS cures faggots" are going to end up in the Heaven they so strive for. I do not think that conversion is right; I in fact believe it to be a major WRONG, or sin, if you will. Let people believe what they WANT to believe, rather than try to cram your own beliefs down their throats, be you Christian, Pagan, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish...whatever.

All of these hypocritical "Christians" who say they are on some 'Holy War' for their God does indeed cause me to get a bit pissy about Christianity. The concept of Holy War is an oxymoron, in my opinion. War is a desperate, deadly, life-or-death struggle in which religion need not, and SHOULD not, apply. It is FAR from "Holy."

I always practice, and try to promote, religious tolerance. This country would certainly benefit from such a practice. Hey, you're a Christian? Awesome, good for you! Good luck with it; I hope you can bring sanity to the hypocrites who like to THINK they're Christians. What's that? You're a Pagan? Good choice! You're Jewish, that's wonderful! Invite me to your kid's bris. A Muslism, you say? Well, as long as you're not on a Jihad, you're good with me!

What I'm trying to say is this: I accept your religious decisions. Please accept mine.

However, when I see lashing against religions like this...I hate it. There's NO REASON to start lashing on religions unless they've done a wrong to you, and even THAT should (at least eventually) be forgiven. Saying that ANY religion is "not the RIGHT path" makes me want to take a frying pan and bonk the overzealous speaker (though I wouldn't unless he physically attacked me; I only practice violence in self-defense).

Atheists I tend to not like. Especially those who try to destroy the spiritual beliefs of everyone they come into contact with. That's the same thing as converting.

I feel that, while it has issues that certainly need to be sorted out, Christianity is not a "Crutch for the weak-minded." That kind of foolish banter can be EASILY disproved; try having a theological discussion with a close-minded Christian who tries to convert you, then see just how "weak" their minds are.

While I rarely ever support Christianity, this open attack on it is one I find utterly detestable and disgusting, mainly becuase it was a five-second reading with no evidence to support it's claims and no real explanation, bur rather a simple, close-minded, "YOU"RE ALL WRONG" statement. Everyone has their opinions, especially regarding spirituality; there's no reason to say "Christianity is a crutch."

Whew, what a pointless rant that was. See what I mean? Religious intolerance, in any form, bears NO good results.