Interesting point Tom. I'm agnostic, but I do respect other's faith, particularly when it helps them through horrible or difficult circumstances. I remember reading of an American footballer who was paralysed, and his first reaction was "Thank you Lord for giving me this new challenge." Now, if he really meant that, how wonderful that his faith helped him through.

Where I agree with you, Tom, is the fundamentalism from all religions that causes war. I guess most holy wars might be about something else (e.g. Israel-Arabia is probably more about land than religion) but if people are using religion as an excuse for war, then that's clearly abhorrent. Does that mean that all religion is a bad thing? No!

It'd be like saying "cars are bad because they run over people and pollute the environment". True. But they also encourage people to travel and meet others and take people to hospital, school, etc. Don't judge all religion from a few dumbass fundamentalist psychos.

Here endeth the lesson.

Qmoq