Pete and Jilli, we need stationery and pens and such!

Pens aren't an option because Cafe Press doesn't offer them. I'm not sure about stationary...

The only time I really resent the presence of religion in my life is when it comes from the mouth of my government. Because I know full well that when George W. Bush says "God bless America," he doesn't mean Allah or Adonai or Buddha or Ganesh or Cerwidden or Hee-Haw the Giant Donkey God. He means *his* God, *his* way, and that definitely makes me feel as though my agnostic self is thought of as a second-class citizen. And religion is really of very little importance to me--I can only imagine how marginalized people of devout non-Christian faith must feel.

On the other hand, I can't remember the last time an individual person of faith tried to make me feel as though I were wrong for not having faith. Even the most fundamentalist people I know don't cluck their tongues.

Sadly, it's getting so when I hear "Christian" what I hear is: (stereotypes ahoy, mind you) "I believe everything that Jerry Falwell tells me to.Life is just easier when the people at church tell me what to think so I don't have to." "This country was a better place before women got all uppity and you could still carry a gun everywhere and hit your kids." I'm very sorry...I know that's not true. But there are some scary people whom I don't like dominating my state's religious discourse so that it is easy to be poisoned. And the demon-removers, of course. Can't forget them.

I know full well that when George W. Bush says "God bless America," he doesn't mean Allah or Adonai or Buddha or Ganesh or Cerwidden or Hee-Haw the Giant Donkey God. He means *his* God, *his* way,

I certainly agree with this. I think Christians who look down on other Christians for not being Christian enough (cf extreme right-wing Christians on the subject of Christians who vote Democrat) also freak me out. At that point, it seems much less about tending to people's souls as it is about getting all up in other people's business.

I'm very sorry...I know that's not true. But there are some scary people whom I don't like dominating my state's religious discourse so that it is easy to be poisoned.

And erika makes a good point that is easy for me to forget (and one of the reasons I try very hard to temper my reactions). It's a very vocal minority, some of whom have a VERY big megaphone to espouse their beliefs, that have poisoned me so hard toward Christianity.

I think Christians who look down on other Christians for not being Christian enough (cf extreme right-wing Christians on the subject of Christians who vote Democrat) also freak me out.

That'd be Paul's aunt.

Who disowned her brothers, and sent back family pictures with herself cut out of them because her brothers just were not Christian enough to count (where Christian = Hyperconservative Southern Baptist).

Seriously, WTF????

That is a thought process that seems very alien to me.

I bought a scarecrow today, for a price reasonable enough that I probably couldn't buy constituent parts and make one myself for less. I've got it propped up against the tree out front. I wonder if Daniel will notice it when he drives in.

Islam, Wicca, and atheism each comprise less than 1% of the American population.

True, but look at their growth rates over the last ten years. The number of Christians (according to the table ibid.) grew by 8M, a 5% gain. Islam jumped by half a million, but that's a doubling. The Pagan Metroplex is only now getting picked up by surveys, but I'd wager it's at least doubled in size as well. And the "nonreligious" group has doubled as well, giving it 13% of the population.

Think about it this way: You have a product that has an 85-90% market share. One day you look at the numbers and notice that while sales of your product have risen 5% over the last 10 years, competitors have doubled their sales over that period, and your market share is now under 80%. Would you go, "Oh, that's great, more the merrier." Or would you start working on a plan to staunch the flow of customers to your competitors?

(Info from adherents.com. eta: Please pardon me while I fall over laughing as I notice that "Wicca/Pagan/Druid" is on their list of organized religions. 'Cause..no. Really, we're not.

You give Christianity far more credit for being organized than you should.

Yowtch. The Pale Hose are crushing the Bosox.