Gracious Christopher writes, "I have discovered that the so-called Christian right is much less monolithic, and very much more polite and hospitable, than I would once have thought, or than most liberals believe."

Do atheists have such epiphanies? Is this the Lord talking to Christopher? Nah.

Suffice it to say, massive libraries could be filled with the erroneous and very stupid things that so many liberals believe. But belief is such a loaded term.

Christopher met them, and it turns out that they use silverware, say please and thank you, and refrain from trying to put their pants on over their heads.

As this religion vs. atheism debate rages, increasingly along political ideological lines, liberals are more often heard to say that they are on the side of "reason" and "science."

What a wonderful perch to sit upon - Reason! "I believe in reason, and you? Well, you believe in virgin births and miracles. How unfortunate. How primitive."

Thank God, er...I mean..uh Reason, that liberals don't adhere to idiotic beliefs. Those who believe in "reason" could never delude themselves. (Give peace a chance! Vaccinations cause autism. Driving this Prius will make things better. More taxes will reduce deficits. Men and women are the same. Fathers aren't needed to raise kids. No delusions here folks, move along!)

The arrogance is amazing. Its is what allows Al Gore to title his books, "An Inconvenient Truth" and "The Assault on Reason." "Truth" and "Reason" are Al Gore's territory. Are you in, or out?

Increasingly, we hear all kinds of liberals talking about "facts-based" this, and "evidence-based" that. Skepticism (a healthy approach to most great questions of our time) it seems, is limited only to those who question (attack) religion.

So why not claim "reason" for your side in every debate. After all, liberals don't like to be questioned. Al Gore doesn't like to have his "scientific truths" challenged. Professor Obama doesn't care to have ACORN investigated. Democrats in Congress won't publish or post the details of pending health care legislation that will affect nearly every American. Why question Congress after all? Bang up job that they do!

Personally, I wouldn't mind so much, having my religious faith questioned or criticized, if liberals would just stop demanding that I put so much corresponding blind faith in their delusions. I got my delusions - You got yours!

Whether or not God is an delusion, I am sure he won't raise my taxes, lose a war, leave us exposed to terrorist attack, screw up my medical care, squander government resources, or otherwise mess up America. I can count on God for that much.

So let Hitchens, Dawkins, Maher and Larry David urinate on Jesus. Fine. Christopher can even be delighted to see how "polite and hospitable" I will be about the whole thing. After all, Christians are one group of superstitious people who don't kill their critics. If we did, Christopher might have to rely on Rushdie or Kurt Westergaard for hospitality instead! And they'd get tired of Christopher raiding their liquor cabinet!

Quiz question for you dopes: What does praying for rain and cap & trade legislation have in common? Answer: They both have an equal shot at changing the weather!

“(Give peace a chance! Vaccinations cause autism. Driving this Prius will make things better. More taxes will reduce deficits. Men and women are the same. Fathers aren't needed to raise kids. No delusions here folks, move along!)”

Seems to me you are using the same sort of blanket statements to characterize liberals that you mock in Hitchens’ observation of the religious right. As a liberal, atheist, and a scientist, I believe none of the above….. and can’t think of anyone I know who does.

Well, except that yes, in choosing between a prius and a hummer, purchasing a prius would harm the environment less.

“ Increasingly, we hear all kinds of liberals talking about "facts-based" this, and "evidence-based" that. Skepticism (a healthy approach to most great questions of our time) it seems, is limited only to those who question (attack) religion.”

I don’t know what to say about this. Are you suggesting we should ignore facts and reason??? Scientists are naturally skeptics…. That’s how science works is by attempting to disprove what you assume to be true.

“Personally, I wouldn't mind so much, having my religious faith questioned or criticized, if liberals would just stop demanding that I put so much corresponding blind faith in their delusions. I got my delusions - You got yours!”

We wouldn’t mind your religious faith if you kept it out of education and government. This is why atheists see the need to debate religious people. Otherwise, I don’t think I’m out of hand in saying most atheists don’t care what other people believe.

“Whether or not God is an delusion, I am sure he won't raise my taxes, lose a war, leave us exposed to terrorist attack, screw up my medical care, squander government resources, or otherwise mess up America. I can count on God for that much.”

I would say the same about Santa Claus.

So let Hitchens, Dawkins, Maher and Larry David urinate on Jesus. Fine. Christopher can even be delighted to see how "polite and hospitable" I will be about the whole thing. After all, Christians are one group of superstitious people who don't kill their critics. If we did, Christopher might have to rely on Rushdie or Kurt Westergaard for hospitality instead! And they'd get tired of Christopher raiding their liquor cabinet!

First of all, most atheists respect the teachings of Jesus in the bible, whether he existed or not. I don’t have to believe he was supernatural being that died and came back to life to respect him. I can see from your tone of voice you are neither polite nor hospitable. You seem rather angry. And I would argue that Christians have and certainly do kill their critics. As I’m sure some atheist in the past has one time or another killed a Christian.

I’d be happy to tie one on with Hitchens any day of the week. You, however, don’t sound like much fun at all.

Are you kidding? I'm more fun than a uninspired bunch of atheists. You've hurt my feelings - But as a Christian, I'll forgive you. Much of my post was supposed to be funny - while admittedly sarcastic.

But more importantly, I wanted to point out that those who are politically liberal (and in many cases atheists) have no special claim to reason, skepticism or scientific knowledge. Nor are they immune to self-delusion and the general patterns of BS that people engage in.

Furthermore, conservatives, and conservative Christians are not so easily pigeon-holed as Christopher learned - His expression of surprise that some appeared to be hospitable and friendly was what motivated my rant.

My father was more conservative politically than I, yet an atheist. My mother is more liberal than I can stand, but religious. I have friends who are right wing atheists as well.

The difference between pushy conservative Christians who preach their beliefs and pushy liberal atheists who preach their beliefs, is that the latter denies that they preach. Liberals always tell you that they are NOT imposing their beliefs and values - that they are more tolerant. I reject this assertion. Liberals preach. Liberals push. Liberals impose. Liberals dictate, pontificate, nanny, nag and control. Then they say, "I'm open minded."

To use a religious expression - LIKE HELL!

"Vaccinations cause autism. Driving this Prius will make things better. More taxes will reduce deficits" I know some liberals AND some conservatives who think vaccines cause autism. Also OF COURSE increased taxes will reduce deficits, assuming you don't spend more to compensate. Otherwise, I don't understand how you could think extra taxes wouldn't reduce deficits. There is something called a Laffer curve, but that won't make that much difference unless you raised taxes to extreme levels.

Well the state of NY raised the taxes on those those making over a million or so a year and the end result is LESS revenue for the state since many of the rich are moving to other states.

As you noted the same concept is true for taxes on items like cigs or soda. Raising the tax will only net more revenue if the level of consumption remains about the same. How much a tax can be raised depends on the item. Thus a tax on cigs can be raised because cigs are addictive.

right - "most atheists respect the teachings of [yoshka]". atheist like hitler, and stalin, and heidigger, and mao, and ayn rand.

you are so fuckin' dumb.