Reply #11: Some important clarifications. Why I see this as a real problem.

[Diane_nyc]

hack89 wrote:

I have so far lived a full and productive life openly as an atheist with no problems what so ever.

Good for you. Do you know anyone who lives in the Bible Belt?

... anti-Illuminism involves a tiny fraction of the internet.

It also seems to involve a much larger fraction of people (though still a minority) in real life. Have you ever been to an anti-war rally, for example?

Organized political movements, such as the anti-war movement, do play an important role in politics. Hence, to the extent that the religious right wing is infiltrating such movements, that's very bad news for the Democratic Party. While the leadership of the antiwar movement remains solidly progressive for the most part, the rank and file are another story, at least here in New York. I would imagine that the same is even more true elsewhere, though I could be wrong.

The idea that it resonates with the general population is ridiculous.

I didn't say that it resonates with the general population. However, from what I can tell so far, it apparently does resonate with lots of poor people, including lots of poor black people. In other words, the heart of the Democratic Party's base.