Reply #27: I see the religious divisions as:

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A. Fundamentalists (Are against those in groups B., C. & D. - are generally not represented anyway - not a part of the conversation).

B. Religious People (who are not Fundamentalists - could be any other sort of theists, Pagans, Buddhists and atheist religious people).

C. People who are tolerant of those is group B (but are non-religious themselves).

D. Anti-religious people who are against those in group A. B. & C.


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I see the Fundamentalists and the Anti-religious (ie. Sam Harris followers) as setting themselves apart from all others - in a self-righteous kind of way.

I think the DU board is a reasonable place for discussions among people who are in groups B & C.

I don't think the Anti-Religious (like Evangelicals) expect to engage in anything other than conflict. Conflict is the nature of their debate.

And why should people in who are in groups B or C think that people who are insistent about insulting them (from groups A & D) want to have meaningful conversations with anyone other than those in their own group?

People who are Anti-religious should not be surprised to see people from groups B or C take issue with them (or A - if there were any around).