I speak a lot through quotes, simply because there is always someone who has said it better:

"We cannot discover the best inside ourselves while we are dwelling on the the worst in anyone else."

Your comments have been insensitive toward other religions, Malcom. I understand that you have different beliefs. I understand that you don't believe in God, neither do I. I just take issue with the way you go about asserting that belief. You choose to raise YOUR belief above the belief of others, you dwell on others perceived ignorance, wondering how and why they don't see things from your point of view.

People have this innate desire to be correct, to be vindicated or have their feelings justified. These feelings lead them to feel closeness to people they group themselves with, like minded people with the same beliefs, and create the desire to put down those on the opposite side of the fence. It's one of the worst traits of our species, and it's manifesting itself here.

Okay, that's all me being insensitive (as well as us simply not being on the same wavelength) and that's something I'm okay with. In my life so far I've had people treat me like shit for two reasons:

1)Being gay
2)Being atheist

There's no doubt in my mind that being treated like a non-human who doesn't count as a citizen has made me somewhat hostile, and perhaps over time I'll be able to tone that down. Like I said, in "real life" I always always always treat people like I'd want to be treated--since the way I've been treated hasn't been fun for me so I assume it'd be fun for no one--so if my hostility comes out occasionally in an online debate/argument then I can live with that.

"With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."

Heh we had PM debate about this before Malcolm

Come to Europe and Religion and attacks on your sexuality would not happen, even in a backward hole like Ireland.

I think you just need to realise on KJ everyone who posts here respects everyones choices and its a website thats pretty progressive in terms of users. You are entitled to be an Atheist, hell so am I but just be relaxed and don't worry about being aggressive about it.

I feel I must admit I was the one that demanded your avatar was removed because I really thought you where being an asshole with it and deliberately antagonizing people. You can PM me about it if you like but I just want you to know it was a fellow athiest that asked for it to be removed.

Oh on the thread, meh Obama is a politician what did you expect?

I demand to see this avatar you speak of!

Well, that depends on where in Europe. I'm sure Italy/Greece is somewhat homophobic at least. And the new Eastern EU bloc is like two steps away from lynching gays.