I'm an atheist...and I can't stand "Atheist TV."

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

46. Yes, in most cases. More honey, less vinegar.

The goal of the right-wing hate radio ranters is not to convert others to their positions but to reinforce and strengthen their listeners' already-existing biases. I don't think listening to Beck or Limbaugh (if I could stand to do that) could ever turn me into a teabagger because they just piss me off. My point is simply that if you want to change peoples' beliefs you don't start out by telling them they are stupid because they will shut you out immediately. There are ways of challenging someone's religious beliefs, and maybe making them think about whether they really should be believed, that don't involve sneering at them as being foolish superstitions. Or, you can just let them be, which is my choice. If someone sincerely believes that when you die you get to be the god of your own planet, why should I care as long as they don't pester me about it? Mormons believe this, and I think it's awfully damn weird and ridiculous; but there's no skin off my butt if they believe it, and I'm not going to waste my time telling them I think their religion is weird and ridiculous because I know my opinion will not change their belief.