Against my better judgment ...

[bhikkhu]

344. I agree, but I'd get in line to support anyone ridiculing hate-based speech and behavior

which, from time to time, happens to be come organized religions. And I'm at peace with anyone who challenges or satirizes authority. Its not called for many times, and many times I disagree, but I think its much more important to question authority than it is to submit to authority...perhaps that's an American standpoint, but it seems to hold well in Europe as well. Its the challenging of beliefs and authority that makes us all more thoughtful and reality-based people, and often enough improves the character of "authority". Strong reactions against the challenging of beliefs come, I think, from people who are least thoughtful and reality-based. Of course they're allowed to be, but it also makes them easy targets for ridicule; so it goes.

As far as respect for religion, I've run the full spectrum there. I think there are some natural developmental stages some people go through (though admitting that other seems entirely immune to development). I was raised a skeptical Catholic, before breaking away and exploring other faiths. Raised in religion, it seemed most easy to continue to understand experience in religious terms. Eventually a scientific education led me to a rational atheism, Then there was period I felt inclined speak disparagingly of all religions, but a better understanding is that it is human nature, and serves a very human purpose for most people at some time or other. It served a purpose for me at times, and there's no reason to hold other to a higher standard than I held myself to at different stages of my own development, and there's no reason for me to require or expect others to follow in my footsteps. So, general respectful silence on the matter from myself, though I don't mind seeing others forge their own paths, silent or not.