Ooops. I flamed.

[BainsBane]

19. I understood atheist to mean a firm belief that no Deity exists

I consider that something unknowable. Others do not. I frankly could care less what anyone believes when it comes to God. In fact, nothing concerns me less. Public policy, however, is quite another matter. I very much resent the intrusion of religion into public policy in this country. I was raised to believe that religion is fundamentally a private matter and that one should never speak ill of another person's religion or lack of religion. I try to abide by that.

I have no idea which arguments or tropes are exchanged between theists and non-theists. I'm sorry you took my post as an attack on your views. My intent could not have been further from that. I explained how I happened to stumble upon this thread. I have no intention of making a habit out of posting here.

I expect that the recently tombstoned member took exception to my stand against Islamophobia. I do not take well to the use of any belief or subject position as a proxy for bigotry. My "religious beliefs," in that context, are that all human beings are worthy of respect, regardless of where they are born or what their view toward God happens to be. I'm not interested in debating that with anyone here. I'm simply clarifying my own views and prior history with that poster so you might understand the context.