This article defends the idea of challenging religions in a more aggressive manner. Yesterday I expressed my reservations for doing so. Who is right?

When we fear being accused of "religion bashing," we are buying into the trap our opponents have set for us. Republicans can criticize the political philosophy of Democrats and vice versa. Socialists and capitalists can criticize each other's basic worldview. Religionists, however, have insidiously snuck into the public consciousness the notion that religious doctrines deserve special insulation from criticism, ridicule, and doubt. Religionists have poisoned the debate about religion by passing off this concept that, from the outset, religious claims must be treated with a kinder and gentler type of criticism than that leveled at other types of belief systems.

Okay, now I am fine with debating somebody who presents their belief as a "fact" and then insists that I am going to hell for not joining them in their belief. That person I will eviscerate.

But for the everyday person who has a faith, that is personal and important to their sense of self, I just do not feel that I should attack them or make them question their belief system.

I used to love to mess with really religious people because I felt that they were self-delusional and needed to be rescued from their intellectual dishonesty. But when I started driving people away and realized that I was in danger of destroying their safety net without offering them a replacement, I came to the realization that I was not helping anybody. I was only making them feel abandoned and scared. I have no right to do that.

The fact is that most people do not spend very much time questioning why they believe what they believe. They have always had some sense of belief and just continue with something that feels comfortable and safe. My challenges will only remove that safety from their lives.

Now I have no problem posting my own lack of belief here on my blog, because I am not ashamed of it. Even though I know that some visitors have left because they do not like my postings about religion, I feel that it would be cowardly and dishonest if I did not express my views on religion, just like I do about politics or any of the other topics that I have an opinion on.

This is like looking inside of my head. I purposefully do not edit out potentially volatile statements, because I feel that would not truly express my point of view. But I do not visit other websites and tell them that they are wrong, or ignorant, or delusional. That would make me feel small and petty. I only feel that I should take on those who talk about "knowing" the truth. I don't "know" the truth about too many things. But I do know where the scientific information is leading, and that is where I am going right now.

So I hope that the people who come here and do not embrace every one of my opinions will still visit just for the ones that we may have in common.