Good.

That's the very last thing we need in order to create a more just society - not least because religious identities are founded in books written hundreds if not thousands of years ago, and our idea of what constitutes justice has moved on since the days of rape being considered a form of adultery.

BBC Story
Telegraph comment column
Warsi's article

I don't think religion is sidelined though? How can it be being sidelined in a free society where you are free to practice whatever imaginary friend worship you like, say (almost) what you like, think what you like? Our society is built on total religious freedom and as such drawing a line in the sand WRT public buildings & schools is entirely appropriate! Do whatever on your own time, don't push your beliefs on those of us who don't 'Believe'.

You would have thought though that religious people would be all for entirely secular schooling. After all, most religious texts preach 'Love thy neighbour' and 'Be tolerant of all creeds, faiths and races'. A secular school would teach a religious child about other faiths including those who are not religious and not just the small community which they come from. However it seems a lot want religious tolerance, but only within the framework of their own chosen flavour of delusion.

Militant is an interesting word to use. One I would associate more with certain religious groups than those with none.

Doesn't one teach that all non-belivers should be converted or killed? Something about a caliphrate or something?

Ah, the hoary old "atheist=totalitarian" chestnut.

How original.

"The atheist lobby" didn't fly two planes into a skyscraper.

"The atheist lobby" doesn't stone women to death for being raped.

"The atheist lobby" doesn't systematically cover up child rape.

"The atheist lobby" doesn't actively campaign against the use of barrier contraception in countries where AIDS is (literally) epidemic.

"The atheist lobby" doesn't rock up to soldier's funerals in the USA to pronounce that they're glad they're dead.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

So, notwithstanding the fact that there isn't an "atheist lobby", what's the problem with "stirring up trouble"?

I'm sorry, but there is. Or there certainly appears to be. I'm not going to attempt to defend any of the indefensible and entirely valid points you make but I don't think vocal, resentful people taking town councils to court are helping matters either.

As I said, what next?

First of all please don't accuse me of writing twaddle, I was trying (as a non-religious person) to make my point. Secondly please explain your political agenda point, I don't understand.

The UK population is becoming less religious overall. Of course some of the religious will feel threatened by this change, especially if they are part of the establishment and see their influence/perceived importance waning.

Those who do feel threatened will do what people often do in that situation - attack those they feel are threatening them, regardless of whether the threat is real, benign, imaginary and/or inevitable.

About time people wised up and figured out that fairy tales based on irrelevant belief systems now long dead are obsolete, inefficient and antagonistic.

Tooth Fairies, the easter bunny and santa claus are more believable than some magic bloke that didn't die, or one of the other many many stories one finds amongst the worlds religions.

Face the facts. Religion is dead. Long live truth and reality!
If mentally weak people need an emotional crutch thats up to them, but don't degenerate secular others for living in the read world.

My infallible 2p