> First my position, I am what most would consider a “strong” atheist, I
> “know” God does not exist, that in itself has attracted some attacks,
> so I would ask that you let it pass this one time. I have lived in the
> heart of a divided society for 25 years, a society, given my position
> in it, that tested my religious affiliations robustly and daily.  So
> on a daily and personal basis I experienced the “very bad” side of
> religion. Nevertheless, and despite my strong non beliefs, I happily
> accept and defend other people’s right to think differently.

> For some time now I have been attacked for taking that position
> sometimes by assholes, which I consider flattery, but sometimes by
> others for whom I have a certain respect, and it is the criticism from
> the latter that leads me to ask:-

> Why is it so wrong to defend the “nice” theists who do me no harm,
> while being happy to condemn the “bad” that potentially could.

> Believe it or not I ask this with an open mind, and if I my position
> is proven wrong, I will accept it, reappraise my position and admit my
> error.

> I leave you with an apt quote from Mahatma Gandhi, 1931:-

> “Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. It
> passes my comprehension how human beings, be they ever so experienced
> and able, can delight in depriving other human beings of that precious
> right.”