This is very disturbing. It fits right in with the blog over at Defcon on the Chip Berlet post re: respectful dialog.

I am not quite sure why, but it is really depressing to think destructive, consumptive social/religious movements have the protection of religious freedom. There is no sense of live and let live, no ackowledgement of others rights.Something is terribly wrong here.

The way it appears to me is Something (a religion) that always had the right to exist, has decided to move into my business and not stay within the traditional confnes of its church where it is entitled to believe what it believes. I am not called the “wronged party”, instead I am told to be nice and respectful.

We are being asked to be nice to
Mr Berlet’s 50 million Americans who believe they can splinter and dismantle existing religions, meddle in and control politics without tax ramifications, have the right to deny civil rights and liberties to entire blocks of the American population based on biblical interpretations.

I think one thing is true about people: hate, power and the will of God are righteous causes that do untold harm. Why can’t we also address destructive social aspects of religion?

PS Loved your book, Eternal Hosilities.