Religion should be encouraged if it has positive effects on people.What do you think?

[johan]

The US ain't Europe. I wish we were more like Europe but we're not.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were speaking about Americans specifically; there were no geographical/national referents in your post.

I'm still not so sure we Americans can't and won't navigate the same transition with a similar grace. I think it's already started, given the demographics of the religious over the last 20 or so years.

Yeah perhaps. One thing is certain, the culture is what MUST drive any mass move toward secularism. The people have to decide they want it on their own and move toward it on their own. That is the only way we get there without chaos.

And even then, I still think I'd sleep better knowing a lot of the fundies we have really do believe there's a sky daddy that will punish them if they don't mind their manners.