[Serious] Over the top

[Belacqua]

You seem to be keen on protecting religious people

I find myself correcting statements about religion that aren't true. And I do defend religious people if people say false things about them.

For example, if someone were to say that someone whose self-image is informed very much by his religion couldn't be important or do important things, I would argue against that. 

European culture was Christian culture for a long time. Much of the very best thinking done in Europe was done by seriously religious people. I am happy to read what they wrote and get from it all that is good. To dismiss it unfairly only hurts ourselves. 

despite your excuses, theists saying horrible things get crickets from you.

I find such people boring. Mainly, I know that I have little hope of improving their thought. It's more likely that I can improve people who are more like me to begin with -- though the real goal in the end is to improve my own. I'm the only one I have any control over. 

I don't believe for a moment you are an atheist

Yeah, you can believe what you want. 

I have this crazy idea that I should understand people different from me, have empathy for their views, and get from them what good they have to offer. It appears that such a view is incredible to some people. Maybe we're no longer supposed to have empathy and understanding for people who disagree with us. It is the age of Trump after all. 

Certainly the idea that we have a duty to write true sentences about people unlike ourselves is -- to put it politely -- not strongly defended. 

Respect is something you must earn.

Why do you think I want it from strangers on the Internet?