Lanny MacDonald and Daradon you two are the most ignorant people in regards to religion. You pretend you have knowledge but all you both have is prejudice and hate. Like most narrow minded bigots you fear the unknown and that fear is manifest as hatred.
Daradon Judaism, Christianity and certainly Islam has never been inclusive. You obviously never have read a honest history book or their sacred texts to come up with such notion. In the Mosaic covenant an Israelite wasn't even allowed to marry outside of their religion. When God called them to take land He ordered them kill all the inhabitants so they wouldn't be influenced by their false gods. The first commandment demonstrates God's intolerance for false religions.
Jesus said: "I am the way the truth and the life; No man cometh unto the Father but by me" His Apostles who wrote the New Testament seemed to agree. Acts 4:12 says: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." The New covenant doesn't call for bloodshed against non-believers but, it does call for separation from what the book defines as sin and also a contending for the faith. Islam is obviously intolerant. Their founder turned to the sword after he was frustrated with a lack of coverts to his newly minted religion. It would be accurate to argue that the radical fundamentalists are more representative of their historical roots then the moderates.
The concept of religious freedom first had its roots in the colony of Rhode Island. They were the first place in the modern world to protect their citizens right to believe and practice what their conscience dictated. Freedom of religion is so intertwined with freedom of speech that one could not exist without the other. The colony of Rhode Island was Englands only baptist colony. When the colonies chose to break away from England the Rhode Island model was the only one which could unite 13 colonies(with different State churches) into one entity. Over time much of the Christian world adopted both freedom of religion and freedom of speech. My point of this history lesson was that these concepts{freedom of religion/speech) were first practiced by these scary fundamentalist christians who believed that Christ would return and establish his kingdom.
That particular belief doesn't compel them to make war or censure other religions. Speaking out against atheism, Islam or any other false religion should be tolerated within our society. One should be free to do so without fear of harm. Speaking out against Christianity should be allowed within our society and is. It's just a pity you atheist can't do it with more intelligence.
A belief that Christ will soon return has not historically been the cause of war. Why try to paint it as the cause of everything evil today.
Also, to suggest that fundamental Christians are blind to immorality within the republican party is unfounded. They tend to vote for people who appear to best represent their viewpoint just like the atheists. The reason why so few vote Democrat is because the party seems to minimalize fundamental Christians. Like you two they are arrogant enough to assume that any viewpoint that doesn't align with theirs is based on ignorance.
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