Yea I have seen a lot of good people beetween relegious also some naive and we don't hate them but we hate a person that abuses thease people beliefs and as I remember they all (good and bad) hate atheists that is somehow hurting

I had a similar experience. It seemed more like a culture. when I was really young I wanted to be a missionary. Not idea it had to do with religion. I still find religious organizations that i refer clients to. Two organizations in my area is Christian Outreach who are many denominations of churches that go to elderly and disabled clients homes to do repairs in the Summer. Family Promise, formerly called Interfaith, is a non-profit organization that provides case management services for homeless families and some single adults and various churches host housing these families/individuals at various churches where volunteers from the church cook for them and they have a place to sleep for 1-2 weeks and then go to the next host church. The Methodist Churches have a community program that pays partially or completely for low income families child care.

I find people in general on a continuum of those who contribute to others and those who need assistance Judging others for their beliefs that differ from mine is unproductive and divisive. Though I do not believe in the dogma and believe my path would be similar even if not exposed to religion. I am now a Social Worker who is grateful for those who help my clients non matter what they beliefs are. I love that my work provides the enjoyment of being with lots of people day to day in their homes, and I don't have to be a missionary and I can be cool with whatever they believe that inspires them.

1950s deep south, everyone could mutually agree to just hate the black folk.

I think people are basically good sadly 9/11 showed whipping up the fear of those who are different gains you power and control. The true believers are being fed a daily diet of fear and the lines between church and state are getting blurry.
My awareness was wondering if Kennedy, a Catholic would be good for the country.

Thank for this post Skado. It’s pleasant to read something positive. For the most part my experience parallels yours. Even today, I run into the old church folks and they greet me warmly.

It really irks me to read news articles that refer to the “evangelical” vote. At our church there were all kinds of political opinions but politics was seldom discussed or even mentioned. Some sleazy politicians do use religion to worm their way into office—maybe that’s where the idea comes from.

In addition to the positive things, I also remember some very emotional appeals to come forward, accept Christ and be saved from eternal damnation. I actually went through the motions in a half-hearted way after a sexy girl talked me into it. After I moved on, some years later I was angry for a long time, but at this point, I acknowledge my own complicity, and I recognize also the positive aspects of the church.

IMO the basic premises of Christianity as presented by traditional churches are erroneous, but the people involved are admirable and beautiful.

i remember when i was a kid the ppl at the church helped put a roof on our house.... the preacher was excruciatingly boring and his sermons way too often ran overtime. i never disliked anybody really... i always made a paper airplane out of the bulletin and threw it in church after the sermon. always disappointed when we didn't eat. it was good times.
i don't hate the religious either... the ones that really believe the shit. most now are not into it just for the money. but do dislike the ones that make money like baaker, tilton (i know a guy that actually sent money to this jackass), bob larson (my mother used to send him $20 every month), etc.
last preacher that i knew of at my former church is 'Pastor W. (William) Frank Brown'.. just google him.
he was the best thing since sliced bread when he first arrived except for several older church members..one of which was my good friend and she was right on.
what i don't like is that people often just give up and 'let god.' that's when believing is not cool.
also was here when the 'compound' was being raided. i know of a couple my mother knew that survived that...they are atheist now.
some people get smarter. some get richer. some don't. some are just idiots.

People are just people. It is when they live thier lives as if their mythological book was factual, that is were it get dangerous.