Logic destroys faith when it comes to religion. Religion cannot usually survive without faith. I believe tha the fastest growing group is the atheists and agnosticism in well educated countries around the world, which is seen as a threat to faith based organisations.

People are very threatened by those of us who are not religious in the same way they are. They are trying to deny their own feelings of doubt, which I feel even they experience whether they are willing to admit it or not. They need others to affirm their beliefs. They are frightened of people who challenge their blind faith. And they do not understand that someone can be spiritual and a good person without believing in god.

I would say that over the last couple of years in particular people have become emboldened condemning anybody that is not in their tribe. Courtesy went out the window in regards to people of a different color, belief sex, you name it.

Because belief in God constitutes the core of their belief system. Take that away and they have nothing -- or that is the way they see it. They cannot tolerate that possibility.

In this region, it's a result of very deliberate indoctrination, aiming to bind members more tightly to the cult by maligning non-members (nonbelievers or other religions). It not only makes it ok to harm these non-members, but even rewards such abominable behavior, which just reinforces and spreads it.

It's not just the US, it's the world. I personally believe that they feel that intimidation and the fear of eternal damnation should get anyone to convert. I just tell them that it's a good thing that I don't believe in heaven/hell, and even if I did Hell would be better than living in an eternity with them and their like.