I have a slightly different hit. I was very close to devote catholics during the Viet Nam war who were willing to put their asees, their jobs, and the money on the line repeatedly. I have nothing but respexct for those people. As individuals. But their religion is evil. Good things sometimes frow in poisoned soil. I loathe vicarious salvation. I loathe all the *structures* of religion because the *structures* become inherently classist & conservative as they gain in power & wealth. Jesus had some cool ideas, but I do not see him as any more of a God than anyone else. The bible is built upon slavery, murder, and torture. Their God is seen as a despotic ruler who really needs to be tossed. I have much respect for those who preach a path of getting rid of the parasites, the oppression, and the police states. But as soon as they start using religion as a *reason* for their good deeds, I get very very nervous. There have been an awful lot of people tortured, robbed from, and murdered in Christ's name. I don't want to see them liberated in Christ's name either. Just let holy books of the ancients rot in libraries while scholars get their jollies off on them. But I sure do not want these books to be considered "holy" or sacrosanct" in any stuggle I am a part of.