There is the curious case of Paul Mirecki who claims to have been beaten by 2 attackers because he criticised christian fundamentalists and ID. Some on the conservative side are claiming he set the whole thing up. The story is now an argy bargy of claims and counterclaims amd the whole story has become murky and what actually happened quite difficult to determine.

I think the idea of christianity (and in the States this means a narrow, sectarian vewi of christianity) being under attack is simply to perpetuate an “us v them” attitude and strengthen the group bonds. If US Christians really want to know what it is like to attacked for their religious views send ‘em to the countries where your religious beliefs will get you killed.

Nevertheless, they represent a kind of ignorance and have sufficient numbers to appall anyone who lives according to reason, regardless of how they then supplement their lives with religion, as many do, so their fears of being marginalised, which they experience as ‘attacks’, come out in many areas affecting society overall, whether it’s the annual debates over Christmas or more extreme ‘return fire’ incidents, such as the murder of Bernard Slepian or the Atlanta Olympics bombings. Frankly, that’s a lot more frightening to me, especially as the part of society with which I identify actually is under attack, rather than just being asked to keep their religion to themselves.

It’s just as well there are judges like Jones around to keep things honest.