**fume**

I was just getting back from getting my hair cut - good mood, pretty day - when I saw a knot of protestors outside the local naval hospital.

It looked to be a protest/counter protest between veteran supporters and "Rev." Phelps "God Hates F*gs" idiots. There were a lot of police around, (to protect the protesters from each other?) and a lot of resultant traffic - I was greeted to the sight of someone with a "God Hates You" sign while a commuter somewhere behind me blasted Adam Ant's "Goody Two Shoes" on his stereo - how's that for incongruity ("Don't drink, don't smoke, what do ya do?")?

Needless to say I'm not overly pleased that that poisonous bastard has his people in my neck of the woods and even though I've seen it on TV a dozen times it's still jarring to see people who want to spend a beautiful day like this spouting hatred for no apparent reason (yeah yeah, I know the reasons - fear and excessive devotion to "religious" dogma).

I really didn't need to see that today. I was pleased however that the veteran supporters were there in equal numbers.

(no subject)

The sight of religious extremists in my neck of the woods today reminded me that I meant to write a long-winded post on the subject of religion.

I'd initially thought of using this heretic quiz (hat tip idragosani) as a jumping off point, because any result I would have received would have been inappropriate/wrong - it's very hard to be a heretic when you don't have an organized belief system to commit a heresy against, but I still would have scored as something because most of us start somewhere.

( the long winded part )

I'm sure I've pissed off a good many people with this post, but I meant no disrespect. I'm genuinely curious - why do the quietly, confidently faithful still go to church? And other stuff.

Keeping it public in hopes that it will stimulate conversation. If it gets all flamey I'll make it friends only 'cos I know my friends tend to be a civil lot :)