A truly fabulous post (here) by Kate Belgrave at Liberal Conspiracy.

It includes such marvellously spiky rantings as this:

Why do followers of God still get airtime in politics and press? In all other (normal) forums like parties and pub nights, they’re laughed out of the room and never invited back. The person who brought them is usually expelled forever as well. If you see a Christian preaching on the street, you cough the word ‘loser’ and cross the road. But there they are in Brown’s cabinet. Go figure.

It may make you grimace but Kate has a point.

I also liked this from Anton Vowl in a very lengthy comments section:

I agree entirely about religious figures being granted undue significance. Why, simply because someone believes in Jesus (or Allah, or the flying spaghetti monster) should that person’s views be considered more weighty than any other non-expert source?

Couldn’t one argue that their weird belief in some mystic deity, contrary to all scientific evidence, is a reason to take them +less+ seriously than a non-believer? It’s anachronistic nonsense that the modern media can’t shake off even in an increasingly secular society where church attendances are falling off a cliff almost as fast as newspaper readerships.

As the comments here show, even otherwise intelligent people blithely assume ‘facts’ about Jesus Christ’s life and existence (look at the annual outcry about children not being taught the Nativity story)

It’s not ‘intolerant’ to point this out, and I’d say it’s fair enough to be mocking about people who frequently think you’re going to hell and suffer for all eternity just for not believing what they do.

Of course everyone has the right to believe and worship. But that doesn’t make them more important, more spiritual, more intelligent or more worthy to give an opinion on subjects like abortion than anyone else.

It’s worth noting that amongst all these comments, on a political, rather than religious blog, there are only a couple of dissenting voice despite the tone of the language.  Like the Americans coming out of their post 9/11 closetsand admitting, now that there is a fashionable option, that they never really liked Bush – people are realising it is okay not just to be un-religious but also to speak out against religion.

In addition, perhaps, while people should be respected (unless they prove unworthy of it), religion is now no longer being afforded respect by default.  I believe it is okay to question - and it is okay to ridicule the ridiculous.

Update: Paul Linford reacts (from a more Christian point of view).