Open Muse:
It's one thing to have faith. It's even commendable. However, to me, its another thing completely to be so fervent -- to the exclusion of all others' (beliefs, ideas, customs, etc.). Baffling -- how people 40, 50 years of age, who have been practicing (or not) for 10 or 20 years can be so adamant, and narrow, that they would curse people to hell, or "pray for you" to change to their way of believing. Most people have no concept whatsoever of the historical context in which their religion emerged, or what languages, customs or ethnic groups shaped it -- over so many years, events and accidents. Nor do they care. Yet these modern zealots are convinced that the next person is not only errant in their ways, but should be pitied or scorned.
Maybe that's because they are not really convinced?...
