It's the Organization, Silly Git

Saw this bit at Sullyland

Zealous atheism renews some of the worst features of Christianity and Islam. Just as much as these religions, it is a project of universal conversion. Evangelical atheists never doubt that human life can be transformed if everyone accepts their view of things, and they are certain that one way of living - their own, suitably embellished - is right for everybody. To be sure, atheism need not be a missionary creed of this kind. It is entirely reasonable to have no religious beliefs, and yet be friendly to religion. It is a funny sort of humanism that condemns an impulse that is peculiarly human. Yet that is what evangelical atheists do when they demonise religion.

I sent Sully an email reading thus;

John Gray conflates "religion" and religious organizations. I'm not an atheist, I have my own spiritual views (I'm more a Deist), and I don't know any atheists who are hostile to religion. I, and many atheists, and many others who carry a different label, are hostile to the organized religion paradigm. They are fundamentally evil, and it boggles the imagination why people think that at this place in time, organized religion is substantially different then it's been for thousands of years.

I wonder why so many people can't see the difference between individual spirituality and the religious power structures? If the Catholic church suddenly ceased to exist, would you be any less Christian? I'd imagine not - and the world would be far better off.