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against the court's backwardness. The eventual solution to this international crisis was to spirit Abdul out of the country by plane. And how did the court learn about Abdul? His loyal god-besotted family ratted him out, in accordance with the instructions in the Koran. Although Abdul was given the opportunity to return to Islam and all would be forgiven, he refused. He may be unwise, but Abdul Rahman has integrity to spare.

Looking at history dispassionately, god-sanctioned bigotry and intolerance has accounted for untold hardship, misery and death over the centuries. In modern times, shunning may not sound like a severe punishment, but because humans are social animals and throughout history have organized themselves in tribal fashion, being shunned by your tribe can wreak emotional devastation. Believers, take this stuff seriously notwithstanding that the average person who attends smiling Joel Osteen's Lakewood megachurch probably would stop short of stoning their family members. One hopes.

In Europe where the enlightenment has been more strongly embraced, atheism is now cheerfully accepted. Historians and those who study such matters believe Europeans turned away from religion in droves because of their long history of religious wars that created so much misery. People finally wised up. Why kill each other and destroy property over improbable, unproven, and might we suggest - improvable beliefs? Thankfully, in Northern Ireland, the last vestige of a hateful, religiously sanctioned war has finally sputtered to a close.

On this side of the Atlantic our awakening has only recently come about. In large part, we can thank the brilliant writing of atheists Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Christopher Hitchens, A. C. Grayling and others who have recently produced seminal books, broadly and forcefully attacking organized religion. Their books have become a publishing phenomenon that has left apologists gasping and sputtering for replies. So far, the best they can come up with is to accuse Pol Pot and Stalin of atheism, so there! Sometimes the more rabid among them include Hitler, but there is reasonable doubt about his exact standing as a Christian.

In addition, the strident, backward, fundamental Christians, who insist the entire country must follow their mean spirited, narrow way of thinking, are now in disarray. The cycle of dying religious fervor on this side of the Atlantic is finally coinciding with the progress of our enlightened European neighbors.

The horrors of September 11, 2001 signaled the beginning of the end of the spell cast by religion; and not a moment too soon. Religion is indubitably the enemy of civilization when an atomic bomb can be fit into a briefcase or airplanes can be blown from the sky with liquid ingredients commonly available at your local Wal-mart and hardware store. Likewise, fertilizer and diesel fuel are easily acquired in this age of do-it-yourself bomb factories. Truck rental businesses scrutinize customers far more carefully these days you may be sure.

So what about fanatics? Ultimately, all religions are structured in a way that almost invites fanaticism because there are no effective counter controls. If your Abrahamic religion veers off into fanaticism, you cannot protest. It says right in the book you will be cast out or worse. Enough, is enough. Humanity must outgrow childish fantasies if we are to progress in the twenty-first century.

Atheism versus religion is no longer simply an academic exercise in philosophy. Atheism may offer our only sane hope for survival.

Learn more about this author, Richard Collins.
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