I had an unsettling experience last month-I was riding up to the summit with 2 people that were working for me, I made a comment about the National park service not aknowledging that the grand canyon may be only 6000 years old....

I didnt realize that the people were both very devout- Later one of them jokingly said "I know you hate christians, but I have a suggestion..." I WAS FLOORED!!!! I Never did or said anything to suggest that- the other person said she NEVER got the impression that I had ANY animosity against religious people... and she was Catholic

I did not know what to say... the fact is the grand canyon is WAY older than 6000 years, but I certainly dont hate those that are religious, MOST of the people I work with believe in one religion or another- it would be self destructive to attack them all on the basis of their beliefs- especially since they all seem like really nice people-

but this person thought I judged him by his religion, quite frankly I dont know what religion 90% of my co-workers believe in... I really dont care- I know most people subscribe to a religion and i think thats just fine, your beliefs are your beliefs, and as long as you dont push your beliefs on me I really dont care.

I tried to talk to him and make it clear that his religious beliefs didnt matter to me, and that I certainly didnt hate christians (that would be a hell of a lot of people to hate!) - I dont think he got it...

I am not going to stop stating fact to coddle true believers, and I never have nor will I attack those that believe in a god- I may challenge their logic, but that is only an attack if you have no rational defense...

In the end we are humans that must deal with humans- we are nothing more than self aware animals with tools- that is not an insult, I am VERY proud of that fact, one of my ancestors (and yours) probably came up with a better way to chip a rock to make a spear point and now I am working on a project involving intangible photons... In just a few dozen generations we have gone from scratching out a living to complaining about the cost of our electricity bills and the price of gas for our cars...

If we survive to get out among the stars we will live to the end of time...

:) and now you see my 'religious' belief- I believe the universe is meant to be explored- and that we are destined to explore this small corner of it- I hope we do....