I find it interesting that Europeans are not nearly as religious as Americans claim to be, and yet, the European countries provide far more safety nets for their citizens that follow traditional Christian teachings. In the United States we follow a brutal form of social Darwinism that must have Jesus Christ shaking his head in despair. Americans need to stop believing in the mythology of "every man for himself" and be more willing to care for "the lesser among us." It seems that a majority of America's so-called Christians have no idea of the teachings of Jesus and are far more interested in the old testament, particularly Leviticus. In general American Christianity is selfish and hypocritical.

As for atheists, they are far less hypocritical and judgmental than the average religious person. I believe in a spiritual creator of the universe, but I have no belief in religious mythology at all. I don't understand how anyone can believe that the bible is the direct word of God with all its contradictions, violence and hate. Belief in the "rapture" is extremely dangerous, and I can't understand how anyone with any intelligence at all can believe such a thing. LaHaye's "Left Behind" series belongs in the fantasy section rather than being shelved with standard fiction like it is in my local library.

The bible belt states have the lowest "family values" in the country. They have the highest rates of divorce, abortion, out-of-wedlock pregnancies and people living together without benefit of matrimony. Massachusetts is criticized for being too liberal and for legalizing gay marriage. So many Christians believe that gay marriage will ruin heterosexual marriage, and yet, Massachusetts has the lowest heterosexual divorce rate in the nation. In Mississippi, where I live, the divorce rate is one of the highest, even though the average person is very pious in the religion department. It's hypocrisy at its highest.