[Julie Steiner]

Andrew M., I don't consider critiques of religious beliefs themselves (rather than critiques of the people who hold them) to be pot shots--particularly when some participants in a discussion are voluntarily bringing their personal religious views into that discussion.

If people don't want their religious views to get paintballed, they shouldn't wave them about while playing paintball.

To me, though, there's a significant difference between saying "Your belief system is flawed, because..." and "You are stupid, because..." The first is a discussion of an idea, and the second is an insult. The first has at least some--however slight--chance of convincing someone to concede a point or two. The second doesn't. No one has ever said, "Oh, yes, I see now--I really am stupid. Thanks for bringing it to my attention."