I'm not talking about those with sincerely held beliefs who make a personal choice to live a certain way. I'm talking about people who think their way is the only way and that those who are different are evil. Crusades to change everyone else run the continuum from Bible-thumping Christian to evangelical vegan. If you don't conform, you are wrong.
While we're at it, let's include self-righteous vegetarians in this list.
Not all atheists and vegans are obnoxious, of course. And some of my best friends are vegetarian. But they accept the fact that I eat meat and I respect their right not to.
I, in fact, am strongly Christian, but I do everything I can to not be confused with the self-righteous evangelical fundamentalists which so dominate the media these days. I just hate it when the "Christian perspective" is represented by individuals who's values contrast so sharply with mine.
Case in point: the media coverage of Caitlyn Jenner, which has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive of her gender transition, often goes to "Christians" for the alternative point of view. Naturally, twits like Mike Huckabee are quoted with their idiotic references to Jenner's sinful motives (as if one would become a trans woman just to see naked girls in the shower) and so on, with the underlying assumption that all other Christians share that point of view.
I couldn't disagree more. In my mind, and in the faith communities with whom I associate, the only acceptable Christian response to gender transition is compassion and acceptance. If the Christian gospels were set in the 21st century, I'm quite sure that Jesus would be hanging out with transgendered individuals as well as others who are estranged from the current religious establishment.
My vegan, atheist, and spiritual friends and I share common values of justice, tolerance, and global awareness. We share a belief in science and the scientific method. There are more similarities than differences between us.
