Unlike some people, I never "became" an atheist. I was born without religion, raised without religion, and it wasn't until I was older that I had a word for it. I had a very "live and let live" attitude towards religion, though I was frustrated with attempts to quash science in its name. That persisted even when close family members of mine became more religious and concerned with the alleged fate of my soul. I've found it at once interesting and disturbing that I've become more militant in my views as time goes on. The recent terrorist attacks in India were a turning point for me: it was clear that it was a result of religion going too far.

Yet, as I do become increasingly critical of religion, I come to realize that things are not as cut and dry as anyone with conviction may like. It is pleasing for atheists as well as theists to believe their tribe to be superior—morally, intellectually, and perhaps spiritually—but in reading through comment threads on some websites it becomes clear that those on both sides are all too human. Religion can certainly be a corrupting influence, but that does not mean all who have faith are corrupted themselves. Nor does that mean all believers accept their religion uncritically.

Take Richard Rodriguez: an author who offers "stinging critiques of religious hypocrisy" (Salon), but who himself is a practicing Catholic. Rodriguez has criticized the "desert religions" of Christianity, Judaism and Islam as being too patriarchal, too domineering. Yet he stays a Catholic, because, allegedly, his parish offers a sense of community and acceptance that the Catholic Church as a whole may not wish upon homosexuals such as himself.

I do not know the details of Rodriguez's religious views, all I know is what I have read in an interview he did with Salon.com. It may be there is some hypocrisy in his own acceptance of Catholocism and his criticisms of it. Yet he seems to be far more reasonable than what I have come to expect from religious figures in America. I would not mind having a discussion with him: there are many questions I would have to ask. I imagine we would disagree on many a subject, however the existence of people such as Rodriguez reminds me that we can learn from those we disagree with.