sotto voce

Shellfish, eh. Then it is surely a bit excessive to begin a thread on the premise that the Bible deity is responsible for brutalities and ethnic cleansing.

In any case, the syndrome is recognisably that of the USA, that has a peculiar history, and it is hardly fair to make a general principle on the basis of a local phenomenon, that may fade in time. The USA could, and probably will, become like Europe and other developed democracies. It is improving already.

Americans don't oppose evolution because the Bible tells them to. They oppose evolution because they oppose the Bible. If they refuse to wear cotton polyester blends (and I wasn't aware that they did), surely that is their right? People do stranger things in India for the sake of religion. Much stranger.

And in my view, shellfish are far better left in the sea, anyway.

As for the rights of homosexuals outside the church, the Bible says not a syllable on the subject. What those outside the church do is entirely their own business. And likewise, what is done by those inside the church, however tiny that may be (and in the USA is probably is very tiny) is their own business. It's the "Live, and let live" principle, that is found widely in Europe, but less so in the USA. It is the maturation of the USA that needs to be accelerated, not attacks on any religion. When the USA has matured, it will obey the biblical command to mind your own business and not tell others how to lead their lives. That's how to bring American 'Christians' into line.

Forget evolution, etc. It's not a question of opposing the Bible. It's a question of putting undemocratic busybodies firmly in their place.