I don't see it as the Christian god not existing, or even that he doesn't exist as they imagine him. I believe that it is one path to the same overall end, like the top of a mountain. Lots of ways to get to the top, not one of them is the same, though some of them may cross at some times. I think if we are to say that they are wrong and we are right then we are just as guilty as they are when they say that we're going to Hell because we don't follow Christ. I think that for some people being in a Christian church is a good thing. For some people it brings very positive change to their lives, and for others, well they need to belong to something and it's better than them joining a street gang
I hear that, "All paths lead to the same end" line a lot. I don't believe it, because we can't ALL be right. And if some religion says to kill other people who believe something else, I don't think that's a valid path to "enlightenment" or "The Divine" at all. I like science a lot, and Deism and Pantheism makes sense to me. Anything that can be described as "supernatural", like the Christian God, does not. Religion does a lot of bad things, I agree with Dawkins on that point, especially when it comes to Christianity and Islam. Yeah, it does some good. And sometimes people do feel like belonging in something, but I think we can adress that inner psychological need in ways that are more positive than, "Believe this, give us money, join our cult." I know tolerance is a good thing, but there can be such a thing as too much. I don't believe we should tolerate religions which indoctrinate children to be close minded fools who talk back to their biology teachers and believe Creationism is LITERAL FACT. I don't believe we should tolerate people who believe that to have a peaceful world, everyone must be Muslim or dead. I call bullshit on tolerating that, or saying that those paths lead to wisdom, because I can't possibly see how that can be. I don't agree that all religions are bad or harmful, obviously, but I'm tired of it being considered wrong to point out how horribly bad that some of them can be.
Also, Dawkins does think Pagans are foolish. But to a hardcore rationalist, yeah, some of the more flamboyant members might make us appear foolish. We have to understand the context. He's not saying that our religion is wrong, because he doesn't really understand it, but if you read it in the context of a scientist proving that the world can exist with out Creationism or a Christian God, then it's great.
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