I agree with you about halfway. I'm an Agnostic who so far believes there to be no God, and I don't fear or hate religion. I do, however, admit to getting into spiritual, and even theological discussions for reasons other than self-defence. For one thing, I don't think being an Atheist should disqualify someone from talking about spirituality, religion, or God for that matter. Because whatever the intolerant religious types may try to tell you to the contrary, spirituality is NOT dependent on belief in God, and religion/"God" effect the life of an Atheist just as they do everyone else's. The only people I think should be disqualified from talking about religion or spirituality are people with nothing to say but "I'm right. You're wrong", and there are just as many of those on either side of the Atheist Vs. Theism line. In fact, one of the biases against Atheists that pisses me off the most, is people who claim that Atheists should just "Mind their own business" and not talk about religion or God at all. If all Atheists simply refused to join in discussing God or religion, not only would their rights get trampled by the 'Moral Majority', but everyone's spiritual growth would just be stunted. Which brings me to my next belief on the matter... I think that sharing beliefs freely- not preaching, but sharing -is a good way to expand horizons on all sides. Despite not being religious, I've studied the Bible pretty thoroughly, so I can interpret from my own point and view and make Christians really *Think* about it. And I consider that more of a service to them and to myself than some sort of attack on their beliefs.