Hey there,
No need to apologize. Sensitive issues sometimes cause emotions to rear their ugly heads. It happens. I don't think less of you as a person, and once SN cools down, I don't think he will, either... and even if he does? Meh. Fuck him, then. It's an internet forum. We come here to participate as a community, but at the end of the day, it's just fonts on a screen.
Glad to have your participation and hear your opinions over all, but not every post can be perfect. ~shrugs~ Thanks for handling it like an adult after you cooled off, especially considering your circumstance and the level of pain that must have brought up. ~hugs~

thanks for your welcome, d'holbach! best wishes from el salvador.

Thanks! Don't suppose you've read System of Nature? I've always been meaning to, even if it is somewhat outdated.

I'm afraid I don't have numbers, but from personal experience I can tell you that while not many people in Israel are 'full-blown' atheists, a lot of them are secular (as in - they may believe in God, but do not accpet the reign of organized religion).
It's better than in the States though, where "Atheist" is somewhere below "Scumbag" and above "Murderer", but not by much.

As am I! I see that you are an English professor -- my intended career. Where do you teach?

I haven't seen "The Illusionist" yet, thanks for the clue. But I saw "Prestige" two times (cinema and tv).

Well, here in Switzerland we atheists still have a lot of work to do. :-) For instance, we still have to disestablish. Religion is still teached in public schools. Fees for christian churches are still collected by the state with their taxes.
And there's also a creationist movement, which is maybe(?) growing.

thanks!

I lived in the US for two years and I have to say I agree with you. However, well, more often than I would like we can do better also...

Sweet! Pass the bbq sauce