"but i would urge that you be respectful of others regardless of your personal beliefs, at least in your public dealings with them."

Rifka, sweets, I think you're seeing offense where none is intended. zahav is a grad student in religious studies, I believe it may be specifically on Judaism. I'm not sure how things in this thread got off kilter, but let's bring it back on-kilter. You and zahav may end up disagreeing, but I've never seen any disrespect from Zahav towards any religion.