I favor religious freedom.  I don't favor attempting to force anyone to believe or not believe anything.  However, the reality is that religion is so deeply institutionalized in our society that it is forced upon us all in a wide variety of ways, from birth, and I think that those ways in which it is forced upon us need to be challenged and that public institutions that are supposed to represent us ALL should not promote religious beliefs in any way. As a secular nation, I think even believers should be appalled that our presidents tend to end every speech with "God Bless America". That's merely one example of a million.

And what I mean when I refer to myself as a "militant atheist" is that I favor strongly opposing (or fighting against if you will) the influence of religion in public life and I favor strongly arguing against it and condemning it and criticizing it through social, academic and intellectual channels.  I do not favor the use of violence in response to ideas in any situation whatsoever.  But I do believe bad ideas, of which I believe religion is very likely the worst, should be strongly challenged and condemned IN THE REALM OF IDEAS.  And that what I mean by militant...militant in that I favor maintaining a relentless fight against religion INTELLECTUALLY, not a physical fight, nor a legal prohibition of anyone's right to privately maintain and practice whatever personal belief they wish.

You may think I'm an asshole still, but hopefully you are now better informed if you still hold that position.