My views up until now.

I used to believe that people who believe in a deity could not be reasoned with.
I was very firmly of the mindset that religion stifled people, that it "Denied observation so that faith can be preserved," where as "Science adjusts it's views based on what's observed." Thank you Tim Minchin. While my opinion has not changed about science, recently my view on religion has shifted.

I am grateful I don't live in the US.
You want to know why? This is why.

Reading through this makes my head hurt in so many ways. It hurts my head because it shows how cloying and pervasive religion can be, but then it also shows that a small minority of Atheists are complete dicks about it.

The UK is a largely secular country as is most of Europe. In my opinion, secular countries have better educated, more vocal populations that are sceptical of those in charge and not afraid to ask questions. Compared to the mire of the US, we have it easy. Compared to the US, I think our religious population is decreasing.

I'm grateful that the vast majority of religious people in the UK at least have a functional understanding of the basics of the scientific world. Even if it doesn't interest them. We generally don't have people preaching in the street at passers-by that they are going to hell unless they convert to their particular brand of Theism. That would seriously get my goat. But the most invasive form of religion we have are Jehovah's Witnesses (no offence towards any JW's that may be reading) and the worst they do is go from door to door and give a brief over view of the organisation and leave a few leaflets. Even then it is generally met with icy reception or homeowners asking them not to bother calling again.

I've yet to meet someone who is majorly religious and yet possesses the same passion and depth of knowledge in science as I - chiefly physics and astronomy, but I have a Christian friend who claims that he is very interested in science. I would like to see how deep this interest goes. I may be able to teach him a few things.

I mentioned that my girlfriend is religious. The fact that I am with a religious girl who's morals or tenets demand that there is strictly no sex before marriage should show that I am a guy who not only respects her person, her opinions but her religion as well even if I don't believe what she believes. We work pretty well. Her family doesn't force their religion on me, I don't force my scepticism on them. It's how I wish all religion could be.