Although I am an atheist, I recognize that an individual's intolerance for belief systems of 'the other', be those beliefs political, religious or ethnic, is a result of fear and all too often becomes the root cause of violence.

At the core of the liturgy and texts of all major modern religions is the prescription for love and peace. Individuals and their cronies that act to distort the moral fiber of institutional religious sects do not represent individuals of faith who make efforts to behave morally.

Everyone has personal narratives that define their understanding of the world they inhabit. Religious faith is a particularly potent and positive narrative. Hatred is not.