Christianity as we know it involves telling others about Christianity, because you sincerely want to help your fellows (as well as less noble motivations). Populist movements in conservatism requires a state of constant crisis, in which the conservatives are the proud, the few, the beset on all sides by reduction of their rights at the cost of higher taxes, and therefore need to state their opinions frequently and loudly or they will not be heard at all (this isn't true, but people believe it). And, American right-wingers started off the political trend of name-calling.
The combination of all three of these things in American conservatism results in people who are not silent and who frequently do not feel it is safe to be silent. This prompts a reaction from Americans to the left of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Ann Coulter - since it's now been made into a crisis situation where American "leftists" do not feel they can afford to be silent. Atheists are a great case example; by definition atheism is sort of a laissez-faire philosophy, but most atheists feel they have to be downright militant about it simply to be heard and acknowledged.
Again, I think "our side" - such as it isn't - is part of the problem, but we damn well didn't start it.
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Christianity as we know it involves telling others about Christianity, because you sincerely want to help your fellows (as well as less noble motivations). Populist movements in conservatism requires a state of constant crisis, in which the conservatives are the proud, the few, the beset on all sides by reduction of their rights at the cost of higher taxes, and therefore need to state their opinions frequently and loudly or they will not be heard at all (this isn't true, but people believe it). And, American right-wingers started off the political trend of name-calling.
The combination of all three of these things in American conservatism results in people who are not silent and who frequently do not feel it is safe to be silent. This prompts a reaction from Americans to the left of Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, or Ann Coulter - since it's now been made into a crisis situation where American "leftists" do not feel they can afford to be silent. Atheists are a great case example; by definition atheism is sort of a laissez-faire philosophy, but most atheists feel they have to be downright militant about it simply to be heard and acknowledged.
Again, I think "our side" - such as it isn't - is part of the problem, but we damn well didn't start it.