Starting to imagine that all this muslim talk in the U.S. might result in more atheism....

This is all speculation, not a prediction or a certainty.

Listening to Melissa on MSNBC this morning, and noting how, all of a sudden, americans are hearing about islam 24/7, I'm starting to imagine that this may do real harm to christian followings.

I know there's no proof of it yet: It's too soon, anyway. And, this is very generalized speculation here: I'm not claiming this to be a perfect scenario, not by a long shot.

But here's my logic: Many people first begin questioning their childhood religious imprints when other religions are brought into common culture. People tend to follow the crowd until something interrupts the consistent onslaught of "what we're all accustomed to." As children, the idea that there is any other way to be is hidden from many of us.

I know, NOT ALL OF US. Please don't attack based simply on the fact that this is an over-generalization. I fully admit this is speculation in very generalized terms. OF COURSE there will be exceptions. No doubt of that, so, no need to hit me over the head with it.

It is possible that by hearing about all of the really objectionable tenets in the jihaddist wing of islam, christians might look at their own tenets with equally skeptical eyes, for the first time.

I think it is quite common for many americans who identify as christians to have their own doubts, especially in the wake of the catholic priest scandal. Meat used to be forbidden on fridays....intermarriage used to be more shocking...Divorce was shameful even in an abusive marriage....Gay marriage was unthinkable just a few years ago. There have always been little cracks in the veneer of traditional U.S. christianity.

I'm starting to wonder if this new daily focus on this controversial set of foreign dogmas might just serve to enlarge the cracks in the veneer that might have already existed in some "believers."

Our 21st century small world may be the undoing of some very very old tribalistic underpinnings.....

Not making any claims of certainty, here. Just wondering...