I did work for Teen Mania, specifically for ATF, and I can tell you right now, that it is NOT a money making scam, since ATF goes into debt every year to put on these shows. A lot of people think that ATF has tons of money, because of the lights and bands, but honestly, the office staff sometimes go without basic office supplies to put these events. These people are doing everything they can to put together an awesome event.

If you don’t like ATF, then don’t go.

Also, Katie isn’t middle-class. I don’t think she’s ever made more than 30,000 a year; I believe right now she makes about 10,000.

This sounds just like people who complain about unionized jobs being paid better and working less than they do. Fact is, that they are being paid and being treated fairly. It is you who are getting screwed. It always works so much better for the wealthy to have workers angry at other workers than themselves.

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Isaiah 54:17 no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.

Besides the fact that exterminating religion will likely not instantly make the world a better place, there is something to be said for the form of pluralism you’re talking about here.

Respect for one another and non-judgment despite difference is crucial to build the society that many atheists (and many religious folks alike) want.The Dawkins crowd Bill Maher’s tirade against moderates as enablers of fundamentalists shows very little in this regard.