"Religious Evolution!?"  Blasphemy!  These words coexists on a page about as well as a badger and a bulldog in a barn!  However, like all things, religion continues to evolve and provides a ray of hope for atheists.  As much as we would like to see the religious beast banished forever from our world, we should take great pride in the progress that has been made when comparing the current beast with the much more viscous beasts of the Medieval Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition.  Religions do exhibit attributes of an evolving beast.  None of the religions today are like religions of old.  Even Catholicism has somewhat reigned in its horns and has less sharp teeth.  As the beast migrated across the globe, it evolved and many of its offspring hardly resemble the papal beasts dwelling in Vatican City.  The greatest strides in religious evolution have occurred in America as a result of two environmental factors.  First, we owe immeasurable gratitude to our founders for establishing a barrier between religion and government.  Though it is often breached, it can be repaired by diligent and tireless efforts.  Second, the fact that we are such a diverse nation representing all races and religions of the world, no single religious beast has total domination, though Christians have the greatest numbers.  However, even among 'Christians', the species is diverse.  None can agree and new sub-species are born every day.  This is a good thing!  As they evolve, they gradually adapt to survive in their new environments.  The drastic changes presented by the Enlightenment, the Age of Reason, America, free thought, free speech, free press, skeptical thinking, science, modern medicine, etc. have made religions adapt in ways inconceivable to those living even 300 years ago. Evolution is a painfully slow process, but it is happening!  The Ethical Atheist is optimistic!  Religions inhabiting this new environment of freedom, skepticism and science will either adapt or become extinct.  And as they change and become more diverse, they shed many of their old mythological beliefs and ferocious practices. Hogwash ye say!?  Let me share an experience...  The Ethical Atheist recently entered the dark labyrinth of one of these religious beasts, for reasons completely unrelated to religion, and I was astonished at the evolution of this particular sub-species!!  I gathered some reading material near the door that I expected to use against the beast.  However, the teachings had evolved so much, I could hardly recognize it as the beast I had grown to love hate.  The following are actual materials obtained from this beast found to be: Kingdom:religion, Phylum:christian, Class:american, Order:congregational, Family:united church of christ, Genus:plymouth. A poster stating "This is an INTOLERANCE FREE ZONE" with a cross, star of david, dove, islam crescent moon, etc. (an astonishing find considering the intolerance taught by most religions)   A transcript of a recent sermon on the Bible, with the following quotes:  "Left to our own devices, we might use the words of the Bible to prove our particular beliefs.  People of similar theological persuasions - and biblical interpretations - band together to use the Bible as a weapon." "It is very tricky business to try to force contemporary experience into ancient texts.  They were meant to address people living in a different time and who experienced a different reality - a totally different world.  This have changed." "Interpreting the Bible is a life-long struggle of determining its relevance in a scientific, post-modern world where critical thinking skills are expected." (emphasis mine) (Are you seated for this one?) "...criticizes the fundamentalist's attempt to assign literal meaning to the text thereby making direct application of what happened then to what is happening now. ... in order to guard and preserve the word of God as infallible". "We ought to read the Bible with the same imagination with which it was written.  These are imaginative texts." "The Bible has been interpreted, revised and passed along.  It is a product of the ages and not the literal word of God.  Rather, it is humanity's understanding of truth told in stories that may or may not necessarily be true."  (emphasis mine)   A fifty-seven page book entitled "1000 Years of Christianity" written by members of this genus.  It openly discussed such things as the medieval Crusades and the Spanish Inquisition. (Note that most Christians would rather hide these dark times.)   A pamphlet titled "The Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns".  (Astonishing!  Most religions preach intolerance towards these 'abominations'!) Granted, this is just one religious beast in a monstrous species.  However, the Ethical Atheist is optimistic and upon exiting the dark labyrinth of this one beast, my observations comforted and excited me like the Galapagos islands must have done to Charles Darwin!   Note: We must still remain wary of the "wolf in sheep's clothing".  The beast is evolving, but it is still the beast.