Religion and masturbation.

Came to a conclusion lately: religion is like masturbation. Both are perfectly natural, healthy, widely practiced activities. Both are looked upon disapprovingly by certain narrow-minded individuals. Both are often practiced by those same narrow-minded individuals. There's money to be made in the penumbra of both, although both are essentially free, noncommercial activities. And it is not really appropriate to do either in public. Or talk about either with strangers. Or try to coerce others into adopting your particular way of doing things. Sure, it isn't at all unusual or rude to have discussions, including making suggestions about technique and form, among friends. But the proselytizing over the radio--the "shock jocks" who suggest sitting on your hand so it feels like someone else is helping you out, or the "evangelists" who suggest eternal hellfire will follow nonbelievers--are simply rude. Of course I'm enough of a First Amendment junkie that I recognize banning these practices does more harm than good. But come on people. It just isn't cool to press the particulars of your button-pressing and prayer-beading on others. Especially strangers. And I think the sooner we as a society recognize this, the sooner we'll all be comfortable around most everyone.