Yes, Lee, it's me. My absence over the past year is due to new demands on this reluctant, Jonah-like, lay pastor of a church plant. (I'm living proof that God has an incredible sense of humor!)As to Ms. Johnson's commentary; I'm reminded of one of Mister T's famous lines: "That's just a bunch of jibbah jabbah!"

First off, is this ***the*** Regis Nicoll??!? He of "The Swillpit Chronicles" fame, and author of "All Things Examined"? Last heard from at The Point around August 19th? If so, it's a delight to read your work here again, sir!!

Secondly, Barbara Johnson wrote "Having grown up Christian in the largest Muslim country in the world, surrounded by its good people, I have the privilege of a broad world view. Consequently, I feel that the all-too-prevalent idea that one entire group is misguided and needs to be enlightened with the ideas and dogmas of another group possessing a monopoly on truth is off the mark." Clearly she wasn't paying attention to Islam while she was growing up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhimmi Such practices as dhimmitude do not acknowledge that the subjected group has any truth. Interestingly, if Christopher Hitchens were to live in a Muslim country, he would not be covered by dhimmi and would therefore be subject to forced conversion. (If I recall correctly, Hitch was assaulted while in a Muslim country.)

Third, as Jason points out, Zen Buddhism is not necessarily pacifistic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_anarchism

Finally, what is hilarious about this (at least to someone with my dark sense of humor) is that it defends the author of "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything". That would seem to put him in the camp of those who believe "that one entire group is misguided and needs to be enlightened with the ideas and dogmas of another group possessing a monopoly on truth", which Ms. Johnson condemns.

...hmmm - a-HAH! What I want is not merely a "life coach", but a "life-plus-afterlife coach"! And when she says "I don't have the answer to the mystery and purpose of life, and I am convinced that no one else on earth does either.", she disqualifies herself from holding the latter position.

"If they are honestly seeking a personal relationship with the divine, they are wrestling with the wrong angel. True spirituality will never be achieved this way." Uh - how does *she* know??!?

Dunno if this post will generate the number of comments that "A Useful Religion" or your other Joomla stress tests did (which were mostly my fault, so if that at all influenced your decision to stay away, my humble apologies), but welcome back, Regis!!

Zen don't expend energy defending dogmas? "My Daimyo right or wrong", isn't a dogma?
Not to mention, "If I fail, I must kill myself in an agonizing manner."
And don't forget, "Americans are reasonable and will not vengefully destroy our empire just because we make an air raid at the beginning of Christmas season."