“Publica_1 wow don't quite know where to start (I'm going to assume your post isn't a joke). Perhaps I'll start with the Dr David Hawkins part of the rant, he's not particularly prominent in humanism (I had to look him up), and humanism has been around sometime longer than he has.
The 1930s Germany reference was interesting, can't believe I'm responding to it but let's just remind ourselves of a few things: on the belt buckles of Nazi soldiers were the words "gott mit uns", the Catholic Church celebrated Hitlers birth day and has not thrown a single person out of the church for being a Nazi (as far as I am aware), a sample quote from Hitler "Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air", Adolf Hitler, April 26, 1933, speech made during negotiations leading to the Nazi-Vatican Concordant (as I am sure you are aware there are many more quotes I could use). I hope you are also aware that Free Thought groups were outlawed in 1930s Germany and in at least one incident the buildings given over to churches. Well that's enough of that.
You also imply that Humanists are trying to ban religion, they are just looking for it to be out of government. You say Humanists are imposing their will far more than the C of E has ever done. It's difficult to maintain that point of view given that the law against blaspheme was only removed in 2008, and people were still going to prison for blaspheme in the early 20th century. You might also interpret things like the death penalty for homosexual acts, as imposing their will (last person executed for homosexuality in the UK was killed in 1836) the act was repealed in 1861.
You state that that "both pre and immediately post Reformation [Europe], was fundamentally a more violent place" most people would agree, and would say it was a far more religious time then compared with now.
I'm not going to list the religious violence that permeates the world today, but it just takes a cursory look at the news. The same goes for the quite people of faith just check the news this week.
Finally I'm not sure anyone was suggesting that religious people have not done good for society. And it is clear that there are many good people from many religions, perhaps the common factor to all of them is that they are compassionate, rational humans, following ideas like the golden rule found in nearly all societies.”

“Humanists really do lack the common sense and rationality God gave pestachio nuts.

The Dr David Hawkins brigade are becoming as strident and dictatorial in imposing their own views on the populace (far more so than the C of E ever were or are) as the far right were in 1930s Germany. Did council meeting prayers ever harm anyone? Did those who weren't religious have to attend? The answer to both is no, however the precedent set by the ruling, and the gleeful interpretation by those who are rabidly anti-religion who are using it to say those who have faith are automatically wrong in their opinions and way of life, is dangerous and short sighted.

Men and women of all faiths have done tremendous amounts of good for both people and society, and the hunamist continual use of examples of religious violence from hundreds of years ago to attempt to demonise the body-religious is simply wrong, especially as European society, both pre and immediately post Reformation, was fundamentally a more violent place and morals and accepted modes of international and domestic behaviour were radically different from the liberal-democratic pluralist society we live in today.

People of faith tend to lead their lives quietly, the humanists show a canny ability to exploit the media, but their underlying message is hollow and self-centred. They want to ban religion, persecute those who have faith and ultimately (and perhaps the greatest illogical act of an system that supposes espouses rationality above belief) ally people's belief system in a single person, Dr David Hawkins.

Humanists really do lack the common sense and rationality God gave pestachio nuts.”

“Mick Barb, Jesus says: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest part or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place." (Matthew 5:17) To me this seems to say that Christians should follow old Testament Law. However if you want to stick with the new testament you might like the following:
"Whoever curses father or mother shall die" (Mark 7:10)
"Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh." (Peter 2:18)
I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;[a] she must be quiet. (Timothy 2:12)
As I am sure you are aware there is plenty more but it would take too much thread space.”

“northernchimp, If you want to meet some people who take the bible literally go into Plymouth town centre on a weekend. The Christian group there told me that I had never been a true Christian because I had chosen to reject those parts of the bible that approved of slavery and putting homosexuals to death. (FYI I haven't been a Christian for about 5 years).”

“My aunty was close to death with an illness and actually had an out of body experience. She is an ATHEIST. She saw a light, the surgeons working on her and felt a pull when they used the paddles on her. She is not afraid to die now but she has said she is still an atheist. I asked her why? Her answer was:- "What do you think my husband or your husband would say if you came home and said, Darling I have been impregnated by the holy ghost? He would divorce me don't you think?" She has a point.”

“northernchimp I guess you have to look at the church and its actions from an outsiders view to see the real way of things, I also dont belive communities deteroiting has anything to do with falling number of church goers....I know for example pleanty of christians who attend church id consider less then savoury people....hell religion is one of the major causes of war and terroism be it islamic terroism or the ira etc so how can you say its because of less people being religious that the world is the state its in? religion causes problems it doesnt solve them.”

“Mickbarb the bible is the bible you can't ignore the old testament its all part of the same book,”

“There's plenty of homosexual Christians who feel accepted by the church, I'm sorry your experience was different. I can understand you not wanting religion "forced" on you (even though I've never condoned it) but I don't understand your claims that the church is hypocritical. I could have misread it all these years, but I've only seen goodness. Not saying its the only way to be good person, but think its a useful way of binding communities. Communities which have unquestionably deteriorated over the years in line with decreasing number of church goers.”

“Crazypenguin quote-"and mickbarb your glossing over a lot there, ignoring the well known stories(cain and abel-child murder)..etc"-unquote

That's all harsh Old Testament stuff mate, Jesus gave us the NEW Testament (the clue is in the name) and it blew the Old out of the water-
"Jesus saved you from the empty way of life handed you by your forefathers" (1 Peter 1:18 )........Through Jesus we are saved,and not through Moses" (Acts 13:39).......... "The covenant of Jesus is superior to the old one" (Heb 8:6-13)”

“northernchimp you dont need to be a christian to be a good person in this way, and this is a poor excuse for forcing your religion on others. Christianity as a religion is a lot less moral then many would have us belive is the point im trying to make and you say `The messages from churches of community, forgiveness, sharing, charity ........etc are what matters` well that might be fine, if the church actully did act on that message rather then being completly hypocrtical and only acting upon that message if the people in question are `acceptable` why dont you ask someone whos homosexual how much forgiveness and love the church shows?”