To a very large extent, the Christian majority in America has so thoroughly bought into the "persecuted minority" myth that they become incredibly defensive about the faith that they have been told over and over is "under attack". That is actually the majority view in American Christendom, not just the viewpoint of a few here, and it explains why any article that is in any way analytical about faith is taken as an assault upon their most precious beliefs.


Seen from that viewpoint, it is NOT a thin-skinned reaction but rather the logical and expected response by anyone defending themselves against slander (as they see it). And that is why it has become literally impossible to calmly discuss faith almost anywhere. There is such a large portion of the population who are so deeply hurt by our unintentional "attack", it is just too painful to people we care about to carry on. I am sorry about that, too, but I respect their viewpoint.