The Modern Stalinists

Most of the people who would have apologized for Stalin in his day have now found other causes — the cultural and sexual revolution, campaigns to tax the Western poor to provide money for Africa’s rich, and above all, the intolerant and puritan secular fundamentalism that gathers around the belief in man made global warming.  Others are devotees of the idea that the introduction of Western democracy into the Muslim world is possible.  These beliefs allow their supporters to feel superior to others and to pursue a heaven on earth whose righteousness reflects on them.  It is quite dangerous to challenge them, even though it is not dangerous at all to challenge Christianity or faith as a whole.  The danger is not usually melodramatic or fatal, though it sometimes is.  The climate change zealots (for example) issue no Fatwas, order no assassinations, and do not drag filmmakers from their bicycles and stab and behead them.  They simply seek to drive their opponents from public debate by scorn, misrepresentation, and smears.

Peter Hitchens, The Rage Against God, pg.169