God

[Durian Fiend]

But over the recent years we've seen the rise of opinions and beliefs that actively cause harm, from health and medical misinformation to calls for attacking, or even eliminating, those people with a different religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, political affiliation and so forth. Having friends and family in those groups quickly makes clear the real threat of violence they encounter on a regular and increasing basis from such opinions. 

In as much as I have for the most part, stayed out of this whole "God" debate, I could not agree more with Ironyak's above comment.

However, going a bit further, what I find even more egregious are the ones who claim or otherwise use whatever faith one may have in any such God, or Religion, in order to make, substantiate or in any way justify those harmful opinions, especially when calling for attacking, eliminating or implying threats of violence against people who are different in the ways mentioned as being "God's will."

I don't see the difference between your post and ironyak's, Julie, except for the phrase "god's will".  Wouldn't that be implied without invoking those words?

"Recent years?"  It's not a new trend.  Rather, a very old one.   The good news, perhaps, is that Americans in general have become less religious in the past few decades.