…please start with yourself.

In the wake of the latest murders in France, I’m reminded that this sentence—once dismissed as a darkly humorous internet meme—is actually solid advice.

Seriously. If you think your religion demands blood, make it your own.

This goes for all of you: Muslim extremists who murder cartoonists and satirists, Christian extremists who bomb abortion clinics, and anyone else who believes that violence is an acceptable way to enforce your religious beliefs. If you genuinely think your god wants you to kill over a drawing, a law, or a lifestyle you don’t like, then you don’t belong in a modern society. You’re not a soldier of faith—you’re a fanatic with a superiority complex and a weapon.

We are already far too violent as a species, for far too many stupid reasons.

Now, to be clear, I’m not saying there’s never justification for taking a life. There is. Most of them start and end with the word defense. But “My Invisible Sky Daddy is offended by something posted on the internet” doesn’t make the cut. Never has, never will.

And no—this is not an attack on all religious people. Many believers, maybe most, are disgusted by this kind of extremism. But if your faith leads you to think murder is a legitimate tool of moral enforcement, then something’s gone horribly wrong in your interpretation—and probably your wiring.

Freedom of speech, including the freedom to criticize religion, is not optional in a free society. And violence is never a valid response to offense.

So once again: if you’re truly convinced that your religion is worth killing for, then please—do humanity a favor. Start with yourself.

Join us in the 21st century. Or take yourself out of it.

Author: Nick Allison lives in Austin, Tx where he enjoys not killing people over his radical agnosticism and does his best not to take shit too seriously.  Also, he enjoys writing his own bio in third-person because it probably makes him feel more important.