In past weeks, NOW viewers have had a lot to say on the place of religion in their lives. When asked if they identified themselves first by nationality or by religion, many site visitors wrote in to explain that they felt this question was too limiting. Read their comments and share your thoughts by joining the online discussion.

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So why does your show and your website act as if atheists don't even exist? I mean, "NOW asks God or country?" It's painfully evident how much care you took in making this segment not to offend the delicate sensibilities of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. What about the atheists and agnostics who are utterly baffled by all this religious hatred? -Richard Most people I know AREN'T religious...at least, not in a traditional sense. We're spiritual, we believe in a force in the world that's greater than us, but we don't attend church, don't worship a formal god. It's like I was saying in my other post -- I identify myself by my VALUES. I don't think Americans today define themselves according to traditional institutions as much as we used to...at least the younger generation. -elizabeth I agree that most people are spiritual not religious. There was never an option to state that the choice of God or Country are obsolete concepts and perhaps the question is better asked Love or hatred? We really need to consider all of the people and all of the planet.-Richard122074 I think Moyers would acknowledge your right to atheism or agnosticism too. I think also that the important thing is to find the thread that really unites us instead of picking ourselves apart. Let's just find some sincerity and respect and know that ultimately we are together whether we believe it or not. Intolerance of all stripes is the norm, not the exception, especially the religious kind. But don't think you are exempt as a nonreligious person. Intellectual intolerance is just as ugly. Keep up the good search! -jstaylor16

With all the protection of religion in America, it might come as a surprise that those who don't identify with organized religion are largely ignored in politics and in society. In her 1996 NEW REPUBLIC article, "The Last Taboo: Why America Needs Atheism," author Wendy Kaminer remarks: "America's pluralistic ideal does not protect atheism; public support for different belief systems is matched by intolerance of disbelief. According to surveys published in the early 1980's, before today's pre-millennial religious revivalism, nearly 70 percent of all Americans agreed that the freedom to worship "applies to all religious groups, regardless of how extreme their beliefs are"; but only 26 percent agreed that the freedom of atheists to make fun of God and religion "should be legally protected no matter who might be offended." Seventy-one percent held that atheists "who preach against God and religion" should not be permitted to use civic auditoriums." In 1990 and 2001 the City University of New York Graduate School conducted nationwide religious identification surveys. In that decade the number of people identifying themselves as not religious grew from 8.2% to 14.2%. More statistics on religion in America.