My reference to biblical prophecy was not supposed to indicate anything other my recollection of the prophesy as it relates to my OP.
Perhaps the somewhat suspicious and condescending vibe I am picking up from your post may in part be the result of my failed attempts to explain or communicate effectively in my OP.
To explain; it not the fear of religion being removed from society or the fulfilment of prophecy that worries me, it is the fear of "how" religion might be removed from society.
Like most Humanists and Atheists I too watch the extremism fuelled by religion with horror. I believe the world would be a better place without religion. The reality of the situation currently is that we all live with religion in our societies, we tolerate religious practices where they do cross the advancing social norms and laws we have created.
You said "No fear is warranted or justified". I may now be taking your statement out of context... but this for me just is not true.
Here are a few examples that I consider warranting fear and demonstrate the issues I am increasingly concerned about.
So for example, in the past I probably would have supported the law passed in France banning the hijab , now I think I would be against it. Attempting to legislate against religious practices such as the hijab will IMHO increase the intolerance against the groups that it effects, has unintended effects on society in general (in this case a banning of certain costumes) and further isolates religious communities which can lead to radicalism.
Without wanting to create a monster post, I hope that better explains my point more clearly. How we deal with religious people may soon become one of the greatest tests for our society. I now am more religiously tolerant than ever before, despite my personal feelings regarding religion. I especially fear the growth of far right politics in Europe, in part fuelled by religious intolerance.
