I didn't call it tyranny. Many people continued to believe the world was flat and the sun circled the earth long after it was proven otherwise...and they did so freely. Examination, facts, critical thinking eventually led the populace to believe differently. That's what I'm hoping for here because religious ideas are not only just incredibly unlikely but many are very dangerous and evil as well. The problem is society has built a protective cocoon around religion. We cannot criticize it, we have to grant it some sort of special respect, by default those that do not believe are somehow incomplete or immoral. That's what I want to change. Let's make it acceptable to criticize bad ideas regardless of their origin.
The place to start is with the millions of unthinking, first world, educated enablers. It would be very hard to convince the guy at the top of the pyramid scheme to change his ways...he has too much invested. However some rational discussion with those at the base of the pyramid, who are propping up the scheme, could really topple the entire structure.
I disagree. I think we need the uber antagonistic Hitch, the cold scientific Dawkins just as much as the softer, philosophical Dan Dennet and the smooth, logical Sam Harris. They all have their place and reach a different audience. You may not want to offend somebody's traditional, accident of birth beliefs. That's great, nobody is asking you too. Calm, cool, reason has its place as well and I really hope yours rubs off on some. However, the breaking down of well constructed and well funded barriers to reason does not happen without stepping on a few toes so we do need the brash and cold as well. Plus I'm willing to bet that the death threats, quote mining attacks and personal character assaults leads one to become a little more abrasive.