Hmm, I would say that religiously speaking you are correct, but philosophically you have set the limit too short.

IMHO, if we can at least agree that we are entitled to the same pursuits of happiness as anyone else is, then we share at least one common philosophical aspect, which is that we are both free to pursue whatever it is that makes us happy so long as such pursuit doesn't impinge on the rights of others. I'll admit it is a balancing act most of the time, but I don't really see any good alternative.

Based on the notions that form our bill of rights, unless you are truly opposed to the American way of life, I'd say we share a common philosophy at least about social happiness, if not spiritual. Sadly, I too have fallen victim to certain religious practices that tend to interfere with my happiness at times. There are remedies, both personal and social, for this sort of action, and it seems you have effectively availed yourself of one method.

Muslim culture in this country is vastly different in it's evangelistic approach. Conversion by holding a knife to the throat is simply unacceptable here, unlike other places.

Religion often times comes into conflict with individual rights. It is a difficult thing for most communities to allow non-conformity to persist amongst a minority when the majority share common beliefs and practices. The word infidel, heathen or heretic carry with them the connotation of unacceptance that usually result in expulsion or punitive acts in the majority of world history. Ours is one of the best examples of a society of tolerance on record, yet we still struggle to abide those practices most foreign from our own mainstream christian lifestyles.