The meaning of life is pretty clear: Living things strive to pass their genes into the future. The claim that we would not have morals or ethics without religion is extraordinary. Animals in nature seem to behave in moral ways without organized religion.

People get a lot out of being religious. They have strong senses of community and mutual support. So, what's not to love [there]?

Some of the most wonderful aspects and consequences of evolution have been discovered only recently. This is in stark contrast to creationism, which offers a static view of the world, one that cannot be challenged or tested with reason. And because it cannot make predictions, it cannot lead to new discoveries, new medicines, or new ways to feed all of us.

I meet so many people who are intimidated by arithmetic.

The philosophy of science is inherent in the process. This is to say, you think critically, you draw a conclusion based on evidence, but we all pursue discovery based on our observations. That's where science starts.

For me, the meaning of life is pretty clear: Living things strive to pass their genes into the future.

The more you find out about the world, the more opportunities there are to laugh at it.