Since it is obviously inconceivable that all religions can be right, the most reasonable conclusion is that they are all wrong.

The violence in the Bible is appalling.

The essence of tyranny is not iron law. It is capricious law.

How is the United States at once the most conservative and commercial AND the most revolutionary society on Earth?

If we have free will, by definition we cannot be granted it. We can't be given it. My [-audio-recording-distorted-] paradox states that 'Of course we have free will, we have no choice.' To say that it's a gift is to negate the whole concept of free will on its face. So, if that isn't self-evident, I can't think of anything that would meet the definition of being self-evident.

Literature, not scripture, sustains the mind and - since there is no other metaphor - also the soul.

We keep on being told that religion, whatever its imperfections, at least instills morality. On every side, there is conclusive evidence that the contrary is the case and that faith causes people to be more mean, more selfish, and perhaps above all, more stupid.