Reductionism is a dirty word, and a kind of 'holistier than thou' self-righteousness has become fashionable.

Let children learn about different faiths, let them notice their incompatibility, and let them draw their own conclusions about the consequences of that incompatibility. As for whether they are ‘valid,’ let them make up their own minds when they are old enough to do so.

The universe doesn't owe you a sense of hope

Be warned that if you wish, as I do, to build a society in which individuals cooperate generously and unselfishly towards a common good, you can expect little help from biological nature. Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish.

Religion is nothing more than a useless and sometimes dangerous, evolutionary accident. Religious behavior may be a misfiring, an unfortunate byproduct of an underlying psychological propensity which in other circumstances is, or once was, useful.

I personally would consider it to be an honour to be fossilized.

When I sign books, I get lines of people and what they usually say is: "Thank you. You have changed my life." I am really moved by that.