Very close cousins like humans and chimps have almost all their genes in common. Slightly less close cousins like humans and monkeys still have recognizably the same genes. You could carry on right on down to humans and bacteria, and you will find continuous compelling evidence for the hierarchical tree of cousinship.

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

There is great variation in brain power all the way from Einstien on one hand to Sarah Palin on the other.

The word 'mundane' has come to mean 'boring' and 'dull', and it really shouldn't - it should mean the opposite. Because it comes from the latin mundus, meaning 'the world'. And the world is anything but dull: The world is wonderful. There's real poetry in the real world. Science is the poetry of reality.

Offense is what people take when they can't take argument.

All the great religions have a place for awe, for ecstatic transport at the wonder and beauty of creation.

If children were taught to question and think through their beliefs, instead of being taught the superior virtue of faith without question, it is a good bet that there would be no suicide bombers.