Religions are not imaginative, not poetic, not soulful. On the contrary, they are parochial, small-minded, niggardly with the human imagination, precisely where science is generous.

Religions do make claims about the universe--the same kinds of claims that scientists make, except they're usually false.

Everybody is an atheist in saying that there is a god - from Ra to Shiva - in which he does not believe. All that the serious and objective atheist does is to take the next step and to say that there is just one more god to disbelieve in.

Religious faith not only lacks evidence, its independence from evidence is its pride and joy, shouted from the rooftops.

Absolutist morality doesn't have to come from religion but usually does.

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

Religious people split into three main groups when faced with science. I shall label them the "know-nothings", the "know-alls", and the "no-contests."