The same comparison holds true within the United States itself: Southern and Midwestern states, characterized by the highest levels of religious literalism, are especially plagued by [high rates of homicide, abortion, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted disease, and infant mortality], while the comparatively secular states of the Northeast conform to European standards.

Mahavira, the Jain patriarch, surpassed the morality of the Bible with a single sentence: Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being. Imagine how different our world might be if the Bible contained this as its central precept.

The atheist, by merely being in touch with reality, appears shamefully out of touch with the fantasy life of his neighbors.

To treat others ethically is to act out of concern for their happiness and suffering.

The habit of spending nearly every waking moment lost in thought leaves us at the mercy of whatever our thoughts happen to be. Meditation is a way of breaking this spell.

We are free to burn the Qur’an or any other book, and to criticize Muhammad or any other human being. Let no one forget it.

The problem that religious moderation poses for all of us is that it does not permit anything very critical to be said about religious literalism.