Thanks :)

I would agree with you if I thought that this would always be taken literally. But it doesn't have to be, and when it's taken metaphorically, it actually makes a tonne of sense. But then, so does any Christian story I've heard, too.

Yeah, but how is "religiosity" defined in those studies? Usually it's defined in a very narrow-minded way that accounts really only for conservative Christian Americans.

I had a feeling this was Journey to the West. I really have to get my hands on that story.

THIS IS AWESOME!!! Why haven't I ever heard of this before?

"you asked for an example, the above is an example of stupidity being promoted by religious people.

That's a start, but that's not nearly comprehensive enough to make any kind of general statement about religion.

Awesome :) You win the internets!

Everything a human being does is predicated on stories—whether we acknowledge those stories or not. We could not even perceive the world, if that were not the case; and whatever "raw" science might be, in the end, human beings interpet that as stories, too. In other words, as soon as you stamp the word "evolution"…

Agreed. No one is immune to logical fallacy or cognitive bias. The search for truth is far more complex than people are generally ready to acknowledge.

Anecdotal information from history does not constitute scientific data. If you could clearly define what you mean by "religion" (taking into account every aspect of religion, good or bad) and then produce some data showing a direct causal link between that and war, suppression, and other harm (which also must be…

So you think science is great, but you ignore the scientific method?

Yeah, probably; but one can dream. :)

No. But nor am I saying that we should go to war on ignorance either, or force one particular set of notions on people instead of another.

Can you codify that a little? and maybe produce some hard evidence for your claim? Because my experience differs greatly from yours. I've met plenty of spiritual and religious people, and I've met plenty of atheists, and apathists, and from my experience, there's no correlation between spirituality and the…

Indeed! I wish that day would come. I dream of the day when religion, science, and art all inform and enrich each other, instead of being objects of contention.

Indeed! Wisdom begins in curiosity.

I really wish these guys would stop giving religion a bad name.

So creationists act stupid and all of religion is to blame? That's a bit sweeping, don't you think?

What... no William James?