I think people can raise a valid argument by saying that, if religion doesn't make a person behave any better than they would if they weren't religious, perhaps the religion is valueless (e.g. a tree is known by its fruit). But I've never found that argument very compelling. First because it's practically impossible…

I'd second that. Though I think that people talking about the "voice of God" are often, though not always, speaking to the intense physical and emotional reactions belief in God or religion can cause. There have certainly been times when I felt so close to my faith that I wanted to cry with joy or excess of feeling.…

I always thought
that RJ's books could be used as an example of how not to write a series of novels. He literally made every possible mistake:

Fat WOMEN were considered attractive - presumably because they had the luxury to sit around all day out of the sun. Men were still supposed to be athletic etc. If you look at the paintings, the women are all plump and the men are all muscley.

Biblical references
I just saw the show for the first time on Sunday and I was impressed by how well they took the Biblical story and setting and brought it into the modern world. I like that this episode contained so references to Biblical punishment and sacrifice..

The fact that someone is "more right" or has a legitimate reason to defend themselves doesn't mean that they haven't compromised morally. The Sioux had every reason to hate the US and the US did evil terrible things in a dishonest drive for conquest of land it had no right to, however the Sioux also attacked civilian…

I was trying to remember where I'd read that recently. Did he quote Chesterton in the Graveyard Book or Coraline?