1. Science owes its origins to Christianity or Religion

Comment #83270 by Plasticman on October 29, 2007 at 1:25 pm

Thanks, Dr. Benway, right on target ;-))

2. You can't be moral without God!

Comment #83267 by Plasticman on October 29, 2007 at 1:20 pm

The one cardinal mistake theists make with regard to morality is that there must be some absolute moral ideal (presumably of divine origin)for humans to act "morally". A review of human civilization however clearly demonstrates the very plasticity of morality and ethical behavior, which has changed and evolved over many centuries.
While we recoil at the idea of Abraham readiness for human sacrifice, it is important to appreciate that in ancient times, such acts were NOT considered immoral. Likewise, all societies have embraced slavery, which has only been abhorrent to the West only since the 19th C.

So where do we get our sense of morality? That's easy- it is a product of one's culture and society, not from some invisible sky diety or any ancient text.

3. Arguments Against Evolution

Comment #83257 by Plasticman on October 29, 2007 at 12:58 pm

The best argument against "Intelligent Design" (curiously omitted from The God Delusion):

1. At least 98% of all life on Earth is extinct. (this of course, is a much better explanation for unintelligent design- thank you Sam Harris). Once science determines the true origins of the original "building blocks" of life, I.D. will be added to the above 98%"

4. Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. were atheists, and they were terrible! Answer that!

Comment #83250 by Plasticman on October 29, 2007 at 12:46 pm

Personally, I think Hitchens puts forth the most convincing rebuttal, especially when reminding us of the close association of relgious authorities such as the Vatican, with Hitler.

My only addition would be the observation that while the atrocities of men like Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot etc. were deplorable, they did occur over a relatively short time period in world history. Compare THAT with the centuries-long atrocities of the Roman Catholic Church, which was mandated to execute Roman citizens in the name of "heresy" since it's inception by Constanine in the 4th C- a trend that continued for over a thousand years throughout the crusades, the inquisition and the Salem witch trials.

Ask yourself, which is a greater moral evil- the acts of a handful of politically minded totalitarians or an entire institution of Catholicism?