[FoRK] More faith-driven insanity: kill the teacher!

[Jeff Bone]

On Dec 1, 2007, at 2:26 PM, Sat N wrote:

> Religion beats their argument hands down.
>
> If you need proof that religion is better than science, please read
> the all time best sellers:
>
> Bible
> Quran
> Tora
> Bhagvad Gita

Just because I'm a glutton for punishment, I'm going to make a few  
points here.

First, I've read all of the above (though to be fair, in English  
translations all, so the purist would argue at least in the case of  
the Q'uran I haven't in fact read it but merely commentary on it.)

Second, none of them strike me as even attempting to rigorously  
"prove" anything, much less succeeding at such.  Therefore they are  
in no way a response to any historical or academic or rational  
critique of religion in general or any religion in particular.

Third, popularity is in no way "proof" of anything other than  
popularity.

Finally, it's clear that you're just being contrary for the sake of  
being contrary;  you can't possibly be serious about your response,  
here.  You asked for a rigorous argument supporting some of the  
points I've been raising;  I declined to give one but pointed you at  
a vast body of recent literature that does precisely what you were  
asking me to do.  Then, in "response" to that, you direct me to the  
very books that the works I referenced argue against, as *refuting*  
those latter books?  I mean, come on.  Really.

It's not at all clear to me whether you have any particular axe to  
grind or not, but whatever.

jb