Overheard

“There is definitely a secular bias, because speaking emotionally doesn’t work anymore. There’s a rational, scientific privilege, and all other sorts of language are matters of the heart and don’t have a place.” Munir Jiwa, anthropologist

“In many ways the decline of the United Church flies in the face of common sense. How can their numbers be dropping when they seem to be the only major Christian denomination in lockstep with the attitudes and ideals of Canadians? … The United Church has remained synchronized to society’s evolution. Among religious groups it has been the loudest voice in support of same-sex marriage. We know from the world of business and economics that a product will be successful if it meets the needs of consumers. Why isn’t the new and improved United Church achieving market penetration?” David Haskell, Toronto Star

“Wouldn’t it be lovely to believe in an imaginary friend who listens to your thoughts, listens to your prayers, comforts you, consoles you, gives you life after death, can give you advice? Of course it’s satisfying, if you can believe it. But who wants to believe a lie?” Richard Dawkins, on the idea of God

“Rarely, if ever, in the annals of human history have so many with so much to give to their society, actually given so little and done it so maladroitly as have American Christians over the past fifty years. Speaking as only one Christian, I feel the need to apologize.” Bob Briner, author of Roaring Lambs

“It’s the occupation, not the fundamentalism” The Logic of Suicide Terrorism