Sugarfoot, I love it.

"The scribblings of a band of desert tribesmen thousands of years ago are presented today as unquestionable fact, policies affecting the lives of billions are formulated on the writing of a people long lost to history. Accepting these writings as a fundamental truth to impose on the lives of those who don't think they represent the word of a 'God' is not really very nice."

This is eloquently stated and as far as I'm concerned, the final word on the subject.

Religion should stay the hell out of science. That is so medieval!

To restate: the alternative to science is ignorance and the destruction of civilizations, despite the hydrogen bomb and weapons of warfare (many used incorporating religious views).

We live longer today because of science, not religion.