Reza Aslan on The Daily Show

[robvalue]

This here is my opinion only.

It's true, "religion" doesn't do anything. People do things, and credit/blame religion. If someone does something good and credits religion, it's misplaced. They should credit themselves. If someone does something bad and uses religion as an excuse, it is again misplaced. They should own up to making the decision themselves.

While there is an oral myth that these books are the "word of God" and some of these words are "kill unbelievers" and "smash in his head with a stone", there is a problem that cannot be easily dismissed. Sure, you would hope a liberal, reasonable person knows it's not really the exact word of God, at best it's man's interpretation or something and so they'd edit it in their mind.

If they tell their children "this is the word of God", the problem continues. It still says "Carve up the guy's head with the nearest sharp thing for asking awkward questions". It's irresponsible. How is the child supposed to marry the concepts that it's the word of God, but you should ignore most of it? Instead, how about being honest and saying "This is an ancient book that has a lot of history of our religion. But we've changed the way we do certain things, so not all of it is still relevant." Is that too much to ask? I'm not telling them how to run their religion. Actually, I am. Do what I say please.

The oral myth is where the danger lies. It contains all the power of the religion. Without it, the books lose all of their grip.

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Can you imagine if I gave my kid an "atheist instruction manual" for how to live your life, and some of the instructions were to kill people for picking up sticks on a Sunday?

But I'd say, "Ah yes, we don't do that bit."
"Why not daddy?"
"We just don't. Atheist Jesus or something."
"Why is it on the list daddy?"
"One more question out of you and you're going back in the cellar."