What ancient nomadic tribes did not know is how many animals species there are in the world, so “Two of every sort” seemed no big deal to the Biblical writers, who probably identified not more than a few hundred different animals altogether. For reference, Aristotle writing about 350 B.C.E., could list only about five hundred species of animals.
Yet we now know that there are some six thousand species of mammals alone.
Yet we now know that there are some six thousand species of mammals alone.
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"