Overheard

Our world is fast succumbing to the activities of men and women who would stake the future of our species on beliefs that should not survive an elementary school education.
The holes in their world view are so gaping that you'd think it should be easy enough to argue them out of their beliefs. The larger issue in our culture is that no one even tries.
Author Sam Harris
Stanford Magazine
July/August 2005

I find myself wondering if the abysmal performance of government agencies in responding to this crisis isn't related to the unprecedented emphasis the government itself has been putting on "faith-based" groups as key providers of social services?
Something essential to democracy is at stake here. The rights of citizens to basic relief, especially in times of crisis, are rooted not in charity, but in justice.
Columnist James Carroll
The Boston Globe, Sept. 12, 2005

The brand of Christianity embraced by Bernie Ebbers, Richard Scrushy and those who still see them as "good Christian men" is one that basically says all you need to do is accept Jesus and then you can do whatever the hell you want (unless, of course, your name is Bill Clinton). This perversion of Christianity reduces Jesus to a "get-out-of-jail-free" card--which is just what that good Christian Richard Scrushy got. . . .
Author Robert S. McElvaine
Chicago Tribune, July 17, 2005

[Evolution] ceases to be covered by context-oriented reporters and is instead bounced to political pages, opinion pages, and television news. And all these venues, in their various ways, tend to de-emphasize the strong scientific case in favor of evolution and instead lend credence to the notion that a growing "controversy" exists over evolutionary science.
If attacks on evolution aren't anything new in America, neither is the tendency of U.S. journalists to lend undue credibility to theological attacks that masquerade as being "scientific" in nature.
Chris Mooney & Matthew C. Nisbet
"Undoing Darwin"
Columbia Journalism Review
Sept/Oct 05

[Government funds to be channeled directly through houses of worship and other pervasively sectarian organizations to meet the critical needs of people impacted by the storms and floods] would violate the spirit and the letter of the Constitution, but some have discovered that tearing down Thomas Jefferson's wall of separation between church and state is good for politics and good for dividing people.
The Constitutional guarantees of freedom for religion and freedom from religion have done more good for religion, the nation, and religion-based charity than ever can be accomplished by direct government funding of politically favored religious organizations.
Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy, President
Interfaith Alliance
TomPaine.com, Sept. 28, 2005

So the religious scandal that most angers me has to do with leaders who encourage, assist and justify fanaticism, who provide theological cover for violence, hatred and prejudice.
History's list of such people is long, lamentable and shameful.
Columnist Bill Tammeus
Kansas City Star
Aug. 17, 2005

[Judicial independence is] easier than most people imagine to destroy.
The concept of retaliation against the courts for past federal court decisions is very troublesome.
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Tempe, Ariz., panel discussion
Sept. 20, 2005

Any woman will not do [to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. There are] some women who might be appointed who would not advance human rights or women's rights. I have a list of highly qualified women, but the president has not consulted me.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
NYC Bar Association
AP interview, Sept. 21, 2005

No one's health should be hostage to a caregiver's opinion of his or her morality.
A woman walking into a pharmacy with a prescription deserves no less.
Scientific Americaneditorial
"Fill This Prescription"
September 26, 2005

Females can no longer leave their homes alone. Each time I go out, E. [my brother] or a father, uncle or cousin has to accompany me. It feels like we've gone back 50 years since the beginning of the occupation.
Before the war about 50% of the college students were females and more than 50% of the working force was composed of women. Not so any more. We are seeing a terrifying increase of fundamentalism in Iraq.
"Riverbend" (Iraqi woman)
Guardian Weekly (U.K.)
July 8-14, 2005

I've heard a lot recently about Terri Schiavo. She was murdered by a combination of an adulterous husband, a corrupt court and a medical establishment with no conscience.
Rev. Jerry Sutton
First Vice President
Southern Baptist Convention
Justice Sunday II
August 14, 2005

We're going to go ahead and practice what the bible teaches us and that is that. While God calls both men and women to service in the church, the office of pastor of a local church is reserved for qualified men.
Richard Land, spokesman
Southern Baptist Convention
EthicsDaily.com
Aug. 12, 2005

He [religious BTK killer Dennis Rader] advised me that she [strangled neighbor Marine Hedge] was going to the church alive or dead--either way. [Rader photographed her dead body in bondage positions at his church to fulfill sexual fantasies.]
Sgt. Tom Lee
Trial testimony, Aug. 18, 2005

There's no longer evidence for a need of God, even less of Christ. The so-called traditional churches look like they are dying.
Pope Benedict XVI
July statement
USA Today, Aug. 11, 2005