Religions have always cherry picked scriptures to affirm their agenda. I see no reason why they would stop at the Bible with this practice, particularly if they can use an external source to also prop up their faulty ideals. I have often been accused of taking scripture out of context. When I ask the person accusing me to explain how I've done that, they are usually unable to. It seems to me, even religion needs validation from outside their hallowed walls.
Science and the scientific method are greatly needed to erode the religious strangleholds on people. We need more Dawkins', Harris', Hitchens', Dennett's, Gervais', Maher's, etc speaking out against the hypocrisy of belief and religion.
In any discussion with religious people, I think it is important to first establish which god they are speaking about when they broach the 'belief' subject. It is interesting to watch the confused look on their faces. It's like they've never thought about it before and are ill-prepared to articulate exactly what/who their 'god' is. They don't even know his name in many cases. In my discussions, they have very little knowledge of the Bible, it's origins, as well as the natural world.
I like how Stenger approaches things. It is how I looked at things as an older child and teenager being raised in the JW faith. The claims being made about god do not hold up to scrutiny. IF he exists, god is really inconsequential because he is ineffectual. As one of my good friends states: "God/Religion is nothing but a fraud."
I think Epicurus's quote is still one of the most complete and succinct on the matter of god:
If god is inspiring people, it is my conclusion he's really f'ing with them.
Logic and reason must be abandoned in the realm of faith and belief. Once one abandons these, one has crossed over into the world of insanity.
