Religious people... hold a kind and merciful view of life, the faith of the broken, the hounded, the hopeless. Yet too often, they will not extend that spirit to our fellow creatures.

I don't know what religious people do. I kind of wished I'd been a Christian with the blind faith that God is doing the right thing. As a Buddhist, you feel like you have more control over the situation, and that you can change your karma.

It is often said by religious people that without its framework, there is no sense of right or wrong. My view is that religion comes after ethics.

An environmentalist can oppose factory farming because it's reckless stewardship. A conservative can oppose factory farming because it is destructive to small farmers and to the decent ethic of husbandry those farmers live by. A religious person can oppose factory farming because it is degrading to both man and animal - an offense to God.

Religious people are happier.

Religious faith is a powerful force for good, and it ought to result in people coming together and showing concern for each other. It should not be used as a way to justify a political position, or to be identified with a particular political party. The teachings of Jesus should cause us to be concerned about the sick and poor. That's the type of effect religion should have on public policy.