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James A. Haught Quotes

Is religion a force for good? The evidence of history and the evidence of current events cast doubt on the truism.

Is religion a force for good? The evidence of history and the evidence of current events cast doubt on the truism.

James A. Haught
Religious, Evil, Doubt
James A. Haught (1990). “Holy horrors: an illustrated history of religious murder and madness”

As editor of the largest newspaper in West Virginia, I scan hundreds of reports daily . . . and I am amazed by the frequency with which religion causes people to kill each other. It is a nearly universal pattern, undercutting the common assumption that religion makes people kind and tolerant.

James A. Haught
Hate, Editors, Virginia
James A. Haught (1995). “Holy Hatred: Religious Conflicts of the '90s”

Historian Larry Hise notes in his book Pro-Slavery that ministers 'wrote almost half of all defenses of slavery published in America.' He listed 275 men of the cloth who used the Bible to prove that white people were entitled to own black people as work animals.

James A. Haught
Book, Men, Animal
James A. Haught (1990). “Holy horrors: an illustrated history of religious murder and madness”

In the year 415, the woman scientist Hypatia, head of the legendary Alexandria library, was beaten to death by Christian monks who considered her a pagan. The leader of the monks, Cyril, was canonized a saint.

James A. Haught
Christian, Years, Leader

Dewey repudiated what he called militant atheism. He felt that people have innate religious qualities, such as compassion for sufferers, an urge to improve life, and a sense of awe before the mysteries of existence. However, by the standards of conventional religion, Dewey was an atheist.

James A. Haught
Religious, Atheist, Compassion

Let them all believe whatever they want. It is pointless to go on radio shows and wrangle over mystical claims. However, such claims must not be imposed on captive children in government-owned schools. That is prohibited by the separation of church and state, a core principle in the First Amendment in America's Bill of Rights.

James A. Haught
Children, Believe, School

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