Thank you, Tibor Machan! I don’t know how many times I’ve reminded religionists that not all secularists are materialists – that naturalism doesn’t imply materialism. Still the false alternative – religion vs. materialism – continually comes up.

My religious friends would have me believe there was no morality prior to Jesus. OK, they admit the exception of the Jews (broad minded aren’t they?). I inform them that Aristotle wrote the first treatise on ethics based on naturalistic considerations 350 BC. (I sometimes have to remind them that BC means before Christ.) At first they are taken aback and left breathless. Frankly, I think the word Aristotle intimidates them. But a few weeks later they are back to the old “secularism means materialism” canard.

In any case, your good natured and thoughtful ruminations ought to give them pause … until they conveniently forget again. Ah, yes, faith requires so little thought.