The Richard Dawkins website today published a post that contains an email sent out to members of a Church. This particular email was regarding the Church’s new drive to combat so called “militant atheists”, although they weren’t educated enough to call them such. It’s all fairly standard stuff really, and I’m sure many of you would have seen things like this before, albeit as flyers in local shops and suchlike. Thankfully, they include a free copy of “Skeptics Answered” by “Dr” James Kennedy, a book that’s already been wildly discredited.

However, this email did flabbergast me. In it lies the following:

Jesus said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42 NKJV).

Now, I’ve posted ridiculous bible quotes here before, but I missed this one. It begs three questions. Firstly, if I was a Christian, would this justify me drowning somebody who tried to teach my children an alternative way of thinking? It sounds like it. Secondly, how can Christians “love” a “person” who shows such contempt for those who do not share his point of view? Could you see President Bush telling his supporters to drown and kill anyone who was going to vote for the other guy? Ok, bad example. But can you imagine the uproar? Yet in the Bible, it’s fine. Par for the course.

The third question, and this really tells me allot about the proponents of Christianity, why wouldn’t you question someone who tells you not to question them? If a scientist came to me and said “I’ve discovered how to travel through time, but I can’t prove it, and anyone who questions me should be punished” I would be immediately suspicious. In fact, I would challenge them as hard as possible. Yet, the Bible makes claims, amazing claims that can’t be proved, and then threatens those who don’t believe those claims. Why are people not challenging it? It ASTOUNDS me.