The email below appeared after a chat with my mum where she insisted the world is a better place with religion in it. On a whim I decided to pose to her the rhetorical device first used, I think, by Christopher Hitchins. In it, he challenges his opponent to name one act of goodness or kindness inspired by religion that could not otherwise be performed by a non-religious person. His sting comes in the follow-up question where he asks them to name evil acts inspired by religion that no normal person would do. While no examples can be found for the the first question, countless examples of the latter instantly spring to mind. My mum said she would have a think and about two weeks later I received this reply…

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