In any event, the total number of people killed by the Inquisition and the Crusades was not any greater than numerous other wars and persecutions throughout history, committed by people of every religion and no religion. It is important to draw a distinction between religion and the things that were done in the name of religion but in reality were motivated by political power, military ambition, and simple cruelty and sadism.

If this seems unreasonable, do you think that it would be appropriate to say that atheism is responsible for all of the people killed under Stalin and Mao, because those two dictators and their followers were avowed and apparently sincere atheists?

In regards to the Bible and slavery, it would be more accurate to say that some passages of the Bible accept slavery rather than endorsing it. Other aspects of Biblical ethics, especially in the New Testament, are very much contrary to slavery, which was what motivated certain groups of Christians to become strongly opposed to slavery.

And where exactly are the alleged handouts? In my studies as a grad student in atmospheric science, I have encountered representatives from many climate-oriented research organizations and universities, and nowhere have I seen researchers rolling in dough because of their scientific claims. In fact, what I have very often seen is organizations asking for money from organizations asking for money from someone else. Beggars begging beggars. As far as I can tell (and I’m not the only one on the internet with this opinion), that’s the state of current climate research, the same research that the conservatives claim is needed to clarify the question on global warming.

I’m going to have to ask you for some hard evidence that these handouts exist, or I will have no choice but to conclude you have little idea what you are talking about.

It would also be different if the bible didn’t specifically endorse slavery, which it does consistently.

Most of the slave owners were not atheists, but certain strains of Christianity (notably the Quakers and some Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians) were indeed on the forefront of the movement to abolish slavery. They were a minority of all Christians, but I say that if one is going to condemn Christianity in general for the Crusades or the Inquisition or other persecutions that were carried out by particular groups of Christians, then one should also credit Christianity in general for the positive things accomplished by other groups of Christians.

One self-correcting aspect of the scientific endeavor, arises from the fact that posterity will declare a winner, and everyone wants to be right in hindsight. No one is typically so much smarter than ALL his colleagues that NONE of them can grasp his point. Eventually, good ideas convince some others (who are excited by the prospect of being right), and the field moves on. For example, Einstein dissented from the Copenhagen interpretation of the quantum theory, but those who believed in it forged ahead with it.