The following passages contain language from our previous lists or language performing similar functions. Where such language occurs, say what it is and what it indicates.
2.8.1 Questions appendix, passage 11.
2.8.2 Questions appendix, passage 18.
2.8.3 As a Darwinian, something strikes me when I look at religion. Religion shows a pattern of heredity which I think is similar to genetic heredity . . . Out of all the sects in the world, we notice an uncanny coincidence: the overwhelming majority [of believers] just happen to choose the one their parents belonged to . . .: when it comes to choosing from the smorgasbord of available religions, their potential virtues seem to count for nothing compared to the matter of heredity. This is an unmistakeable fact; nobody could seriously deny it. (From passage 57 in the Questions appendix)
2.8.4 It is often said . . . that although there is no positive evidence for the existence of a God, nor is there evidence against His existence. So it is best to keep an open mind and be agnostic. At fi rst sight that seems an unassailable position . . . But on second thoughts it seems a cop-out, because the same could be said of Father Christmas and tooth fairies. There may be fairies at the bottom of the garden. There is no evidence of it, but you can’t prove that there aren’t any, so shouldn’t we be agnostic with respect to fairies? The trouble with the agnostic argument is that it can be applied to anything. There is an infi nite number of hypothetical beliefs we could hold which we can’t positively disprove. On the whole, people don’t believe in most of them, such as fairies, unicorns, dragons, Father Christmas, and so on. But on the whole they do believe in a creator God, together with whatever particular baggage goes with the religion of their parents. (From passage 57 in the Questions appendix)