To the editor:

Well, I had to rub my eyes in astonishment when reading Warren Hepokoski’s Bible thumping nonsense (Mining Gazette, May 9). It is just amazing that in the 21st century we still have people quoting writings by semi-literate, superstitious, bronze/iron age, desert dwelling people, as if this has some semblance to reality.

He quotes a scripture that states that none of us “depraved” sinners can exercise our will to do any good works. If Mr. Hepokoski could get out of his parochial mindset, he might consider the Jains.

The following is a quote from Sam Harris: “If you think that it would be impossible to improve upon the Ten Commandments as a statement of morality, you really owe it to yourself to read some other scriptures. Once again, we need look no further than the Jains: Mahavira, the Jain patriarch, surpassed the morality of the Bible with a single sentence: “Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.” Imagine how different our world might be if the Bible contained this as its central precept. Christians have abused, oppressed, enslaved, insulted, tormented, tortured, and killed people in the name of God for centuries, on the basis of a theologically defensible reading of the Bible.”

Hepokoski then continues with the flabbergasting non-sequitur that all our good works are sin. What a happy circumstance that by “the luck of the draw,” Hepokoski was born into a “Christian” country and was raised in, or converted to, the Christian faith. If he had been born in India, he probably would be a Hindu. If he had been born in the Middle East, he probably would be a Muslim, and perhaps as fervent a proselytizer of that religion.

Again he quotes: “On that day … those who believed … in his blood and righteousness will be saved from the all-consuming fire, in which the heavens and earth shall melt with fervent heat.” A not too subtle threat to non-believers. But in Islam, Allah is the true God, Muhammad is his prophet, and all infidels, including Christians, will suffer in hell.

Decisions, decisions, but wait! There’s no such thing as hell. It’s just a vicious fiction perpetrated on people as a means of social control, and weak-minded individuals, living in fear, accept this nonsense. People should have a skeptical mind to keep from accepting pseudo-science, quackery, and absurd religious dictates.

David M Keranen

Bakersfield