American novelist (born 1964)
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The Church’s systematic murder, imprisonment, and denunciation of some of history’s most brilliant scientific minds delayed human progress by at least a century. Fortunately, today, with our better understanding of the benefits of science, the Church has tempered its attacks…” Edmond sighed. “Or has it?” A globe logo with a crucifix and serpent appeared with the text: Madrid Declaration on Science & Life “Right here in Spain, the World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations recently declared war on genetic engineering, proclaiming that ‘science lacks soul’ and therefore should be restrained by the Church.
"These books can't possibly compete with centuries of established history, especially when that history is endorsed by the ultimate bestseller of all time."
Faukman's eyes went wide. "Don't tell me Harry Potter is actually about the Holy Grail."
"I was referring to the Bible."
Faukman cringed. "I knew that."
"Professor Langdon,' called a young man with curly hair in the back row, 'if Masonry is not a secret society, not a corporation, and not a religion, then what is it?'
'Well, if you were to ask a Mason, he would offer the following definition: Masonry is a system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols.'
'Sounds to me like a euphemism for "freaky cult." '
'Freaky, you say?'
'Hell yes!' the kid said, standing up. 'I heard what they do inside those secret buildings! Weird candlelight rituals with coffins, and nooses, and drinking wine out of skulls. Now that's freaky!'
Langdon scanned the class. 'Does that sound freaky to anyone else?'
'Yes!' they all chimed in.
Langdon feigned a sad sigh. 'Too bad. If that's too freaky for you, then I know you'll never want to join my cult.'
Silence settled over the room. The student from the Women's Center looked uneasy. 'You're in a cult?'
Langdon nodded and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. 'Don't tell anyone, but on the pagan day of the sun god Ra, I kneel at the foot of an ancient instrument of torture and consume ritualistic symbols of blood and flesh.'
The class looked horrified.
Langdon shrugged. 'And if any of you care to join me, come to the Harvard chapel on Sunday, kneel beneath the crucifix, and take Holy Communion.'
The classroom remained silent.
Langdon winked. 'Open your minds, my friends. We all fear what we do not understand."
"الإرهاب"، قال البروفيسور في محاضرته: "لديه هدف فريد من نوعه، أتعلمون ما هو؟".
أحد الطلاب: "قتل الناس الأبرياء؟"
"خطأ، ليس الموت سوى منتج جانبي للإرهاب".
"عرض القوة؟"
"كلا، فهذه أضعف طريقة للإقناع"
"إيقاع الرعب والذعر في النفوس؟".
"صحيح.. إن الهدف من الإرهاب هو وبكل بساط إيقاع الرعب والهول في النفوس، فالخوف يُضعف الإيمان ويقوّض أسسه، إنه يضعف العدو من الداخل، مسببا بالتالي هلع واضطراب العامة. دوّنوا هذا.. ليس الإرهاب تعبيرا عن الغضب، إنما هو كناية عن سلاح سياسي. أزيحوا الستار عن الواجهة الكاذبة والزائفة التي تختبئ وراءها الحكومات زاعمة أنها معصومة عن الخطأ، وأن نجاحها مؤكد، وسوف ترون كيف أنكم بالتالي تزعزعون إيمان شعوبها بها".
"زعزعة الإيمان؟"
كيف ستكون ردود فعل الناس في العالم عندما يرون رجال الدين يموتون ميتة الكلاب؟ إن كان إيمان الكاهن لم ينجّه من قوى الشيطان فما هو الأمل الذي بقي لدينا نحن عامة الناس؟
الإيمان لا يحميكم، الطب والأكياس الهوائية تحميكم، استثمروا إيمانكم في شيء ذو نتائج حقيقية وملموسة، متى كانت المرة الأخيرة التي سار فيها أحدهم على الماء؟ تنتمي العجائب الحديثة إلى العلم.. الكمبيوتر واللقاحات والمحطات الفضائية، وحتى عجيبة الخلق الإلهية.. مادة من لا شيء.. العلم هو لله.
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She saved my life...and I’ve ruined hers.
They sat in silence for a full minute, the air between them growing heavy, as if they both wanted to speak, and yet had nothing to say. They were strangers, after all, on a brief and bizarre journey that had just reached a fork in the road, each of them now needing to find seperate paths.