"The Virgin Birth, the Resurrection, the raising of Lazarus, even the Old
Testament miracles, all are freely used for religious propaganda, and they
are very effective with an audience of unsophisticates and children. Every
one of these miracles amounts to a violation of the normal running of the
natural world. Theologians should make a choice. You can claim your own
magisterium, separate from science's but still deserving of respect. But in
that case, you must renounce miracles. Or you can keep your Lourdes and your
miracles and enjoy their huge recruiting potential among the uneducated. But
then you must kiss goodbye to separate magisteria and your high-minded
aspiration to converge with science..."
[Richard Dawkins, "Snake Oil and Holy Water,"
in Forbes magazine, Oct. 4, 1999]