In 1650, James Ussher (Archbishop of Armagh) used the Bible and the best science available to him to determine that the Universe was created at 6:00 PM on Saturday October 22, 4004 BCE. Since that time, by examining the geological record, the light from distant stars, fossils, and more, we have learned that the Universe is actually much, much older than six thousand years.

Scientists in the UK can make gentle fun of themselves by making statements about Archbishop Ussher. And newspapers in the UK can make gentle fun of scientists and Archbishops both. But can you imagine that any newspaper in the United States is going to say word one that might imply a religious figure was wrong on any topic at any time?

Religion has a special place in the United States. That special place is on top of any other concern. I work at a homeless shelter for teenagers; if an underage woman told me that she was being abused, I am required by law to report such abuse. Even if an adult reports abuse of a minor, I am required by law to report such abuse. The shelter I work at is a non-profit agency, just like any religious organization. But if a minor or an adult reports abuse to clergy, they are not required by law to report such abuse.

It's a funny thing about religous non-profit status. There is no law in my state of Oregon, nor in the United States, nor on the international level that defines what a 'religion' is. All you have to do is say you are religious and hey presto you are. Religious non-profits are not required to explain how they use their funding (unlike secular non-profits, which must account to the penny). Religious non-profits are not required to do any public service (unlike secular non-profits, which must demonstrate they earn their tax-exempt status). And while secular non-profits have mandatory reporting of child abuse, religious non-profits do not.

What is a religion, anyway? What does it take to get the protection of the First Ammendment? Here's what the Supreme Court said: "religious beliefs need not be acceptable, logical, consistent, or comprehensible to others in order to merit First Amendment protection." So here's the scoop, my friends: you can believe and do anything you want if you cloak it in talk about the invisible monster that lives in the sky. Get away with anything, make millions, have a TV show, it's all there if you substitute your dignity with God.