>I think this exchange sums up my problems with Parenti and his ilk
>perfectly. They (and their supporters) bring about as much expertise to the
>table as the most comically stereotyped fundamentalists -
Expertise in what? Biblical scholarship? Again, I don't think that's what we're talking about. Parenti is critiquing how religion is expressed politically and he's got a lot of expertise in that area.
Besides, Doug's right. Any literate person is qualified to comment on the bible, just as that person would be qualified to comment on film noir or Louis Armstrong records.