Sam Harris SALT
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  • Dr Sam is right on this matters ...

  • Sam Harris in 2012!

  • @cyasi It is with great lament that I say, should he run, he would be assassinated.

  • @SonOfNye

    No. People were saying that about Obama, that "THEY wouldn't allow him to be elected." "they" are just a few psychos who the secret service has to worry about for any president.

    Atheist self-pity is silly. Non-believers are the second largest group after christians in the US. I was at a party and a Canadian was lamenting "85% of Americans go to church." How delusional; 40% say they do. So probably 20% actually do every week.

    And I don't care anyways, it's their right.

  • Perfect sense.

    D. Steffen.

  • I could seriously listen to him talk all day. Clear, concise, and non-abrasive delivery. Perfect speaker.

  • SIMPLY PERFECT! Sam Harris is one of the most clear thinking, rational human beings on the planet. All I can think of is, "flawless diamond" when I try to compare his thought process and ability to communicate it "to a something"

  • @lmos26 You clearly mean "flawless diamond the size of a fridge"

  • What sam says is not only brilliant but in many ways obvious.

    I was brainwashed by religion until I was about thirteen years old.

    I did start doubting religious things at about 9 years of age though(largely due to the fact that I discovered science and began to notice the constant inconsistencies that my Catholic Christian faith threw up.)

    I find it comforting to hear sense being spoken for once instead of the mirriad of varying religious idiocies that tend to otherwise dominate.

  • Some people just aren't ready for the truth. "for the question of ¿Are we alone in this universe? both answers will be flabbergasting!! 'We are alone', 'We are not alone, theres more intelligent life out there" ~Neil DeGrasse Tyson

  • Sam Harris is a Zionist Shill of the Israeli Agenda to wage war against the religion of...

    Ok I can't say it with a straight face. Sam Harris is awesome.

  • Sam harris a delight as always

  • the four horseman!!!

  • l0l_Ï_fÉÈl_sø_lÖÑÈlÿ_t0ÐäY

  • " see, told you so. look at his magic powers! " LMAO!

  • Harris isn't really an atheist, just a strong secular humanist

  • @iblessedx

    "Sam Harris - Misconceptions About Atheism "

    ?v=rLIKAyzeIw4

    He has merely stated he does not like the term "atheist" or calling himself that. But, that is because it's absurd to define yourself by what you're not. As he states, you don't call yourself an anti-astrologer.

  • harris is like a prophet,whitout him knowing it ,he is a consiousnous awakening

    it s a proof that you can be highly spiratual and being atheist but that say i still belive that we should change the word spiritual to psychism minded cause to word spiritual as to much religious connatation to me

  • isn't it amazing how religious people spread propaganda about how mean-spirited and vengeful Dawkins and Harris? Harris is particular is not only kind, he has an almost morphine-level calmness about him.

  • GOLDEN Harris moment at 11:05

  • mr harris, the analogous breakthrough you recognize in human happiness is the abolishment of religion, of which you are an integral part. history is your ally

  • @kathydavid6 read matthew 25 and then troll youtube. the bible is the most potent weapon against christians.

  • well im not anyones disciple. but sam has put out 4 books on this subject. toured the u.s. twice. and he seems to be unwavered by the likes of his opposition. in fact he is gaining ground. looks like your comments are mute and desperate. welcome to you tube. is this your first day?

  • facts of the religious are not factual at all....(copied and pasted from kathydavid6)...no truer words have ever been spoken!

  • @makersmark90 There are many forms of religion. The following of this lunatic is a religion in and of itself. So if you want to take my statement out of context and apply it to your weak line of thinking then touche. The same goes for you and your anti-christ. His religious facts are not facts at all. Only his opinion expressed as a fact.

  • @kathydavid6 In what way does the "following" of Harris resemble a religion? We actually do robust research to check his facts and logic. We do not do it in the echo chambers of religious websites and message boards. If you think he is wrong, you must be getting your information from poor quality sources. His facts and logic are quite sound. Also, what is he saying that is "vile" or hateful?

  • @kathydavid6 It's pretty easy to just say something like you just did. You gave no examples that point to another explanation however. It's pretty common knowledge that religious institutions have opposed stem cell research..... So why is that?

  • @kathydavid6 That's pretty easy to say. Hard to provide examples for why you think this is trash. Probably why you gave no examples. It is pretty common knowledge that organized religion has opposed stem cell research. So why is that?

  • @kathydavid6 Duh?! Of course it is easy to say something like that. That is why I said it. We both know that if I give you examples then you are just going to argue with me and so on. Instead, I suggested the intellectual option. Please don't take what he says at face value. Just like you wouldn't take anything I said at face value. All I am suggesting is that you check for yourself, as I have done. Obviously I have already agreed that relligious organizations oppose stem cell research.....

  • @kathydavid6 I said the reasons he cited are not the correct reasons. Since I am a member of a religious organization I think I would know that wouldn't I?! There are several reasons we don't believe in taking a life for the possibillity of saving another life, even saving millions of lives. However, I said I would not argue here. Just pointing out that what he puts out there as facts of the religious are not factual at all.

  • @kathydavid6 You engage in ad hominem and make claims against Mr. Harris over a number of posts yet not once do you provide even one example of his alleged transgressions. Yet you accuse Mr. Harris and everyone who engages you here as expressing opinion as fact.

    Perhaps its time for your shot of Romans 2:1 with a dash of Matthew 7:4 topped off with a sprinkle of Luke 6:41 and a Ninth Commandment chaser (Exodus 20:16). .

  • @kathydavid6 Since when was the church against taking lives? Until fairly recently they took the lives of anyone that they found to be even mildly irritating. Also, I'm not sure where you are doing your "research" on stem cell technology, but you seem to be quite mistaken.

  • @kathydavid6 'christian' argument is not argument at all. belief in belief does not equate to factual statements. It simply perpetuates 'ridiculous trash.'

  • @makersmark90 Thanks for the comment. Obviously you are just stating your opinion and presenting it as a fact. Oh, yeah, that's right...Sam Harris teaches his disciples to do that!

  • @kathydavid6

    Kathy....He is perfectly presenting the absolute insanity that is detailed in christianity and believed by gullible people.He speaks calml because he doesn't need to rant and rave about "end times" or "hell" to frighten people into believing what he is saying.

  • Comment removed

  • Excellent. Well done Sam.

  • Well said Pongball. He is amazingly educated for his age, and is one of the most articulate conversationalists i've ever heard. Gentle-mannered for sure. Check out his new book (also audiobook) "The Moral Landscape".

  • Best hour of my life.

    (except this one time when my gf came home with some new lingerie and wanted to model for me)

    ok... this video was the second best hour of my life.

  • Hey, it's YouTUBE! Did someone say 'video'?

  • 28:55 I wouldn't want to live in a universe where there wasn't a diamond in my backyard. LMAO!!!!!

  • Comment removed

  • @bigfoot799

    Fucking hell, thats nasty.

    Im sure you dont mean it, but thats a very nasty comment to make about Hitchens,

  • "We have no reason to expect o survive our religious differences indefinatley. Faith is intrinsically divisive. We have a choice between conversation and war. It was conversation that ended slavery, not faith. Faith is a declaration of immunity to conversation. To make religious war unthinkable, we have to undermine the dogma of faith. The continuance of civilization requires not moderation, but reason." -Sam Harris

  • @mmeasy123

    Yeah so you smell...

  • @redryan5048 excuse me

  • @mmeasy123

    Why did you fart?

  • @redryan5048 Hilarious!

  • Thanks for replying Silverhawkroman, believers have some work to do on knowing when to keep quiet, comes with being human I suppose lol.

    I'm curious how do you arrive at the conclusion that the possibility of punishment (hell for want of a better word) is comforting for people who fear death?

  • Am I alone among atheists in thinking that stem cell research is an ethical problem that is by no means confined to religious questioning? I am a huge fan of Sam Harris -- he is the epitome of thoughtfulness and reason -- but I would not automatically agree with him on this point.

  • @malcolmbryant sacrifices must be made in order to succeed.

  • @silverhawkroman  The Aztecs probably said something similar.

  • @malcolmbryant yes, they prolly made sacrifices to discover which plants are venomous and which can be eaten. Same went with animals.

    But you have to be conscious when you make such sacrifices, although some sacrifices involve throwing ethics out of the window.

    Sacrifice out of ignorance is stupidity, sacrifice to kick some ignorance's ass isn't.

  • @malcolmbryant Why do you think it a problem? I'm an atheist vegetarian (good credentials surely :-) )

  • @TomfromExeter I cannot express my point better than to quote the scince-fiction author Greg Egan: "I don't believe six-day-old foetuses are sentient - but it would still be deeply corrupting to treat them like so much chemical feedstock. "

  • @malcolmbryant I can see the merits of a slippery slope argument (presumably the corruption Egan is worried about), and we should be on our guard against it. But the case of a bundle of cells is well at one of the extremes of the slope. In fact it's at such an extreme that many people don't think it presents a problem in itself, and I'd agree.

    Or have I misunderstood the nature of Egan's corruption?

  • @TomfromExeter Well, Tom, of course I cannot know what Egan actually intended, but as you say it's a slippery slope, and once you clamber aboard, how do you escape the gravity of its logic? The 'mission creep' of legalised abortion from medical emergency to lifestyle choice, is not encouraging. I fear a dystopian future run by monsters -- and the monsters are us.

  • @malcolmbryant I'm more optimistic. I think a scientific rational approach to moral issues is inevitably going to overturn some long held beliefs, and quite right too. For example in 100 years time people may be horrified that we killed pigs and ate them. Equally they may scratch their heads to understand why it was thought that GM food or stem cell research were major moral issues.

    Anyway, pleasure to exchange views with you. Unusually content-rich for Utube!

  • @malcolmbryant A 3 day old human embryo has no nervous system and no brain, hence does not have the capacity to suffer. I agree with Sam Harris.

  • This video needs WAY more views. I think it should be shown in schools world wide. Did this ever appear on neywork TV? If not, then why not?

  • Sam making some VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT points here.

  • Interestig video,

    I wasn't highly familiar with Sam Harris.

    In arguing against the soul's existence he points out eshatology of certain violent sections of the religious community.

    This is not correct of all soul believers.

    Those who believe that the soul returns to this world have different motivations to those who believe that the soul seperates from the body at death never to return to this world.

  • @danieldemol i believe in souls (in a way), and soul recycling. but when i see this amount of evidence for it and i see the bullshit, i kinda stay in the middle of both argument/belief.

    Something that i observed is that, we cannot possibly imagine us being dead, the state of death. Because of that, we are scared shitless because when we die, we become nothing (and our brains cannot wrap around that idea). Therefore  people invented 'heaven, hell, purgatory' and all those other versions.

  • Sam Harris is such a gentle person. It's amazing how much bravery it must take for him to stand up and say things that so many people find wildly offensive, reacting with anger and hatred. You can tell it genuinely upsets him that he has to offend so many people in order to help steer our civilization down a better path. As a another gentle-mannered person, I find it inspiring that he's able to do what he does.

  • @Pongball This guy is da fucking shiat!!!! Sam is so awesome for being one of the few (which is growing) that slaps humanity's ignorance in the FACE!

  • @Pongball

    you may have noticed he does add some sortof humorous and just ever so slightly insulting comments with no feeling, its as though he's delibratly adhereing to his value of conversational intolerance rather than truely wanting to provoke people

  • @Pongball well said brother

  • @Pongball Agreed, unless he's talking about taxes.

  • Mr. Harris is a refreshing voice of reason.

  • I love the hypothetical buried diamond scenario

  • sam harris' voice is stimulating

  • God please save us from organised religion!

  • Always a pleasure to listen to him. I like his clarity of thought and his ability to bypass conventional thinking.

  • google Doe's Account, mindblowing

  • great talk

  • The Church teaches that all unmarried persons should not engage in sex. So if unmarried persons obeyed, there would be no AIDS. The Church tells married couples not to use condoms. They certainly are not going to get AIDS if they remain faithful to each other. So the Church wants to increase life, and the condom promoters want to decrease life. So thecondomites concoct a ridiculous scenario of someone getting AIDS by obeying the Church on the condom issue, but not on extramarital sex.

  • Condoms are one of the most effective solutions to reducing the spread of AIDS.

    When your fuckwit Pope tells people in countries rife with AIDS to stop using condoms on pain of eternal damnation, that causes huge problems. Particularly in developing countries.

    Try to open your tiny theocratic mind just a little and you might stop leaving such foolish comments.

    You examplify completely why religion is so bad for people.

  • Heterosexual people get AIDS too you idiot

  • AIDS is a threat to anybody.

    The church's stance on ANYTHING is questionable, it's views are driven only by delusion and the need to propagate itself.

    Your insinuation that homosexuality is somehow perverted speaks volumes about how deeply your views about reality have been skewed by the bronze age dogmas you've subscribed to.

    Also, I find it hard to even conceive if a more shameful, morally abhorrent and anti-human purveyor of false flags than the Catholic church.

  • You just proved my point.

  • I thought so.

  • You're a sick fuck.

  • Take your primitive beliefs home, shove them up your arse, and keep them there.

    Your mentality is at least 2000 years out of date.

    You might not be used to people disagreeing with you during your Sunday cult meetings, but in the public forum don't expect your baseless, ignorant, and bigoted comments to go unchallenged.

  • @bammbamm12 what the fuck does condoms reducing aids have to do with gay people? everyone has aids, you fucking moron. yes, all the orphaned, dying children too. kill yourself.

  • You know nothing. You're a tool.

  • @bammbamm12 doesn't mean much coming from such a profound retard.

  • Couldn't resist the adjective could you? What, pray tell, is a "profound" retard? I've never seen those two words coupled.

  • Yes I see your logic, but we have biological urges that simply means people are going to have sex out of marriage, this is just the facts of humanity.

    And, most people do not believe sex outsde of marriage is wrong. Like me... I dont need a piece of paper to want to express my love for someone. Even just have sex for the fun of it if i like and its between consenting adults. I dont see the problem in this, as long as it is done safely, and condoms are a part of that.

  • well im a brother, and I have no problem with my sister and their partner engage in whatever they like. I know they have respect for themselves so know if they do do that, they will do it because they want to and feel a connection with their partners... Im not belittling marriage either. It is a beutiful thing, but there are other types of relationships out there. I have the freedom to hold such views where as you are stuck in archaic beliefs due to faith

  • @markgg1 - that's because you're a weakling punk. It's also because you have made a deal with the world: Let me do whatever perverted acts I like, and I won't get in your way either. Not a man or woman on earth will ever trust you.

  • @bammbamm12 Im a weakling? erm... I dont see how. When I see a fine piece of ass, I do go weak at the knees.. if thats what youre reffering to than yes.. I am weak and I admit it.

    Im not a pervert either thank you.

  • @bammbamm12 I think you have a sex obsession and need to see a professional about it

  • @markgg1 You must be kidding. You just admitted that you can't control your impulses. I can. So you have the obsession, not me bro'. I'm free; you're the slave. (google libido dominandi)

  • @bammbamm12 Yeh Im a slave to the ass... and love it

  • @markgg1 - so much for sexual freedom. Now you're a slave.

  • @bammbamm12 It's completely unrealistic to expect people to never engage in pre-marital sex. The evidence is available for abstinence-only programs in high-schools and it really doesn't work. Teen pregnancies and STDs are WAY higher in those schools. Abstinence-only programs exist almost exclusively in areas of the United States that are more religious. You are right that lifelong-monogamy is the only surefire way, but it simply doesn't work in the real world.

  • @BrooklynRagtag - if you believe this, then you cannot be a Catholic. Someone who is not a Catholic does not recognize the authority of the Pope. So what's your problem?

  • @bammbamm12 My problem is that those beliefs are making the world worse for people. I might not be Catholic, but I am an empathetic human being who finds fault with the injustices visited upon Catholics by their leader.

    Also, if we are talking about Africa and the pope's words on condoms, HIV can be transmitted to anyone and there are non-sexual ways transmit it. We aren't just talking about Catholics here. We are talking about an epidemic and a powerful man who is making the problem worse.

  • @BrooklynRagtag - The teachings of the Catholic Church create and perpetuate life. A non-Catholic is not going to adhere to Catholic teachings on monogamy, abstinence etc - only good Catholics will. I don't think you really understand what you're talking about. Give me an example of a person who is endangered by Catholic teaching if you think you do. Frankly, I don't know what business it is of yours anyway. (unless of course, what you really want is population control for dark people)

  • @bammbamm12 You are aware of the fact that even "good Catholics" are human, right? They just might slip up. I don't think I need to point out some of the more sinister sexual slip-ups by "good Catholics" in the Church's the past. Speaking of which, I think it's clear that the church's policy of sexual repression has born it's wicked fruits at the expense of young boys (you asked for an example).

    By the way. What's with the "dark people" comment?

  • @Brooklyn- You're telling me that a Catholic couple, who try to adhere to the teachings of the Church, are going to engage in sex outside of marriage, and in obedience to Church teachings, refrain from using a condom, and this is how AIDS is going to spread? This is laughable. And as far as homo priests and altar boys goes, how does Church teaching encourage this? The Church teaches that all sex outside of marriage is forbidden. So give me a real example. Btw, weren't we talking about AIDS?

  • @bammbamm12 The point is that repressed sexuality has a way of surfacing. Pedophile priests are examples of religious people who slip up in trying to repress their sexuality. It's a real example and you dismissing it out of hand shows the weakness of your position.

    It is evil to tell Catholic Africans that condoms will get them a one-way ticket to hell. Sex happens. Sometimes infidelity happens. If condoms are not the norm, that means unprotected sex--which means one more leg up for HIV.

  • @BrooklynRagtag - You don't know what evil is. Stop undermining the meaning of words. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ and he'll say whatever he bloody well wants. And what he says saves people, encourages life, and eliminates AIDS.

  • @bammbamm12 "Evil: Morally reprehensible."--Online Mirriam Webster Dictionary

    I meant what I said. It is morally reprehensible. If the Pope can "say whatever he bloody well wants," and you feel you cannot critically examine what he says, then you have given up a piece of your humanity and your morality. I don't mean to insult you, but I don't see virtue in that kind of deference.

  • @bammbamm12

    REally? And here I thought he banned condoms, SPREADING AIDS.

  • @drche420 - please take a breath and think. According to catholic teachings (which, need I say, applies to catholics) 1. No sex outside of marriage is permitted. 2. No birth control. Now please tell me in a cogent, precise, intellectually honest manner, how these rules lead to AIDS? I see more children and safe sex. Life and happiness.

  • @bammbamm12 And Vicar of Horus. The pope tries to cover priest pedophile.

  • @ceetboy1 - Life's short - why don't you try something? Read a book; any book.

  • @bammbamm12 Oooooh. OOooooh. (Hand raised) I can answer this. The church encourages this behavior by protecting the ones committing the acts, and in effect saying, go ahead. Stick it to the alterboys. We'll "tsk tsk" you but won't punish you in anyway. That's how they they encourage it.

    As far as what the church teaches when sex comes into play, the problem is trying to teach against something that is in human nature, for tens of thousands of years. Teaching against condom use is just stupid.

  • @tommy605 - Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him. Proverbs 26:4. Facts and references, not delusions.

  • @bammbamm12 HEARSAY IS NOT FACTUAL DUMMY

  • @splicedenergy - do something new - read a book.

  • @bammbamm12 What the fuck, I read constantly. you don't know me. fuck off

  • Obama believes in god. Palin believes in God. Looks like we'll have another decade of stupidity in America.

  • @S24995 im an atheist but i disagree with that - believing in a god does not equal stupidity, its what you do with that belief. Obama is a perfectly rational human being as far as i know, Einstein himself believed in some form of a deity. Its religion that is the enemy, not personal belief.

  • @Dragonflamz

    Einstein did not believ ein a deity, he used the word god to describe nature. If anything, he was a pantheist.

  • @Dragonflamz I'm not totally convinced that Obama believes in a god.

  • @BrooklynRagtag You could be right but for the sake of staying in government he has to, its a pretty disgraceful state of affairs...

  • @Dragonflamz Holla at that. I have foreign friends who are floored by the fact that an atheist couldn't be elected into U.S. office. It's almost too silly to believe it's true, but the polls are there--least trusted group in America.

  • @BrooklynRagtag I'm from the UK so yeah I guess im one of the 'floored foreigners' lol. Research clearly shows that belief in god decreases as an individuals level of education increases, so meh that kinda speaks for itself.

  • Won't the end of the world end 4 million years from now when our (sun)star dies?

  • @questionsamson

    4 billion years

  • @questionsamson

    On top of that, the Andromeda galaxy will be colliding with our own.

  • I stand corrected this is why we need to get out and explore. Forget about the end of the world, our universe will sill exist once the Judeo Christian god destroys our earth.

  • In all fairness apples can be delicious.

  • Someones probably missing a head LOL

  • Well said misteranonymousguy! But may I take this opportunity to suggest that perhaps you neglected to mention that in addition to selling hope, bog-trotting bible-thumpers are also peddling deceit and fear with equally appalling determination. Too, nice that you took the time to point out the alternative to religious belief . . . however Sisyphean the effort, believers are, after all, nothing if not benignly resistant to reason, logic, and science. Cheers!

  • Oh please, you immature kid.

  • Great speaker and writer. The world will be a better place when we finally get rid of this sinister, barbaric, ridiculous mythology from illiterate Palestine - RELIGION.

  • A scientific mystic

  • This is a really damn good speech.. I'm impressed

  • What a nice thing to say. What religion do you adhere to? Your username tells me that you are hostile towards those who do not believe like you do. Your religion has not helped you.

  • yes, indeed.

  • re: "shyster laughing all the way to his fat bloated bank account"... as opposed to, say, Jimmy Swaggart? Sun Myung Moon ? L Ron Hubbard? The Vatican ? Religion in replete with rich con men selling hope. Have you ever heard or seen Harris ask for money, for any cause?

    Lastly you are conflating abandoning a religion with embracing "a black hole of emptiness" [spell check!] and they are not the same thing. The alternative to religion is not nothing, it is reason, logic and science.

  • Ah, you again....

    TAXtheAtheist, you are, without a trace of a doubt, one of the very stupidest human beings I have ever seen form a mangled English sentence.

    There is a *reason* you have been called idiot your entire life.

    It isn't going to stop until you choose to hold your tongue (and fingertips).

  • "Faith is conversation stopper"

    True true

  • Comment removed

  • Following the Miss Grammarian theme of this discussion -- when ever, in the context Munro1Man is using it, is actually one word, to wit: whenever, and bollocks, lowpayne, in your comment should be in the lower case. Other than that, great speech. Cheers!

  • Does anyone know if there is a transcript of this discussion?

  • I love the insight on souls, the combination and/or splitting of embroys and what happens to the souls apparently attached.

    Fantastic...

  • What he sucks the invisible non existent cock. He is more clever than I thought !!

  • Sam Harris is FUCKING AMAZING here.

  • Um, let me guess, ... End Times?

  • Well, I do agree that kosher standards unreasonably picayune. So you have that going for you.

  • 1) there is no 'creator'. 2) you do not speak for all christians (you might not even be speaking for yourself). 3) i don't even know where to begin with that one...

    4) we've all heard enough about your doctrine to dismiss it as false.

  • Your comments are up there with trying to argue that a diamond the size of a fridge buried in your back yard gives your life meaning

    Your comments really are the comments of a madman or an idiot