The idea is to open a dialogue about religiosity. This dialogue will never be fruitful as long as there are people who would rather call each other childish names than actually address what is wrong. How utterly pathetic. We truly are descended from primates and it shows.
I just finished reading a Letter to a Christian Nation and I'm kind of embarrassed for Sam. Any theist could rip the book apart in seconds - it cannot stand its ground.
The president used his veto to NOT START people with GUNS forcing OTHER PEOPLE to pay for EMBRYONIC stem cell research which is universally understood to be junk science.
"Um well I saw that I needed to lie but I still didn't know my position was wrong." --Sam Harris
@MrShoeguy Uh... embryonic stem cell research is NOT understood to be junk science. You're basing your opinion on what your preacher told you, undoubtedly.
@atheistram If you sincerely believe that it isn't known to be junk science then tell me CLEARLY why you libtards use guns to force other people to pay for it instead of buying stock in a biotech company like you do with oil companies and drug companies and all of the other big corporations that you talk so much shit about.
BTW saying Uh... doesn't scare me and there's no such word as undoubtedly.
Sam is an inexperienced idiot and not because he downs religions but because he says regions are the cause of much of the violence in the world today, maybe back in the day that might have been true but today’s religion, just like names of streets a gang member is from is just an excuse for violence and or a guild for confused possibly troubled people on how to go about or not feel lonely.
Are you really suggesting that religion doesn't cause violence anymore? How about 9/11? How about what's happening in Ireland where christians are killing each other? Or the constant fights between shia and sunni muslims?
"Norway, Denmark, Iceland,and Sweeden are much safer than the United States".....hmmm, what do those countries have in common that might make them safer than the US...hmmm? Intellectual honesty demands Sam to give the real demographic reasons why that might be.
@hasenj ...seriously? you can't see (admit?) what Demograhic advantage Norway, Denmark, Sweeden, and Iceland have over the United States that might tend to make them safer places? The answer does require a bit of intellectual honesty
@funcpl2741054 dude, my question was honest, not rhetorical. don't talk in puzzles, not everyone is familiar with the unnamed statistics you're referring to. Make your position clear; I can't read your mind.
@hasenj all those countries have essentially homongenous cultures and demographic unity. The USA is 'blessed' with a demography of every nationality, and culture including those which tend to commit extreme amounts of crime for whatever reason.
@funcpl2741054 i c where your going with this, but before you start using white genes to explain nordic peacefulness, consider the fact that not only minority communities in the us suffer violence, impoverished white people contribute just as much if not more, the people responsible for the most crime, arent minorities, they're poor people, who tend to adress their problems religiously rather then intellectually, and thats the real problem, not racial non uniformity
It's fair to say that most religious and irreligious people have no real understanding of it's genuine nature, it's origin or it's purpose. It takes study and practice and without both of these things understanding cannot take place.
Thanks for posting. Sam Harris' books mean a lot to me. I have a book of my own coming out in the next 2 months and I dedicated it to him. I attended Jerry Falwell's university (Liberty U) for six years and during my time there I picked up a copy of LTACN and it really "saved" me.
"Harris then gained some notoriety for defending Israeli government military actions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict" - Wiki.
He is a vehement Zionist and has written in his essay (pretty shit essay for someone supposedly so educated): "Head-in-the-Sand Liberals" which attacks Liberals for not supporting Israel more.
So yea. But then again I somehow get the feeling that truth and reality might not be what you are looking for -- you want to ignore the "inconvenient facts".
@OrthodoxDarwinist "According to him, terrorism is bad (but if Zionist Jews do it it's OK)"
How on Earth did you come to that conclusion? He has a negative opinion of ALL religions. S'quite clear in his many blog entires on his website, in ALL of the related books, and in every debate (with Muslims, Christians, and Jews).
"His allegiance is clearly with Zion."
Absurd statement. You 'clearly' have nothing to back up that claim, and 'clearly' nothing to justify the 'clearly'. #LOL
1. Name one time where he has ever been critical of Judaism in particular.
2. You should go and read his essays extolling the virtues of Israel and their ethnic cleansing of the native peoples by violence and in the name of religious Zionism. He thinks this is all great, but spends his whole life attacking those of other faiths who do the exact same thing.
Oh? Can you provide any evidence that he supports "Zionist" terrorism?
Seems to me that he argues against religion and terrorism of all kinds, though he does acknowledge (rightfully, I think) that is more common in and more endorsed by certain religions than others.
"Harris then gained some notoriety for defending Israeli government military actions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict" - Wiki.
He is a vehement Zionist and has written in his essay (pretty shit essay for someone supposedly so educated): "Head-in-the-Sand Liberals" which attacks Liberals for not supporting Israel more.
So yea. But then again I somehow get the feeling that truth and reality might not be what you are looking for -- you want to ignore the "inconvenient facts".
Let me guess: you are a Zionist yourself!! Aren't you!
I understand now.... you are getting annoyed because me correctly pointing out that Sam Harris is a hypocrite, indirectly shows that you're a hypocrite yourself!
I understand now.... you are getting annoyed because me correctly pointing out that Sam Harris is a hypocrite, indirectly shows that you're a hypocrite yourself!
Also, if I may venture a correction of Harris: Jesus is right the Law will not pass away because the law is constant & eternal- LOVE GOD & UR fellow man as URself, Also,Paul NOWHERE in Romans advocates for the death/murder of homosexuals. Rather, he offers an assessment of unrestrained homosexual practices as one example of rampant sin & evidence of the result of moral decline by people & societies which willfully repress (intentionally restrict) the knowledge & natural revelations of God.
I think it may also prove helpful to some of the viewers here to try to evaluate many of the more strident claims of the anti-theist critique ("brights") from a ideological/ metaphysics perspective. Check out the recent article by Jackson Lears in the May 16, 2011 issue of the The Nation entitled "Same Old New Atheism" .The article offers a compelling analysis of Sam Harris' works. Consideration is given to general secularist social perspective
Sam Harris is one our greatest thinkers! Religion will un-make our world if we don't keep the nuts in their cage. See "Religious fanatic debates Atheist" on my channel for clarity.
I think it may also prove helpful to some of the viewers here to try to evaluate many of the more strident claims of the anti-theist critique ("brights") from a ideological/ metaphysics perspective. Check out the recent article by Jackson Lears in the May 16, 2011 issue of the The Nation entitled "Same Old New Atheism" .The article offers a compelling analysis of Sam Harris' works. Consideration is given to general secular social perspectives
Sam Harris is a complete opportunist and charlatan. He has come to prominence by joining in the scapegoating of Muslims, and supporting the phony "war on terror". He has tried to co-opt the banner of atheism, science and progress, for predatory wars waged by the most powerful military nation in the world, against impoverished and historically oppressed nations. He should explain how the invasion of Iraq, the seizure of its oil, and the murder of a million innocent civilians aid human progress.
"The idea that somehow high levels of religious literalism guarantee a kind of public morality and societal health appears to be an absolute fantasy" hahaha classic
There are many religions And all Of them say Of God. if God really exist He must have revealed something Of Himself And His creation. Then, one religion must be true. Which one? Which has divine credentials ?
Only Jesus was foretold by prophets.
Only Jesus performed miracles, the greatest His own Resurrection from the grave.
Only Jesus made no mistakes or sins in His life And His teaching.
Mahomet for example was immoral And tought poligamy, violence And so on...it is impossible that he came f
@franciszek8D The story of Krishna's birth is very similar to Jesus, and is thousands of years older. Krishna was foretold by prophets and performed far greater miracles than Jesus. So Hinduism is the true religion.
@franciszek8D Wow, what ignorance. Read some of the other comments and do some research before you make outrageous claims. The story of Jesus was taken from other "gods" from History. Research Mithra, Krishna, and Horus. It might just blow your mind. There is also little evidence outside of the bible that jesus was a real person. I know its not an important value in religioun, but try and be objective and look at facts, use critical thinking, and dont be afraid to question.
You obviously haven't studied other religions... =^_^=
"Only Jesus performed miracles, the greatest His own Resurrection from the grave."
Google "Horus" the Egyptian god who healed the sick and blind, raised the dead, walked on water, died and came back 3 days later. Thousands of Years before your Jesus was born (born = plagiarized). Do some research.
"Only Jesus made no mistakes"
You Obviously have not read "The Sermon on the Mount" ¬_¬
Yep, religion is the cause of all the violence in the world. Look what Stalin did in the name of religion. Wait a minute. Stalin killed 30 million plus people under a philosophy that said religiopn is bad(the opium of the people).Maybe it is not religion that is the problem,but evil men twisting certain beliefs to acheive their ends. I agree that you cannot blame atheism for the horrors Stalin committed,but neither can you blame religion.
The interesting thing about Stalin in that regard, is that he didn't close the state churches, but instead used religion as a tool to control the people. Not quite atheist.
Now, care to guess how many were killed in the crusades?
How about the spanish inquisition?
How many are dying of aids because of religious beliefs regarding condoms?
This is just the incredibly short list, and mostly only involving christians.
@rynther I am sorry but you are quite mistaken on. Even the most cursory examination of the state of religion in the Soviet Union will reveal that religion was quite suppressed by the Marxist state. Although I must say that the criticism of the body counts that religious people bring up is laughable. If Genghis Kahn or the Inquisitors had machine guns and gas chambers, I am sure similar figures would have been reached.
All but the state religion, not religion as a whole. Is that really any different than any other tyrannical government that uses religion as a tool for government control?
How tolerant are the Saudis regarding scientology? How about any other religion at all?
How tolerant are the fundamentalist Christians regarding any other religion?
That you can point out an exception, does not make the rest of it all good. Slavery and genocide are just wrong. I don't care why.
@rynther The reason why it's wrong is the main point. You cannot win an argument for the strength of your reasoning if you do not provide any reasons.
The question you seem to be asking is "Why are people capable of killing?" and the answer is that we simply are. What's more dangerous is any person willing to exploit that capacity for their own selfish ends. Religion is merely a means, one we have failed to hold accountable due to the taboo against questioning "sacred" beliefs.
I didn't say that killing is wrong, there are justifiable reasons for it under all legal systems.
To impose slavery or kill a specific social group for any reason is wrong.
That is not a question, that's a statement.
The concept of not wanting to be a slave is self evident, unlike the concept that the sun revolves around the earth.If you find anyone who truly wants to be a slave, I would be surprised. Wanting to own slaves is far more likely, and must be defended against.
@rynther Of course I am not trying to ignore the horrors that have been brought on in the name of religion. I use the Soviet Union as an example of why people should not think that there is a causal relationship between religion and violence. It appears that earthy stakes can often be raised quite sufficiently to cause any horror that religion has also influenced.
@rynther What I am saying is that science and religion have both been misused for evil at times. I believe that both institutions are good, and largely beneficial to society. They both have a purpose in the world, and the positives outweigh the negatives. That is why I am opposed to anti-scientific religious fundamentalism. I am opposed to anti-religious sentiment as well. People like Harris are counterproductive to the only realistic goal, make religions benign.
@Keysteeze You can have all the same benefits of religion (well, except the comforting thought that something else will be there for you in the afterlife) in humanism and humanitarian groups. No need for religion. You can't replace anything else for science, though.
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The analogy that Sam makes between "running software" and "ideas that get in your head" is a great way of looking at things. Ideas should be adaptable things, and we should never get too attached to any particular "program" in a changing world. Most of the Muslim world is still running on that pre-Y2K stuff that was set to wipe out all the servers... we really need to get some tech people in there soon.
83% of the population just pretends that Jesus rose from the dead sometimes. Only little kids really believe it. Even then, they don't really know what they're believing.
Imagine if someone wrote a book about how Santa didn't exist and it became a best seller.
@TheFlanker35 Sorry,but I believe. I have no problem with those who don't,but I would appreciate folks not telling me(and others like me) that we do not believe and are just pretending.
Then why would you be sad when a child or baby dies? If the child is going to be literally resurrected again as though his death never happened, what's there to be sad about? Have you ever actually been to a funeral where you thought the departed was in hell? What about Christians who converted to their religion and weren't raised Christian? Should they no longer love their non-believing parents and family even if they've been good family members?
Calling America a Christian nation is illogical and MAD, and it hints at how illogical Sam Harris can be. All of the available evidence points to how non-christian Christianity and our nation is. Any logical thinker would have been able to reason this out before naming his book. In short, Christianity does dominate the U.S., but Christianity has little or nothing to do with the teachings of Christ. Harris' book is a letter to a nation that doesn't exist.
...PART 2....in the context of religion. And you see these same errors not only in religion, but in every other facet of society as well. The real beef Atheists have is with human nature. You could remove religion entirely and be left with other dogmas and irrational thinking that would lead to the same types of atrocities that have been committed in the name of religion.
@carolinelandry75 Not even close......more killings and fraud have been perpetuated and savaged upon peope on this planet in the name of religion than in any other vain......
@makersmark90 I guess you missed my point.Religion is an excuse for man to exercise his fallen nature, namely greed and the quest for power.Most professing Christians are not followers of Christ,but mere counterfeits.That type of "religion" is, indeed, a corrupt organization.I do not believe that without religion those same people will be any different.There will be more killing and fraud in the name of something else....
It doesn't take much time dipping into Atheistic circles to see the real problem that Atheists have with supposed religion. Mr. Harris sets out to show the supposed link between religion and violence and misses the real link entirely, and misses the essence of the teachings of Christ in the process. Mr. Harris (and many other Atheists) are actually closer to accepting the gospel of Christ than they realize. They problem is not with religion per se, but with with the logic man uses.....
Abraham's religions is a HUGE fraud really... it's a non-stop psychopathic propaganda of some tribal/political war that starts thousand of centuries ago... that is bullshit... they are forcing anyone to believe in something that should be a personal decision or belief, even up to now, it's really stupid...
@MrDelotheHero He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”Mark 16:15-18
Basically, if you believe in Jesus Christ you have the ability to drink poison and heal the sick while speaking in tongues and 'driving out' demons. In His own words. No way to get out of that with metaphors. You have to be able to do that if you believe in Jesus. I suggest an experiment. Notice: Be sure to record the experiment so that it can later be uploaded to YouTube as proof of your miracles.
i think that 83% is an extremly high statistic. sure 83$ of people may claim to be christain, but how many ofthem actually practice, study, or understand it. I would estimate about 30 percent of americans are christains if your counting people that at the least try to practice their religion.most of these dont even seriously study it or investigate opposing view points and religions
@AgentTheGreat Why should I sacrifice a goat for him??? Jesus, the Son of the God sacrificed his own life for everyone! "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! FOR IF THEIR PURPOSE OR ACTIVITY IS OF HUMAN ORIGIN, IT WILL FAIL! BUT IF IT IS FROM GOD, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THESE MEN, YOU WILL ONLY FIND YOURSELVES FIGHTING AGAINST GOD! /Acts 5:38-39/ This is a message to every atheist!!!
Oh man. As an ex-Muslim I gotta say, Muslims are only more faithful versions of you people. They actually believe in their Book and follow it word by word.
You can never explain why God needed to take the form of a human to sacrifice himself so that he himself could forgive our sins. It really sounds like what it really is: a myth.
@AgentTheGreat Of course I can explain! I have to know what I belive in! In the case, if it intrest you, give me an e-mail adress, and I will explain it to you! Also, if you have lot more questions about Christianity, you can ask me, if you want, and I assure you that, I will answer!
Admittedly the following is out of context and pared down to what I considered to be the essence of this verse:
Quran 8:12: “Instill terror in the hearts of the unbelievers. Strike off their heads and cut off fingers and toes”
If not too much trouble please comment how this is truly interpreted by your local imam? The standard line I get fed is : "Oh that was back then" and " That was during war time"
I, however, suspect nowhere does the Quran say this no longer applies.
Yeah, they say "that was during war time". They bring other verses about compassion towards non-Muslims and stuff like that to say that this specific instance of violent remarks is provided to strengthen Muslims' confidence in a war begun by non-Muslims.
Whether that's true or not, God, being God and all, could see this would become problematic and could perhaps tone it down a little, I don't know, maybe give confidence to Muslims through miracles instead!
I think some of them interpret the fact they ended up sitting on most of the oil as a miracle provided for them by their god. Quite miraculous considering that their god even furnished the infidels to extract it and to apply their god negating science to develop the technology making it have any value at all in the first place.
Being any kind of religious (and thinking) means being tortured by irony every waking minute.
@fctchk an intelligent person would realize that it was meant to be taken literally. a non-intelligent person will say something stupid like "oh its a metaphor"
Jesus is the Son of God, and only if you call upon Him and repent of your sins will a person be saved. Christianity is not a religion its a relationship with God. The difference between christianity and religion is that religion is made by man and focuses on man getting into heaven for there good works. But the Bible clearly says that a man has to repent and God's love is a free gift to all that call apon his name.
I think oil prices and currency exchange rates might have more to do with per capita income than religious belief. Qatar also has a high per capita income.
You have not convinced me in the least regarding any of your postulations. Im still a christian. You havent proved jesus did not exist, you have not proved that he will not return one day, you havent disproved the existence of God, or the bible's authenticity
You subsist to bad mouth religion, but cannot come up with any real hard evidence to back any of your exponential anti-God/religion sermons. I will pray for you that God blesses you, and for Jesus to save you from your sins.
Look @Singley01 My screen name is just a joke. If you feel you need to judge me thats on you. I will not hold that against you. I will not judge you either. However if I did it would not be based on your screen name. I got love for you, So I pray that God blesses you, protects you, your friends and family.
@Blowme95 Is not our job to prove that Jesus didn't exist (or God). Onus Probandi. Big calims require big evidence, the burden of proof is on the one who makes the claim not on the one whom in absence of compelling evidence doesn't believe it (you have to prove it, until then we haven't a good reason to automatically believe it). Do you realize how tastless and condescendant is to tell an atheist "I will pray for you that God blesses you, and for Jesus to save you from your sins"? bet you don't
@DocStrange0123 Look just like I told Singley01, If you feel you need to judge me. I will not hold that against you. And no I dont know how tasteless and condescendant it is to tell an atheist "I will pray for you that God blesses you, and for Jesus to save you from your sins" You believe in love? Then even if you think God does not exist what I said is far from tasteless and condescendant. Its better to pray for someone then to curse them. duh <--jus playin) and yes i pray God blesses u 2 doc
@Blowme95 Where I judjed you exactly? I'm aware that your intentions are good BUT there's something implicit (not explicit) in that sentence that you didn't stop to consider that goes similar to for example: "Oh, poor DocStrange0123, he just don't get it, there's something wrong with him and I just know the right way to fix it"... you don't know me. What exactly are you going to pray for? I'm ok, I don't need the intervention of a suposed divine entity (Allah, Shiva, Zeus...) thank you
@DocStrange0123 It was not meant condesendantly. There is something wrong with all of us and there is also something great. Because were human none of us really know the truth, or the way to fix it eachother. I dont know you, but i know humans and i think we all feel pain. We all know what pain is because there is the opposite feeling Joy / happiness. All I prayed for you was that God/Jesus would bless your health, finances, friends/family and that you would go to heaven.
@Blowme95 I know it was not meant but it's irrelevant, it's implicit in such a statement. People pray for: help, help for others, when something goes wrong, when something is wrong, to praise an speciffic deity... to Atheists is not wanted nor needed, it's tasteless. "none of us really know the truth" including you. a Muslim or a Hindu could do the same, prayer deosn't work. Heaven is something unlikely to be real. It's probable that death =end of story. So enjoy the time you have here.
I went into the book shop to buy Dawkins' "God Delusion" in 2006. The lad behind the desk offered to throw in Sam Harris' book for 50% off, saying it was "an easier read". His patter worked - I bought both.
Even though I don't live in the US, this book and Dawkins' set the scene for why it's now important to really take a stern look at religious behaviour and what it can lead to. (eg. this public Koran book burning tomorrow, which will be committed by a religious zealot)
Of course I understand what you are getting at. However, I was making a point on where we get our freedoms and rights. Freedom is not an end goal, we continue to fight for it even in the western world. Look at slavery, women's and gay's rights as well. It was brutal what happened in France just over two hundred years ago, but it was one of the first times in european history that an entire society stood up against authority on that scale.
@insanewarlock666 saying that Satanism is atheistic is like saying that Christianity or any other cult is atheistic, but I know, I know - it's a joke.
@oldpiq it's not a joke... find out information about Anton Lavey and his "satanic bible" actually satanists don't believe in his existence. satan is symbolic for them...
@oldpiq here is quote from article about satanic bible from wikipedia "Satanism, as an atheistic religion, holds that as there is no afterlife and therefore no paradise or heaven or hell, all happiness and satisfaction must be attained here, on earth"
@insanewarlock666 OK, I will convert to "Satanism" and then, I hope, I will be worth commenting your posts :) Thanks for the quote. I get that. Still "atheistic religion" - quite an impressively twisted oxymoron. Why calling it "Satanism" or anything at all then? Why not Santa Clausism or Easter Bunnyism, since both beings can be also "symbolic"? I know, I don't get it...
@oldpiq I don't think that you got it. it's more philosophy than religion. it looks like a religion (christianity) because it's parody on it. why satan? you are starting to annoy me. it's so small article on wikipedia... read about it or watch video about church of satan I'm not Peter H. Gilmore to explain it to you. I can but I don't want to because of this reasons, first! wikipedia can better. second! I don't have enough time, third! I DON'T FUCKING CARE! sorry for ignorance :)
i just wish that there was a mandatory "critical thinking" class in school that you HAVE to make atleast a c in to graduate from school, this way, we would get rid of religion in no more then 50 years
Religion is the greatest FRAUD in all history. No intelligent person believes in angels, miracles and an eternal afterlife with an imaginary magic-boss in the sky.
@goldstead Actually intelligent people do. Smart folk are very good at convincing themselves of stupid things. Also, no one is omniscient and I am sure many of the ideas of the greatest minds today will be proven foolish in the future by new knowledge.
@goldstead That's not true, the person that headed the research team that decoded the human genome is a Christian. It's not an issue about intelligence, but of rationality.
@goldstead Sure they do. Thats why its called brainwashing. Intelligence doesnt save you from brainwashing. It can happen to anyone. Thats why its so scary.
@goldstead lot's of intelligent people believe these things. lot's of deluded intelligent people. even guys like hitchens acknowledge this. this is part of the problem. too many intelligent people believe in these things.
@WrongFitment I've read is book, and he could run circles around your arguments. Yes but you don't consider it a hair color do you. Is there a word for a non=stamp collector. The argument is that you do no need to be indetfied in order to called some thing in order to oppose some stupid ideology or religion. Qucik Question, What do you call a man who isn't a republican,democrat, or independant? I'm waiting.
@WrongFitment And what do you call people who don't believe in fairies and dragons? What do you call people who don't believe that aliens traverse the stars to come and anally probe farmers? You don't call them anything. A term for such a thing does not exist. Atheism shouldn't even be a word, because atheism is simply the noise a reasonable person makes when confronted with the concept of religion.
such a smart man i must admit but comparing radical islam to the judeo christian worldview, do your HW Sam Harris. If essentially that is true then he could give his speeches over where the muslims dwell, or more like his farewell speech, its ironic that the source that Sam Harris is attacking is the very source that allows him to make his speeches here in america , essentially NEW ATHEISM is the OLD ATHEISM repackaged to make best sellers. Btw theres nothing wrong with questioning christianity
If you are implying that Christianity is the source of free speech you are mistaken my friend. Free speech was fought for in the west against the ignorance of authority. Remember Galileo? How about the French Revolution? It;s the American Constitution that grants him the right to free speech, not a religion. Church and State are separate.
Harris is simply stating that belief in scripture (old/new testament or Koran) without evidence is illogical and mad.
@zwwalker I admit your correct as to where he has that freedom, what i meant to get across was how isulting it is and if i may say so myself ignorant, in its proper definition ,how he could compare all religions to radical Islam. im not sure yet which religion is correct but there is in fact evidence for a transendant cause and an intelligent cause for the universe concerning physics,chemistry,biology etc... clearly i feel this man is in denial, he has a personal philosophy " There is no God"
The idea is to open a dialogue about religiosity. This dialogue will never be fruitful as long as there are people who would rather call each other childish names than actually address what is wrong. How utterly pathetic. We truly are descended from primates and it shows.
Mudflappus 2 weeks ago
I just finished reading a Letter to a Christian Nation and I'm kind of embarrassed for Sam. Any theist could rip the book apart in seconds - it cannot stand its ground.
eetmieshyt 3 weeks ago
@eetmieshyt And the Bible can't stand it's ground. Your point??
atheistram 1 week ago
Sam Harris is a shit faced lying stupid punk.
The president used his veto to NOT START people with GUNS forcing OTHER PEOPLE to pay for EMBRYONIC stem cell research which is universally understood to be junk science.
"Um well I saw that I needed to lie but I still didn't know my position was wrong." --Sam Harris
MrShoeguy 1 month ago
@MrShoeguy Uh... embryonic stem cell research is NOT understood to be junk science. You're basing your opinion on what your preacher told you, undoubtedly.
atheistram 1 week ago
@atheistram If you sincerely believe that it isn't known to be junk science then tell me CLEARLY why you libtards use guns to force other people to pay for it instead of buying stock in a biotech company like you do with oil companies and drug companies and all of the other big corporations that you talk so much shit about.
BTW saying Uh... doesn't scare me and there's no such word as undoubtedly.
MrShoeguy 1 week ago
@MrShoeguy Liberals don't use guns to force other people to pay for it. Your ignorance is astounding.
And there is such a word as "undoubtedly." Someone needs English lessons, and it's not me.
atheistram 1 week ago
Religion: where logic goes to die.
dkthg 1 month ago
Sam is an inexperienced idiot and not because he downs religions but because he says regions are the cause of much of the violence in the world today, maybe back in the day that might have been true but today’s religion, just like names of streets a gang member is from is just an excuse for violence and or a guild for confused possibly troubled people on how to go about or not feel lonely.
caitlyn525 1 month ago
@caitlyn525
Are you really suggesting that religion doesn't cause violence anymore? How about 9/11? How about what's happening in Ireland where christians are killing each other? Or the constant fights between shia and sunni muslims?
aimonaali 1 month ago in playlist SAM HARRIS
Oh no, a Reagan resurgence. But don't debate, they are a bunch
fatcat2939 2 months ago
"Norway, Denmark, Iceland,and Sweeden are much safer than the United States".....hmmm, what do those countries have in common that might make them safer than the US...hmmm? Intellectual honesty demands Sam to give the real demographic reasons why that might be.
funcpl2741054 3 months ago
@funcpl2741054 and what is that?
hasenj 3 months ago
@hasenj ...seriously? you can't see (admit?) what Demograhic advantage Norway, Denmark, Sweeden, and Iceland have over the United States that might tend to make them safer places? The answer does require a bit of intellectual honesty
funcpl2741054 2 months ago
@funcpl2741054 dude, my question was honest, not rhetorical. don't talk in puzzles, not everyone is familiar with the unnamed statistics you're referring to. Make your position clear; I can't read your mind.
hasenj 2 months ago
@hasenj It's bleeding obvious. They
jerrygreg2 2 months ago
@hasenj all those countries have essentially homongenous cultures and demographic unity. The USA is 'blessed' with a demography of every nationality, and culture including those which tend to commit extreme amounts of crime for whatever reason.
funcpl2741054 2 months ago
@funcpl2741054 i c where your going with this, but before you start using white genes to explain nordic peacefulness, consider the fact that not only minority communities in the us suffer violence, impoverished white people contribute just as much if not more, the people responsible for the most crime, arent minorities, they're poor people, who tend to adress their problems religiously rather then intellectually, and thats the real problem, not racial non uniformity
burn435353 2 months ago
It's fair to say that most religious and irreligious people have no real understanding of it's genuine nature, it's origin or it's purpose. It takes study and practice and without both of these things understanding cannot take place.
abdallahmarsh 3 months ago
Sam is a hero. Christians are gullible.
Klash92 4 months ago 2
Anyone who points out the Norwegian shooting as proof that Sam is wrong, better stop shooting themselves in the foot.
Dgoosh1000 4 months ago
Thanks for posting. Sam Harris' books mean a lot to me. I have a book of my own coming out in the next 2 months and I dedicated it to him. I attended Jerry Falwell's university (Liberty U) for six years and during my time there I picked up a copy of LTACN and it really "saved" me.
AtheismLovesYou 4 months ago
Proud swede here.
andreasdrg 5 months ago
@andreasdrg
Not so proud over it, but still happy to be dane here
BitterBurst 5 months ago
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"Harris then gained some notoriety for defending Israeli government military actions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict" - Wiki.
He is a vehement Zionist and has written in his essay (pretty shit essay for someone supposedly so educated): "Head-in-the-Sand Liberals" which attacks Liberals for not supporting Israel more.
So yea. But then again I somehow get the feeling that truth and reality might not be what you are looking for -- you want to ignore the "inconvenient facts".
OrthodoxDarwinist 6 months ago
What's going on in France right now Sam?
desasterz 6 months ago
Sam Harris is one of the biggest hypocrites around.
According to him, terrorism is bad (but if Zionist Jews do it it's OK).
This guy is not an atheist in the true sense of the word at all. His allegiance is clearly with Zion.
OrthodoxDarwinist 6 months ago
@OrthodoxDarwinist "According to him, terrorism is bad (but if Zionist Jews do it it's OK)"
How on Earth did you come to that conclusion? He has a negative opinion of ALL religions. S'quite clear in his many blog entires on his website, in ALL of the related books, and in every debate (with Muslims, Christians, and Jews).
"His allegiance is clearly with Zion."
Absurd statement. You 'clearly' have nothing to back up that claim, and 'clearly' nothing to justify the 'clearly'. #LOL
UnitedKingdomify 6 months ago 2
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@UnitedKingdomify
1. Name one time where he has ever been critical of Judaism in particular.
2. You should go and read his essays extolling the virtues of Israel and their ethnic cleansing of the native peoples by violence and in the name of religious Zionism. He thinks this is all great, but spends his whole life attacking those of other faiths who do the exact same thing.
OrthodoxDarwinist 6 months ago
@OrthodoxDarwinist
Oh? Can you provide any evidence that he supports "Zionist" terrorism?
Seems to me that he argues against religion and terrorism of all kinds, though he does acknowledge (rightfully, I think) that is more common in and more endorsed by certain religions than others.
Joeofiowa 5 months ago
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@Joeofiowa
"Harris then gained some notoriety for defending Israeli government military actions in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict" - Wiki.
He is a vehement Zionist and has written in his essay (pretty shit essay for someone supposedly so educated): "Head-in-the-Sand Liberals" which attacks Liberals for not supporting Israel more.
So yea. But then again I somehow get the feeling that truth and reality might not be what you are looking for -- you want to ignore the "inconvenient facts".
OrthodoxDarwinist 5 months ago
@Joeofiowa
Let me guess: you are a Zionist yourself!! Aren't you!
I understand now.... you are getting annoyed because me correctly pointing out that Sam Harris is a hypocrite, indirectly shows that you're a hypocrite yourself!
Ain't that the truth?
OrthodoxDarwinist 5 months ago
@OrthodoxDarwinist
You are the one who made this about a specific religion, my friend. All discussion before you came along was about religion in general.
You seem to have something of an agenda yourself, which may explain why you drew a conclusion completely unrelated to the video.
Feel free to shout a bit more, but I won't be responding unless you produce a coherent argument or perhaps some evidence.
Joeofiowa 5 months ago
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@Joeofiowa
WHY ARE YOU AVOIDING THE QUESTION??????
YOU are a Zionist yourself!! Aren't you!
I understand now.... you are getting annoyed because me correctly pointing out that Sam Harris is a hypocrite, indirectly shows that you're a hypocrite yourself!
Ain't that the truth?
OrthodoxDarwinist 5 months ago
Also, if I may venture a correction of Harris: Jesus is right the Law will not pass away because the law is constant & eternal- LOVE GOD & UR fellow man as URself, Also,Paul NOWHERE in Romans advocates for the death/murder of homosexuals. Rather, he offers an assessment of unrestrained homosexual practices as one example of rampant sin & evidence of the result of moral decline by people & societies which willfully repress (intentionally restrict) the knowledge & natural revelations of God.
shieldsff 6 months ago
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I think it may also prove helpful to some of the viewers here to try to evaluate many of the more strident claims of the anti-theist critique ("brights") from a ideological/ metaphysics perspective. Check out the recent article by Jackson Lears in the May 16, 2011 issue of the The Nation entitled "Same Old New Atheism" .The article offers a compelling analysis of Sam Harris' works. Consideration is given to general secularist social perspective
shieldsff 6 months ago
Sam Harris is one our greatest thinkers! Religion will un-make our world if we don't keep the nuts in their cage. See "Religious fanatic debates Atheist" on my channel for clarity.
Sweence 6 months ago
the CHRISTIAN NATION
ARE THE ONLY // LOST NATION //.
AMONG OTHERS.
they have no proper directions
they are moving accordinglg.
kassem975 7 months ago
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I think it may also prove helpful to some of the viewers here to try to evaluate many of the more strident claims of the anti-theist critique ("brights") from a ideological/ metaphysics perspective. Check out the recent article by Jackson Lears in the May 16, 2011 issue of the The Nation entitled "Same Old New Atheism" .The article offers a compelling analysis of Sam Harris' works. Consideration is given to general secular social perspectives
shieldsff 7 months ago
Do not blame religions. Blame people who used religions!
franciszek8D 7 months ago
@franciszek8D Do not blame people. Blame the religions that have used people!
jamrollz 7 months ago
I feel like just the fact that the interviewer called the book "controversial" says enough about our society.
ItsEasyIfYouThink 7 months ago 2
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Sam Harris is a complete opportunist and charlatan. He has come to prominence by joining in the scapegoating of Muslims, and supporting the phony "war on terror". He has tried to co-opt the banner of atheism, science and progress, for predatory wars waged by the most powerful military nation in the world, against impoverished and historically oppressed nations. He should explain how the invasion of Iraq, the seizure of its oil, and the murder of a million innocent civilians aid human progress.
mattandersonWSWS 7 months ago
"The idea that somehow high levels of religious literalism guarantee a kind of public morality and societal health appears to be an absolute fantasy" hahaha classic
Tommcimo 8 months ago
Yes it is xD
LittleTownInNorway 8 months ago
Religion...because thinking is hard.
49fiori 8 months ago 19
@49fiori can you expand on this brilliant concept?
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Futurecop2012B 8 months ago
@Futurecop2012B Don't worry. I've got my tinfoil hat on so they won't be able to read my mind!!!!!!
wesj1989 7 months ago
@wesj1989 But they can still analy probe you, make sure you wear 2 inch thick steel undies with a D.N.A. security device
Futurecop2012B 7 months ago
The very idea of religion is that of man to suppress and I want no part of it,none whatsoever.
All religions are the worlds cancer and need to be treated accordingly.
A free thinking world,just imagine if you can.A world without mythical constraints.
A world where our morality was gained through evolution n not from a book.
A world where respect for one another was based upon that of understanding our neighbours needs.
Only religion poisons those possibilities .
ALL life is so precious :)
naybobdenod 9 months ago
There are many religions And all Of them say Of God. if God really exist He must have revealed something Of Himself And His creation. Then, one religion must be true. Which one? Which has divine credentials ?
Only Jesus was foretold by prophets.
Only Jesus performed miracles, the greatest His own Resurrection from the grave.
Only Jesus made no mistakes or sins in His life And His teaching.
Mahomet for example was immoral And tought poligamy, violence And so on...it is impossible that he came f
franciszek8D 9 months ago
@franciszek8D The story of Krishna's birth is very similar to Jesus, and is thousands of years older. Krishna was foretold by prophets and performed far greater miracles than Jesus. So Hinduism is the true religion.
greenjelly01 9 months ago
@franciszek8D Wow, what ignorance. Read some of the other comments and do some research before you make outrageous claims. The story of Jesus was taken from other "gods" from History. Research Mithra, Krishna, and Horus. It might just blow your mind. There is also little evidence outside of the bible that jesus was a real person. I know its not an important value in religioun, but try and be objective and look at facts, use critical thinking, and dont be afraid to question.
MrKGatl 8 months ago 3
@franciszek8D
"Only Jesus was foretold by prophets."
You obviously haven't studied other religions... =^_^=
"Only Jesus performed miracles, the greatest His own Resurrection from the grave."
Google "Horus" the Egyptian god who healed the sick and blind, raised the dead, walked on water, died and came back 3 days later. Thousands of Years before your Jesus was born (born = plagiarized). Do some research.
"Only Jesus made no mistakes"
You Obviously have not read "The Sermon on the Mount" ¬_¬
BlankPicketSign 7 months ago
Yep, religion is the cause of all the violence in the world. Look what Stalin did in the name of religion. Wait a minute. Stalin killed 30 million plus people under a philosophy that said religiopn is bad(the opium of the people).Maybe it is not religion that is the problem,but evil men twisting certain beliefs to acheive their ends. I agree that you cannot blame atheism for the horrors Stalin committed,but neither can you blame religion.
13fanboi 9 months ago
@13fanboi
I can blame religion when it commands that Homosexuals be killed with rocks
I can blame religion when two major faiths war over who has "god on their side"
I can blame religion when it is used to justify atrocities
I can blame religion when dogma holds back the human race from advancing technologically, socially, and mentally
I can blame religion when a clear line can connect religion and the problems it causes
I cannot blame it for all of our problems, but I can hold it accountable
BlankPicketSign 7 months ago 2
@13fanboi
The interesting thing about Stalin in that regard, is that he didn't close the state churches, but instead used religion as a tool to control the people. Not quite atheist.
Now, care to guess how many were killed in the crusades?
How about the spanish inquisition?
How many are dying of aids because of religious beliefs regarding condoms?
This is just the incredibly short list, and mostly only involving christians.
Yes I can blame religion.
rynther 7 months ago
@rynther I am sorry but you are quite mistaken on. Even the most cursory examination of the state of religion in the Soviet Union will reveal that religion was quite suppressed by the Marxist state. Although I must say that the criticism of the body counts that religious people bring up is laughable. If Genghis Kahn or the Inquisitors had machine guns and gas chambers, I am sure similar figures would have been reached.
Keysteeze 7 months ago
@Keysteeze
All but the state religion, not religion as a whole. Is that really any different than any other tyrannical government that uses religion as a tool for government control?
How tolerant are the Saudis regarding scientology? How about any other religion at all?
How tolerant are the fundamentalist Christians regarding any other religion?
That you can point out an exception, does not make the rest of it all good. Slavery and genocide are just wrong. I don't care why.
rynther 7 months ago
@rynther The reason why it's wrong is the main point. You cannot win an argument for the strength of your reasoning if you do not provide any reasons.
The question you seem to be asking is "Why are people capable of killing?" and the answer is that we simply are. What's more dangerous is any person willing to exploit that capacity for their own selfish ends. Religion is merely a means, one we have failed to hold accountable due to the taboo against questioning "sacred" beliefs.
TheWeizOne 7 months ago
@TheWeizOne
I didn't say that killing is wrong, there are justifiable reasons for it under all legal systems.
To impose slavery or kill a specific social group for any reason is wrong.
That is not a question, that's a statement.
The concept of not wanting to be a slave is self evident, unlike the concept that the sun revolves around the earth.If you find anyone who truly wants to be a slave, I would be surprised. Wanting to own slaves is far more likely, and must be defended against.
rynther 7 months ago
@rynther Of course I am not trying to ignore the horrors that have been brought on in the name of religion. I use the Soviet Union as an example of why people should not think that there is a causal relationship between religion and violence. It appears that earthy stakes can often be raised quite sufficiently to cause any horror that religion has also influenced.
Keysteeze 7 months ago
@Keysteeze
So, what you are saying is, that if you can point to an exception, the thousands of examples are just not valid?
I don't think that logic holds up under any close examination.
The problem doesn't seem to be religion as such, but conflicting religious beliefs, that has a very strong correlation to violence.
What you want people to believe has nothing to do with the facts. Voting on the gender of a rabbit doesn't change the gender of the rabbit.
rynther 7 months ago
@rynther What I am saying is that science and religion have both been misused for evil at times. I believe that both institutions are good, and largely beneficial to society. They both have a purpose in the world, and the positives outweigh the negatives. That is why I am opposed to anti-scientific religious fundamentalism. I am opposed to anti-religious sentiment as well. People like Harris are counterproductive to the only realistic goal, make religions benign.
Keysteeze 7 months ago
@Keysteeze You can have all the same benefits of religion (well, except the comforting thought that something else will be there for you in the afterlife) in humanism and humanitarian groups. No need for religion. You can't replace anything else for science, though.
TomRaphaelWolf 6 months ago
Great interview. You can tell Harris knows his stuff; i.e. --->intelligence.
johnmichalak85 10 months ago
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Futurecop2012D 10 months ago
"Religion was created when the the first fool met the first con-man " (Mark Twain)
RealityBurgers 11 months ago 113
@RealityBurgers really minor thing, but the quote is the other way around (first con-man met the first fool)
seancolorado 8 months ago
The analogy that Sam makes between "running software" and "ideas that get in your head" is a great way of looking at things. Ideas should be adaptable things, and we should never get too attached to any particular "program" in a changing world. Most of the Muslim world is still running on that pre-Y2K stuff that was set to wipe out all the servers... we really need to get some tech people in there soon.
instereovideos 1 year ago 3
"We were not duped by clever myths, but were eywitnesses to the glory of Christ" -St Peter
KnowTheBible559 1 year ago
@KnowTheBible559 You have duped by the cleverest myth of all! A shame you can't see it!
djdanaman 1 year ago
@KnowTheBible559 You have been duped by the cleverest myth of all. Pity you can't see it!
djdanaman 1 year ago
83% of the population just pretends that Jesus rose from the dead sometimes. Only little kids really believe it. Even then, they don't really know what they're believing.
Imagine if someone wrote a book about how Santa didn't exist and it became a best seller.
TheFlanker35 1 year ago
@TheFlanker35 Sorry,but I believe. I have no problem with those who don't,but I would appreciate folks not telling me(and others like me) that we do not believe and are just pretending.
13fanboi 9 months ago
@13fanboi,
Then why would you be sad when a child or baby dies? If the child is going to be literally resurrected again as though his death never happened, what's there to be sad about? Have you ever actually been to a funeral where you thought the departed was in hell? What about Christians who converted to their religion and weren't raised Christian? Should they no longer love their non-believing parents and family even if they've been good family members?
TheFlanker35 9 months ago
Calling America a Christian nation is illogical and MAD, and it hints at how illogical Sam Harris can be. All of the available evidence points to how non-christian Christianity and our nation is. Any logical thinker would have been able to reason this out before naming his book. In short, Christianity does dominate the U.S., but Christianity has little or nothing to do with the teachings of Christ. Harris' book is a letter to a nation that doesn't exist.
7greenjeans7 1 year ago
@7greenjeans7 aside from being contradictory.....you are seperating Christianity from the teachings of christ as if either one contains any merit
makersmark90 1 year ago
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death to religion
thescorpionking2020 1 year ago
death to religion
thescorpionking2020 1 year ago
LOL, this host can't act for SHIT...lol...
SlayingMinion 1 year ago
...PART 2....in the context of religion. And you see these same errors not only in religion, but in every other facet of society as well. The real beef Atheists have is with human nature. You could remove religion entirely and be left with other dogmas and irrational thinking that would lead to the same types of atrocities that have been committed in the name of religion.
carolinelandry75 1 year ago
@carolinelandry75 Not even close......more killings and fraud have been perpetuated and savaged upon peope on this planet in the name of religion than in any other vain......
makersmark90 1 year ago
@makersmark90 I guess you missed my point.Religion is an excuse for man to exercise his fallen nature, namely greed and the quest for power.Most professing Christians are not followers of Christ,but mere counterfeits.That type of "religion" is, indeed, a corrupt organization.I do not believe that without religion those same people will be any different.There will be more killing and fraud in the name of something else....
carolinelandry75 1 year ago
It doesn't take much time dipping into Atheistic circles to see the real problem that Atheists have with supposed religion. Mr. Harris sets out to show the supposed link between religion and violence and misses the real link entirely, and misses the essence of the teachings of Christ in the process. Mr. Harris (and many other Atheists) are actually closer to accepting the gospel of Christ than they realize. They problem is not with religion per se, but with with the logic man uses.....
carolinelandry75 1 year ago
@carolinelandry75 nice self fullfilling logic. what does that remind me of.......
makersmark90 1 year ago
funny logo at the end :)
adlozi 1 year ago
Religion is pretty silly
ThieleM 1 year ago 48
@ThieleM in a nutshell, well said....it is a fairy tale
makersmark90 1 year ago
Abraham's religions is a HUGE fraud really... it's a non-stop psychopathic propaganda of some tribal/political war that starts thousand of centuries ago... that is bullshit... they are forcing anyone to believe in something that should be a personal decision or belief, even up to now, it's really stupid...
ninzskers 1 year ago
Is it just me or does the interviewer sound like Ray Comfort?
smartwarlord 1 year ago
@smartwarlord
It is just you
ThieleM 1 year ago
Jesus himself says no man knows when?
He insist to live like it will be today!
I myself worry not about when,more so how do i become more like Christ We all fall short but we strive for the goal
As for extremism, we all have our share of that going around.
I think dialoge is a great priviledge for all of us.
Lets do it with respect and dignity!
tr6tpdwn 1 year ago
Such an intelligent man.
austinevans08 1 year ago
"christianity is the most perverted system to every show itself on man"
-thomas jefferson.
MikeTheDike82 1 year ago
GOD FTW!!!!! fuck you Sam Harris
amalienworkshop1 1 year ago
I want to see George Bush go up to a quadriplegic in a wheelchair and tell him to his face:
"Because of MY RELIGION, I won't let you walk again!..."
fucking destructive religious bullshit
TAz69x 1 year ago
@MrDelotheHero He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”Mark 16:15-18
majst0r 1 year ago
Basically, if you believe in Jesus Christ you have the ability to drink poison and heal the sick while speaking in tongues and 'driving out' demons. In His own words. No way to get out of that with metaphors. You have to be able to do that if you believe in Jesus. I suggest an experiment. Notice: Be sure to record the experiment so that it can later be uploaded to YouTube as proof of your miracles.
majst0r 1 year ago
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majst0r 1 year ago
i think that 83% is an extremly high statistic. sure 83$ of people may claim to be christain, but how many ofthem actually practice, study, or understand it. I would estimate about 30 percent of americans are christains if your counting people that at the least try to practice their religion.most of these dont even seriously study it or investigate opposing view points and religions
pedroelcarvron 1 year ago
Don't worry Sam, I'll pray for you!
davidrichard88 1 year ago
@davidrichard88
Also sacrifice a goat for him!
AgentTheGreat 1 year ago
@AgentTheGreat Why should I sacrifice a goat for him??? Jesus, the Son of the God sacrificed his own life for everyone! "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! FOR IF THEIR PURPOSE OR ACTIVITY IS OF HUMAN ORIGIN, IT WILL FAIL! BUT IF IT IS FROM GOD, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THESE MEN, YOU WILL ONLY FIND YOURSELVES FIGHTING AGAINST GOD! /Acts 5:38-39/ This is a message to every atheist!!!
davidrichard88 1 year ago
@davidrichard88
Oh man. As an ex-Muslim I gotta say, Muslims are only more faithful versions of you people. They actually believe in their Book and follow it word by word.
You can never explain why God needed to take the form of a human to sacrifice himself so that he himself could forgive our sins. It really sounds like what it really is: a myth.
AgentTheGreat 1 year ago
@AgentTheGreat Of course I can explain! I have to know what I belive in! In the case, if it intrest you, give me an e-mail adress, and I will explain it to you! Also, if you have lot more questions about Christianity, you can ask me, if you want, and I assure you that, I will answer!
davidrichard88 1 year ago
@davidrichard88
Well good. I welcome that suggestion. Contact me at EhsanCoLtd@yahoo.com
AgentTheGreat 1 year ago
@Agent
Admittedly the following is out of context and pared down to what I considered to be the essence of this verse:
Quran 8:12: “Instill terror in the hearts of the unbelievers. Strike off their heads and cut off fingers and toes”
If not too much trouble please comment how this is truly interpreted by your local imam? The standard line I get fed is : "Oh that was back then" and " That was during war time"
I, however, suspect nowhere does the Quran say this no longer applies.
Thanks.
fctchk 1 year ago
@fctchk
Yeah, they say "that was during war time". They bring other verses about compassion towards non-Muslims and stuff like that to say that this specific instance of violent remarks is provided to strengthen Muslims' confidence in a war begun by non-Muslims.
Whether that's true or not, God, being God and all, could see this would become problematic and could perhaps tone it down a little, I don't know, maybe give confidence to Muslims through miracles instead!
AgentTheGreat 1 year ago
@Agent
I think some of them interpret the fact they ended up sitting on most of the oil as a miracle provided for them by their god. Quite miraculous considering that their god even furnished the infidels to extract it and to apply their god negating science to develop the technology making it have any value at all in the first place.
Being any kind of religious (and thinking) means being tortured by irony every waking minute.
fctchk 1 year ago
@fctchk an intelligent person would realize that it was meant to be taken literally. a non-intelligent person will say something stupid like "oh its a metaphor"
Freethinker12341 1 year ago
@AgentTheGreat --- Save yourself from the flames of hell, sacrifice a goat today! --- LOL
FUCKyourGODmyth 1 year ago
@FUCKyourGODmyth
I know, right?! xD
AgentTheGreat 1 year ago
Jesus is the Son of God, and only if you call upon Him and repent of your sins will a person be saved. Christianity is not a religion its a relationship with God. The difference between christianity and religion is that religion is made by man and focuses on man getting into heaven for there good works. But the Bible clearly says that a man has to repent and God's love is a free gift to all that call apon his name.
MrDelotheHero 1 year ago
No, Sam, you can't start a rational conversation with Christians because they despise you for not believing what they believe.
gupsphoo 1 year ago
I thank God for atheists. And I mean that quite literally.
Juni1013 1 year ago
Makes a great deal of sense. I stumbled over this video, never heard of him. I will get the book tomorrow.
Fitchpatrick99 1 year ago
@3:08,
I think oil prices and currency exchange rates might have more to do with per capita income than religious belief. Qatar also has a high per capita income.
TheFlanker35 1 year ago
@3:03,
Other than being full of savage Muslims screaming allah blah blah allah.
TheFlanker35 1 year ago
what a hack the interviewer is
BrendanIsCool 1 year ago
You have not convinced me in the least regarding any of your postulations. Im still a christian. You havent proved jesus did not exist, you have not proved that he will not return one day, you havent disproved the existence of God, or the bible's authenticity
You subsist to bad mouth religion, but cannot come up with any real hard evidence to back any of your exponential anti-God/religion sermons. I will pray for you that God blesses you, and for Jesus to save you from your sins.
Blowme95 1 year ago
@Blowme95
Is that how it works then? You have to prove things wrong before they can be ignored?
So you're a christian, muslim and hindu all at the same time?
chebob2009 1 year ago
@Blowme95 <---That is a right Christian name you have, as well.
Singley01 1 year ago
Look @Singley01 My screen name is just a joke. If you feel you need to judge me thats on you. I will not hold that against you. I will not judge you either. However if I did it would not be based on your screen name. I got love for you, So I pray that God blesses you, protects you, your friends and family.
Blowme95 1 year ago
@Blowme95 Is not our job to prove that Jesus didn't exist (or God). Onus Probandi. Big calims require big evidence, the burden of proof is on the one who makes the claim not on the one whom in absence of compelling evidence doesn't believe it (you have to prove it, until then we haven't a good reason to automatically believe it). Do you realize how tastless and condescendant is to tell an atheist "I will pray for you that God blesses you, and for Jesus to save you from your sins"? bet you don't
DocStrange0123 1 year ago
@DocStrange0123 Look just like I told Singley01, If you feel you need to judge me. I will not hold that against you. And no I dont know how tasteless and condescendant it is to tell an atheist "I will pray for you that God blesses you, and for Jesus to save you from your sins" You believe in love? Then even if you think God does not exist what I said is far from tasteless and condescendant. Its better to pray for someone then to curse them. duh <--jus playin) and yes i pray God blesses u 2 doc
Blowme95 1 year ago
@Blowme95 Where I judjed you exactly? I'm aware that your intentions are good BUT there's something implicit (not explicit) in that sentence that you didn't stop to consider that goes similar to for example: "Oh, poor DocStrange0123, he just don't get it, there's something wrong with him and I just know the right way to fix it"... you don't know me. What exactly are you going to pray for? I'm ok, I don't need the intervention of a suposed divine entity (Allah, Shiva, Zeus...) thank you
DocStrange0123 1 year ago
@DocStrange0123 It was not meant condesendantly. There is something wrong with all of us and there is also something great. Because were human none of us really know the truth, or the way to fix it eachother. I dont know you, but i know humans and i think we all feel pain. We all know what pain is because there is the opposite feeling Joy / happiness. All I prayed for you was that God/Jesus would bless your health, finances, friends/family and that you would go to heaven.
My bad if I insulted u
Blowme95 1 year ago
@Blowme95 I know it was not meant but it's irrelevant, it's implicit in such a statement. People pray for: help, help for others, when something goes wrong, when something is wrong, to praise an speciffic deity... to Atheists is not wanted nor needed, it's tasteless. "none of us really know the truth" including you. a Muslim or a Hindu could do the same, prayer deosn't work. Heaven is something unlikely to be real. It's probable that death =end of story. So enjoy the time you have here.
DocStrange0123 1 year ago
This book was great.
I went into the book shop to buy Dawkins' "God Delusion" in 2006. The lad behind the desk offered to throw in Sam Harris' book for 50% off, saying it was "an easier read". His patter worked - I bought both.
Even though I don't live in the US, this book and Dawkins' set the scene for why it's now important to really take a stern look at religious behaviour and what it can lead to. (eg. this public Koran book burning tomorrow, which will be committed by a religious zealot)
jazzx251 1 year ago
@benjmann2
Of course I understand what you are getting at. However, I was making a point on where we get our freedoms and rights. Freedom is not an end goal, we continue to fight for it even in the western world. Look at slavery, women's and gay's rights as well. It was brutal what happened in France just over two hundred years ago, but it was one of the first times in european history that an entire society stood up against authority on that scale.
zwwalker 1 year ago
I believe in you, Sam Harris!
SuspiciouslyDLicious 1 year ago
I like Sam Harris.
CaledoniaJeanne 1 year ago
What a douchebag interviewer
sugmegpls 1 year ago
theism suck! best religion is atheistic religion Satanism! hail satan! :D
insanewarlock666 1 year ago
@insanewarlock666 saying that Satanism is atheistic is like saying that Christianity or any other cult is atheistic, but I know, I know - it's a joke.
oldpiq 1 year ago
@oldpiq it's not a joke... find out information about Anton Lavey and his "satanic bible" actually satanists don't believe in his existence. satan is symbolic for them...
insanewarlock666 1 year ago
@insanewarlock666 "Bibles" and "symbolic beings"? How is that atheistic?
oldpiq 1 year ago
@oldpiq I'm not going to explain it to you here. read about in on wikipedia... and than talk to me :)
insanewarlock666 1 year ago
@oldpiq here is quote from article about satanic bible from wikipedia "Satanism, as an atheistic religion, holds that as there is no afterlife and therefore no paradise or heaven or hell, all happiness and satisfaction must be attained here, on earth"
insanewarlock666 1 year ago
@insanewarlock666 OK, I will convert to "Satanism" and then, I hope, I will be worth commenting your posts :) Thanks for the quote. I get that. Still "atheistic religion" - quite an impressively twisted oxymoron. Why calling it "Satanism" or anything at all then? Why not Santa Clausism or Easter Bunnyism, since both beings can be also "symbolic"? I know, I don't get it...
oldpiq 1 year ago
@oldpiq I don't think that you got it. it's more philosophy than religion. it looks like a religion (christianity) because it's parody on it. why satan? you are starting to annoy me. it's so small article on wikipedia... read about it or watch video about church of satan I'm not Peter H. Gilmore to explain it to you. I can but I don't want to because of this reasons, first! wikipedia can better. second! I don't have enough time, third! I DON'T FUCKING CARE! sorry for ignorance :)
insanewarlock666 1 year ago
It wasn't religion that brought our freedoms but secularism. If we followed the Abrahamic rather than Secular laws ther would be no;
Gender equality
Abolition of slavery
Gay rights
Animal cruelty laws
Contraception
Knowledge of evolution and science
to mention just a few that many of us take for granted.
Religion sucks.
FreethinkerUK 1 year ago
i just wish that there was a mandatory "critical thinking" class in school that you HAVE to make atleast a c in to graduate from school, this way, we would get rid of religion in no more then 50 years
patrickledford420 1 year ago
@patrickledford420
Not just for religion's sake.
Critical thinking skills make you smarter in every area of life. They are essential to a GENUINE education.
Questioning things is what scientists do - the result of which is a doubled lifespan and landing on the moon.
jazzx251 1 year ago
Religion is the greatest FRAUD in all history. No intelligent person believes in angels, miracles and an eternal afterlife with an imaginary magic-boss in the sky.
goldstead 1 year ago 104
@goldstead
the greatest fraud, but astonishing efficient for conquering the human Mind.
Have u ever heard of the cargo-Cults?
Serpico261 1 year ago
@goldstead But I'm trying to kiss the magic boss's ass for a raise.
Singley01 1 year ago
@goldstead Actually intelligent people do. Smart folk are very good at convincing themselves of stupid things. Also, no one is omniscient and I am sure many of the ideas of the greatest minds today will be proven foolish in the future by new knowledge.
TasteOfGreen 1 year ago
@goldstead and you can't call yourself a skeptic if you accept homeopathy.
daemonowner 1 year ago
@goldstead
The problem is that they can be intellient. The intelligent fundamentalists are the most dangerous. The 911 hijackers were all colledge educated.
Roenazarrek 1 year ago
@goldstead That's not true, the person that headed the research team that decoded the human genome is a Christian. It's not an issue about intelligence, but of rationality.
yOsHiBrO 1 year ago
@goldstead lol "magic-boss"
iamanimpulsebuyer 1 year ago
@goldstead Well said, kudos...
makersmark90 1 year ago
@goldstead Sure they do. Thats why its called brainwashing. Intelligence doesnt save you from brainwashing. It can happen to anyone. Thats why its so scary.
omnissient 11 months ago
@goldstead lot's of intelligent people believe these things. lot's of deluded intelligent people. even guys like hitchens acknowledge this. this is part of the problem. too many intelligent people believe in these things.
thepickletrain 10 months ago
isnt Ben Stiller supposed to play Sam Harris in the movie?
helpmetony 1 year ago
@helpmetony What movie?
kfk4life 1 year ago
@helpmetony
hahaha, oh man u r the first person that mention that. Someone had to write this...i thought this gotta be written somewhere, comon!!
Serpico261 1 year ago
And parents, preparing your kids only for the Apocalypse is no way to raise them. They will need a contingency plan...
baigandine 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this man is not an intellectual
his support for new age ideas is laughable
he has never had an original thought ever
this fool says atheist should not call themselves atheist as not to define themselves by a negative.
what do you call a man with no hair? bald
what do you call a man with no money? bankrupt
such a simple minded fool
to hold this man as an intellectual is an insult.
WrongFitment 1 year ago
@WrongFitment examples please?
DarkAnima696 1 year ago
@WrongFitment I've read is book, and he could run circles around your arguments. Yes but you don't consider it a hair color do you. Is there a word for a non=stamp collector. The argument is that you do no need to be indetfied in order to called some thing in order to oppose some stupid ideology or religion. Qucik Question, What do you call a man who isn't a republican,democrat, or independant? I'm waiting.
slicingwater 1 year ago
@WrongFitment he seems quite a bit more intelligent than you
johnnyd101 1 year ago
@WrongFitment And what do you call people who don't believe in fairies and dragons? What do you call people who don't believe that aliens traverse the stars to come and anally probe farmers? You don't call them anything. A term for such a thing does not exist. Atheism shouldn't even be a word, because atheism is simply the noise a reasonable person makes when confronted with the concept of religion.
synecdochemusic 1 year ago
the stock images and footage they show to complement Sam's words are really distracting and funny to me.
visualkei72 1 year ago
such a smart man i must admit but comparing radical islam to the judeo christian worldview, do your HW Sam Harris. If essentially that is true then he could give his speeches over where the muslims dwell, or more like his farewell speech, its ironic that the source that Sam Harris is attacking is the very source that allows him to make his speeches here in america , essentially NEW ATHEISM is the OLD ATHEISM repackaged to make best sellers. Btw theres nothing wrong with questioning christianity
mindsettoreality 1 year ago
@mindsettoreality
If you are implying that Christianity is the source of free speech you are mistaken my friend. Free speech was fought for in the west against the ignorance of authority. Remember Galileo? How about the French Revolution? It;s the American Constitution that grants him the right to free speech, not a religion. Church and State are separate.
Harris is simply stating that belief in scripture (old/new testament or Koran) without evidence is illogical and mad.
zwwalker 1 year ago 45
@zwwalker I admit your correct as to where he has that freedom, what i meant to get across was how isulting it is and if i may say so myself ignorant, in its proper definition ,how he could compare all religions to radical Islam. im not sure yet which religion is correct but there is in fact evidence for a transendant cause and an intelligent cause for the universe concerning physics,chemistry,biology etc... clearly i feel this man is in denial, he has a personal philosophy " There is no God"
mindsettoreality 1 year ago