Sam Harris at Idea CIty '05

Sam Harris gives a brief speech of the ideas expressed in his book, "The End of Faith". The video came from samharris.org.

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[lizichell2]

Gahhhhhhhhddd put it there!

[jonno52]

The arguments are compelling. While it's not especially relevant, it's also impressive that Sam appears to deliver his arguments in videos like this (including debates which are clearly unscripted) without autocue and without "er... er.. hmm.. I mean.." moments. Clarity of thought matched by clarity and economy of expression.

[MrSqaz2wsx]

How?

[VfletchS]

Years ago, seeing this turned me from atheist into anti-theist.

[onesevenfiveone]

Religious people are stupid. I think we can all agree on this.

[SummerSunshine1988]

I don't really expect any kind of differences to be overcome in this life. As long as there are two people on this Earth, they will find something to disagree and argue about.

[beanie928]

I understand that facts and evidence are impervious to religious beliefs. What about the Sunnis and Shia do you see in the Middle East that makes you hopeful that our religious differences will ever be overcome. These people believe in the same Allah, but have a problem with the Caliphate that succeeded Mohamed in the 9th Century.It's all so nutty. I've had enough!

[SummerSunshine1988]

You are terrified because you do not understand.

[beanie928]

This is our human problem. Religion is impervious to facts and evidence. I agree with Mr. Harris--this is terrifying in 2013.

[SummerSunshine1988]

Unfortunately, I have no evidence that would be good enough for you. I can't give you faith, only the Holy Spirit can do that.

[AzureDrag0n1]

I am afraid not because things like confirmation bias and coincidences exist. Good evidence must account for things like these. For example my evidence that I have psychic power is that I predict rain to fall tomorrow and if it falls tomorrow I could claim it as evidence for me having psychic power. That is evidence but not really good evidence for me having psychic power.

[DeusDevoid]

It's a belief we can safely leave people to believe. Their teachings probably won't drive people to prevent the study of evolution in schools, restrict rights for homosexuals and women, or condoms for people dying of aids by the millions in Africa...While they are intellectually restrictive, there's no reason why their beliefs can't be open to scientific reasoning. It's spiritualism, you can believe fully in both it and science.

The buddhists were the victims of that violence, btw.