Sam Harris: lecture on religious faith - Part 03

Part 3 of Sam Harris' lecture to the New York Society of Ethical Culture

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• samharris
• bible
• christianity
• atheism

[THEREIZNOGOD]

the bible is almost as violent as the qur'an. it has a lot of command to kill the "infidel"... it just isn't as redundantly redundant about it as is the qur'an

[Zdrazy]

Wow. You really aren't kidding. I'm an atheist and I find myself struggling every day to suppress my genocidal impulses.

[EJNewbury]

@THEREIZNOGOD I'm surprised no one replied to that with scorn after not getting the "redundantly redundant" part.

[MrEdLoop]

@papelhojas Just can't beat that British accent!

[papelhojas]

@MrEdLoop i agree, yet, i still find hitchens to be a more compelling speaker.

[MrEdLoop]

This guy's sentence structure and pace is... fantastic. Just fantastic. I'm a debater, and as such I often listen to, talented and untalented, people talk. And wow is this guy well-spoken.

[kiddhitta]

im not exactly sure what the quote is but buddha said something like, do not do anything that i say if you in your own mind does not feel is right. something of that effect. which basically means, you sould never do something that even a god says is good, if you feel in your mind is not right. i would never kill my neighbour if i saw him working on a sunday, even if the bible says i should.

[equsnarnd]

The Kamikaze pilots were not informed by Zen but they were taught some things by Zen Buddhists.

[veganath]

@TomFynn Yeah, a (vegan) beer would be good, all the best to u, cheers mate:-)

[TomFynn]

@veganath

Well, if you want to make the world better, it might be a good start to go easy on the agenda light. :)

Maybe we can discuss this over a beer one day.

Beer makes the world better- well makes the world seem nicer.

Remember: beer is vegan.

Cheers.

[veganath]

@TomFynn Sorry Tom, listen most of my friends aren't veg, & they are quick to remind me I can be a pain, especially when my agenda light goes on. But you are right it is difficult to follow, & like u I don't like taking orders! The difficulty comes when looking out into the world wondering what is the best thing to do to create a world that I am happy to give over to my kids, each person does their own improvement, good luck with that..cheers

[TomFynn]

@veganath

"u implied moral superiority over others "

You wanted to know what I counted as evil actions and I gave a list.

Don't go putting fucking words in my mou- comments.

And much as I admire Sam Harris, surpassing the morality of the bible cannot be counted as an achievement. Which was - probably- his point. And Mr Mahavira can be patriarch of what-ever, but his "Do not..." is impossible to follow. Even for vegans.

But even if it could be, I'm not one for following orders.