Wednesday, November 09, 2005
The End of Faith
During my first trip to the USA in the summer of 2004, I chanced on this incredible work by Sam Harris. I think that anyone wishing to engage in a serious discussion about some of the terrible events occurring in the world today should at least be aware of this book. You may, of course, disagree or agree with what Harris says, but his viewpoint should be part of the equation.
“At last we have a book that focuses on the common thread that links Islamic terrorism with the irrationality of all religious faith. THE END OF FAITH will challenge not only Muslims but Hindus, Jews and Christians as well.”
—Peter Singer, professor of philosophy at Princeton and author of The President of Good and Evil: The Ethics of George W. Bush. ¶ 8:24 AM
During my first trip to the USA in the summer of 2004, I chanced on this incredible work by Sam Harris. I think that anyone wishing to engage in a serious discussion about some of the terrible events occurring in the world today should at least be aware of this book. You may, of course, disagree or agree with what Harris says, but his viewpoint should be part of the equation. “At last we have a book that focuses on the common thread that links Islamic terrorism with the irrationality of all religious faith. THE END OF FAITH will challenge not only Muslims but Hindus, Jews and Christians as well.”
—Peter Singer, professor of philosophy at Princeton and author of The President of Good and Evil: The Ethics of George W. Bush. ¶ 8:24 AM
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Yes, all religious faith. How many Hindus flew planes into skyscrapers these last years? How many Buddhists blew themselves up (and others) in busy underground train stations? How many people did Christian kidnappers behead?
There is only one religion which is prone to violent irrationality and which is a real threat to the open society. Try and guess which.
There is only one religion which is prone to violent irrationality and which is a real threat to the open society. Try and guess which.
Welcome to Lanzarote Fausto.
Have you read the book mate?
Harris dedicates one rather angry chapter to the religion you have in mind. Yet his analysis goes beyond that. He says, essentially, that the Christian religion as we know it today owes its 'tolerance' more to the 'forced' influence of the Enlightenment than to its own Sacred Books. One must remember that people have been butchered in the name of Christianity too (in spite of Christ's central message). Harris tries to explain why and gives some compelling answers. Essentially it has a lot to do with the fact that every religions MUST embrace absolutism.
Give it a go Fausto u hallik mill-ingravajjet ta' Cassola! ;-)
Have you read the book mate?
Harris dedicates one rather angry chapter to the religion you have in mind. Yet his analysis goes beyond that. He says, essentially, that the Christian religion as we know it today owes its 'tolerance' more to the 'forced' influence of the Enlightenment than to its own Sacred Books. One must remember that people have been butchered in the name of Christianity too (in spite of Christ's central message). Harris tries to explain why and gives some compelling answers. Essentially it has a lot to do with the fact that every religions MUST embrace absolutism.
Give it a go Fausto u hallik mill-ingravajjet ta' Cassola! ;-)
One must remember that people have been butchered in the name of Christianity too (in spite of Christ's central message).
Another attempt at equivalence. Yes, many, many people were butchered in the name of Christianity. But that was quite some time before 9/11. How does the risk that in 2005 you'll be butchered in the name of Christianity compare with the risk that you'll be butchered in the name of Islam?
And the question of what forced Christianity into tolerance is of academic interest only. As is the question whether Christianity can be said to have fathered (unwillingly) the Enlightenment.
Nope, I have not read the book but the thesis is familiar and that is what I comment on.
Another attempt at equivalence. Yes, many, many people were butchered in the name of Christianity. But that was quite some time before 9/11. How does the risk that in 2005 you'll be butchered in the name of Christianity compare with the risk that you'll be butchered in the name of Islam?
And the question of what forced Christianity into tolerance is of academic interest only. As is the question whether Christianity can be said to have fathered (unwillingly) the Enlightenment.
Nope, I have not read the book but the thesis is familiar and that is what I comment on.
Harris makes no bones about stating that while his argument is aimed at faith itself, the differences between faiths are "as relevant as they are unmistakable". He says this in Chapter 4, "The Problem with Islam". I won't go into the details here. Harris does that very well himself.
Not equivalence, Fausto, but a "common thread".
Not equivalence, Fausto, but a "common thread".
In the States we're back to this...
La bataille scolaire entre créationnistes et darwinistes divise les Etats américains
Le pasteur évangélique Pat Robertson a mis en garde, jeudi 10 novembre, les habitants de Dover (Pennsylvanie) contre la colère divine. "S'il y a une catastrophe dans votre région, inutile de vous tourner vers Dieu. Vous venez juste de le rejeter de votre ville ", a-t-il dit. Le pasteur est coutumier des déclarations excessives. Fin août, il estimait que les Etats-Unis auraient tout à gagner à faire assassiner le président vénézuélien, Hugo Chavez. Mais à 75 ans, il a conservé une audience. Son émission, sur le réseau Christian Broadcasting Network, est suivie en moyenne par un million de personnes. "Dieu est tolérant, a répété le pasteur, mais il ne faut pas exagérer. Si les habitants de Dover ont des problèmes, ils n'auront qu'à appeler Charles Darwin. Il pourra peut-être les aider".
La localité de Dover s'est attirée les foudres du pasteur pour avoir voté contre l'enseignement du créationnisme à l'école, ou, plus précisément, contre sa variante éclairée, l'Intelligent Design ("dessein intelligent"), lors des élections du mardi 8 novembre.
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La bataille scolaire entre créationnistes et darwinistes divise les Etats américains
Le pasteur évangélique Pat Robertson a mis en garde, jeudi 10 novembre, les habitants de Dover (Pennsylvanie) contre la colère divine. "S'il y a une catastrophe dans votre région, inutile de vous tourner vers Dieu. Vous venez juste de le rejeter de votre ville ", a-t-il dit. Le pasteur est coutumier des déclarations excessives. Fin août, il estimait que les Etats-Unis auraient tout à gagner à faire assassiner le président vénézuélien, Hugo Chavez. Mais à 75 ans, il a conservé une audience. Son émission, sur le réseau Christian Broadcasting Network, est suivie en moyenne par un million de personnes. "Dieu est tolérant, a répété le pasteur, mais il ne faut pas exagérer. Si les habitants de Dover ont des problèmes, ils n'auront qu'à appeler Charles Darwin. Il pourra peut-être les aider".
La localité de Dover s'est attirée les foudres du pasteur pour avoir voté contre l'enseignement du créationnisme à l'école, ou, plus précisément, contre sa variante éclairée, l'Intelligent Design ("dessein intelligent"), lors des élections du mardi 8 novembre.
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