Sam Harris Talks about the Defence of Religion

[_Some Schmo]

This is a great video (actually, it's part one of five, and there are a couple of Q&A vids after as well) where Harris talks about the three common ways people try to defend religion and easily disputes all three. I personally think Sam Harris is one of the greatest thinkers of our time.

I particularly enjoyed his point that intellectual honesty is about not pretending you know what you can't know.

Thought there might be some folks here who would enjoy this.









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[_Calculus Crusader]

I personally think Sam Harris is one of the greatest thinkers of our time.

As if you were in any position to judge. Did you know Harris is into new age woo?

Incidentally, unless you are English, it's defense.

[_GoodK]

As if you were in any position to judge. Did you know Harris is into new age woo?

Incidentally, unless you are English, it's defense.

Whoah

You just demolished Harris and the OP with that remark.


Incidentally, I'd like to know what "new age woo" you are talking about, and how it could be any less ridiculous than the basic tenets of Christianity.

[_Calculus Crusader]

As if you were in any position to judge. Did you know Harris is into new age woo?

Incidentally, unless you are English, it's defense.

Whoah

You just demolished Harris and the OP with that remark.


Incidentally, I'd like to know what "new age woo" you are talking about, and how it could be any less ridiculous than the basic tenets of Christianity.

Did you get beat over the head with a lead pipe while you were in the Mormon gulag? In any event, Harris has a penchant for levitation, reincarnation, trips to the astral plane, and other elements of Eastern Mysticism.

Sam Harris's Faith in Eastern Spirituality and Muslim Torture

[_GoodK]

Did you get beat over the head with a lead pipe while you were in the Mormon gulag?

Forgive me! I didn't know you were a fan. I beg your pardon.

In any event, Harris has a penchant for levitation,

False.

reincarnation,

False.

trips to the astral plane,

False.

and other elements of Eastern Mysticism.

False.

Don't be such a dildo. Response to controversy

Harris does not believe any of those things you stated.. You would know though, I'm sure you've read none of his books.

[_antishock8]

Even if Mr. Harris does believe in those things I can guarantee you that he would expect his beliefs to be scrutinized and tested for validity. I think CC's feelings are hurt that someone casts as critical an eye toward his faith as he does against the "demonstrable fraud" that is Mormonism. Team Christian doesn't like Team Skeptic.

[_JohnStuartMill]

Seriously. If you're going to believe in sparkle Jesus magic, you might as well believe that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon out of a hat. What makes one more ridiculous than the other?

[_Calculus Crusader]

Did you get beat over the head with a lead pipe while you were in the Mormon gulag?

Forgive me! I didn't know you were a fan. I beg your pardon.

In any event, Harris has a penchant for levitation,

False.

reincarnation,

False.

trips to the astral plane,

False.

and other elements of Eastern Mysticism.

False.

Don't be such a dildo. Response to controversy

Harris does not believe any of those things you stated.. You would know though, I'm sure you've read none of his books.

Of course Harris backpedals when called on his woo.

[_Calculus Crusader]

Seriously. If you're going to believe in sparkle Jesus magic, you might as well believe that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon out of a hat. What makes one more ridiculous than the other?

Your political "science" degree comes to the fore once again. There is a mountain of evidence against the civilizations described in the Book of Mormon. Holy Joe's alleged method of "translation" is irrelevant to that fact.

[_The Nehor]

Even if Mr. Harris does believe in those things I can guarantee you that he would expect his beliefs to be scrutinized and tested for validity.

How do you construct a test for Buddhism? Reincarnation?

The man wants to throw out all of western religion as barriers to progress while holding on to a collection of eastern mystical practices that he insists will reveal truth. I have to laugh at this as the west progressed much farther and faster under Judasim, Christianity, and Islam then the east ever did under Hinduism and Buddhism.