The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason

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It's a hit!

Certainly the most important book I've ever read, Harris' thesis in the End of Faith finally resolved a glaring dichotomy in my personal belief sys... (show more)

Certainly the most important book I've ever read, Harris' thesis in the End of Faith finally resolved a glaring dichotomy in my personal belief system. Harris argues that the deference shown to personal faith is dangerous, as it essentially allows the individual to rationalize any activity by appealing to a belief in supernatural forces, and that appeal is relieved of the responsibility of evidence that any other outrageous claim would necessitate. Faith, to Harris, is not a virtue, but really a form of self-righteous ignorance - the spread of which becomes increasingly dangerous in a world that has developed the technology to allow small groups of people to wreak massive amounts of havoc.

While Harris' criticism of faith sounds as though it would be primarily targeted at the political right, he also vigorously attacks liberal concepts like moral relativism, which he claims shelters religious fanatics as easily as it shelters moderates, and that the continuing liberal notion that actual individual religious beliefs (the belief system of Muslims against the beliefs of Buddhists, for example) are not contributors to terrorism is a fallacy.

Harris' claims are certainly controversial, but he has been on the receiving end of many undeserved excoriations - that he supports torture, for example. A reading of The End of Faith needs to be undertaken honestly to derive meaning from it - even if you completely disagree with Harris, his thesis will challenge you. (show less)

 

 

by Ryan Moore

No, it's a flop!

This was an insightful book on one level. The errors of Christianity (Catholic and Protestant) are never told as well as through an outspoken criti... (show more)

This was an insightful book on one level. The errors of Christianity (Catholic and Protestant) are never told as well as through an outspoken critic. I will use this book as a source in regards to the history Harris depicts of sacral religion (civil religion). The excesses and errors are so huge and unrepented of by the structures of religion that Harris and others must expose them. And expose them Harris has done very well!

On the other hand Mr. Harris spent a ton of verbiage airing out his voluminous vocabulary. As a scientific skeptic he downplays belief whether it be the fundamentalist type, which I think his review is healthy, and other forms which I think is a reach on his part. Belief may not only exist in the types of behavior Harris excoriates and showcases. He does not leave much room for anything but his own view, a tendency that plagues most authors.

We all know that there is more that we don't know then that which we will ever be able to learn. Therefore, I think it prudent to approach things more unsure than sure. That which is past we can review with a fair degree of certainty, which Harris does well. In the realms of thought and understanding, these are jungles which no writer ought to emit the notion that their view is well informed. It can only be partial at best. (show less)

 

 

by Timothy L. Price

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  I should start by saying that I am an atheist, and I was an atheist before I started reading this book. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, but I got a little lost on Chapter 6 (A Science of Good and Evil) and a lot lost on Chapter 7 (Experiments in Consciousness). It's not that I disagree with Harris on these chapters...at least I don't think I disagree...I guess that's the problem...I had a lot of trouble deciphering what exactly he was trying to say. I just don't get the finer poi... (show more)

  I should start by saying that I am an atheist, and I was an atheist before I started reading this book. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, but I got a little lost on Chapter 6 (A Science of Good and Evil) and a lot lost on Chapter 7 (Experiments in Consciousness). It's not that I disagree with Harris on these chapters...at least I don't think I disagree...I guess that's the problem...I had a lot of trouble deciphering what exactly he was trying to say. I just don't get the finer points of the philosophy of ethics and any talk of mysticism and meditation (even in an atheistic context) is totally lost on me. And it's unfortunate that those were the final two chapters as I almost totally lost interest in the book, which I had been enjoying up to that part. I do think he has made some good points in this book, however, I did enjoy The God Delusion (Dawkins) much more. I'm bookcrossing this one (www.bookcrossing.com) (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook User on Apr 02, 2009 at 03:15AM

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  Sam Harris is a bold thinker and "The End of Faith" is a good testament to his willingness to deliver an intellectual proposition without regard to it's popularity to any particular group. The fact that those close adherents of faith will read things that they might not want to hear is nothing new in this genre. What is unique is the degree to which he is fearless in taking positions which also will alienate moderates and in-the-box thinkers from many camps, including Freethinkers... (show more)

  Sam Harris is a bold thinker and "The End of Faith" is a good testament to his willingness to deliver an intellectual proposition without regard to it's popularity to any particular group. The fact that those close adherents of faith will read things that they might not want to hear is nothing new in this genre. What is unique is the degree to which he is fearless in taking positions which also will alienate moderates and in-the-box thinkers from many camps, including Freethinkers, Brights, and Atheists.

  His willingness to not hold to the line that all religion is equally dangerous is counter to the view of most of his contemporaries. Rather, he makes no qualms about pointing out that not all religions are equally dangerous, but furthermore that it's in the interest of people of reason to find allies of convenience in religions who likewise would seek to undermine dangerous ideologies such as the concepts of martyrdom and and jihad found in fundamentalist Islam. For many self-identified atheists, the idea of getting in a foxhole with a Christian or Jew for any reason is never even considered, and it's an important idea idea that Sam Harris makes - one that, indeed, needed to be made.

  Another area where Harris holds a unique position contrary to virtually all of his contemporaries is his belief in transcendental experiences, like those associated with eastern mystics and contemplatives. For most adherents to a hard science, hard fact view of the natural world, this is a big turn-off to his overall message. If you see the rational, naturalistic worldview as a picture with clear lines, then Sam Harris is the messy kid in class who never colors inside the lines, you'll be happier picking up Richard Dawkins or Bertrand Russell. The biggest issue with this topic, though, wasn't it's content, but the fact that it didn't need to be there. The book would have been better had it ended two chapters sooner, and it's message would have been clearer and stronger, to boot.

  In all, "The End of Faith" is a great book for anyone who wants to better understand the dangers of religion in the modern world, and particularly so for a reader who is comfortable reading both some ideas that they will agree with as well as some they don't. To all potential readers of this book, however, I always recommend his follow-up minibook, "Letter to a Christian Nation" as his better work thus far, and worthy of a read first. If you like what you read there, then this should be your next stop for more Sam Harris in a full book format. (show less)

   

   

  by Kevin Taylor on Jun 30, 2009 at 07:49AM

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