Ask Sam Harris anything

5 Responses to Ask Sam Harris anything

1. Michael Kingsford Gray | 30/06/2011 at 21:01 |

   Every thinking being should read Sam’s book: The Moral Landscape.
   It is destined to be a common-sense classic that will be cited in a hundred years as a light in the darkness shining against sophisticated and supposedly erudite philosophical dung-heaps.

2. David Neale | 02/07/2011 at 20:03 |

   Sam Harris is a vile authoritarian, an apologist for war and torture, and a fanatic whose anti-religious (particularly anti-Muslim) zeal often seems to override any concern for human rights.

   I’m an atheist and a strong critic of religion, as you know. But Harris’ hysteria about Islam – saying stupid and ignorant things like “Islam is at war with Western civilization” – is contributing to the horrific tidal wave of anti-Muslim xenophobia in America and Europe. And he’s a vocal supporter of the “War on Terror” (which has caused enormous human suffering and has made the problem of Islamic terrorism worse, not better).

   The fact that someone is an atheist does not make him or her my ally, and, conversely, the fact that someone is a religious believer does not make him or her my opponent. I have vastly more respect for, say, Desmond Tutu or Barry Lynn than I do for someone like Harris. People who work for human rights and social justice are on my side, whatever beliefs they hold.

3. Martin | 02/07/2011 at 20:22 |

   David, I don’t Harris is being “hysteric” about Islam. What I do think is that you are a prime example of what Russell Blackford has just addressed here. A short quote, if I may (as I deal with a non-compliant piece of computer hardware) :

   An obvious problem for critics of Islam who do not share the values of the extreme right is that they may find themselves painted with the same brush. Conversely, extreme-right critics of Islam have gained a degree of respectability by co-opting issues and adopting stances that many politicians and members of the public find compelling. E.g., extreme-right figures have attacked such practices as forced marriages, honour-killings, female genital mutilation, and highly conservative apparel for women such as the burqa and the chador.

   And he goes on :

   As this goes on, there is a risk that the word “Islamophobia” will be used to demonize and intimidate individuals whose hostility to Islam is genuinely based on what they perceive as its faults. In particular, we should remember that Islam contains ideas, and in a liberal democracy ideas are fair targets for criticism or repudiation. Religious doctrines influence the social and political attitudes of their adherents in ways that merit public comment (favorable or otherwise), and many religious leaders and organizations exert immense power or influence. It is in the public interest that all this be subjected to monitoring and criticism.

   Even attacks on Islam that are made opportunistically – motivated by something like racist thinking, or by extreme kinds of national or cultural supremacism – cannot be dismissed out of hand as worthless.

   Just keep that in mind when you go off criticizing Harris and Hitchens.

4. David Neale | 03/07/2011 at 00:33 |

   Just keep that in mind when you go off criticizing Harris and Hitchens.

   I think you’re strawmanning me a little here. I did not say that there are no legitimate criticisms of Islam. Fundamentalist-theocratic Islam is one of the most toxic ideologies in existence, and oppressive Islamic régimes like those in Iran and Saudi Arabia should certainly be criticized. I imagine we’re all agreed on this point.

   However, Harris crosses the line into promoting authoritarianism, violence and bigotry against Muslims. He has expressly defended the use of torture in the “War on Terror”, and has expressed the view that “Western civilization is at war with Islam” and that restricting civil liberties is legitimate in order to fight terrorism. This is an extreme right-wing authoritarian viewpoint. The fact that he is an atheist doesn’t detract from the fact that he’s chosen to be a cheerleader for the warmongering far right.

   My criticisms, btw, are specifically aimed at Harris – not that Hitchens hasn’t said some stupid things about Islam, but he isn’t anywhere near in the same league in this regard. I have some respect for Hitchens as a person, whereas I have none whatsoever for Harris.

5. Rob G | 27/03/2013 at 13:27 |

   Moreover, Harris insists, somewhat arrogantly I have to say, that there is no such as “free will” which he denigrates as “an illusion.”

   I am shocked that an atheist (I am one for longer than Harris has been alive) would suggest I did not use my own free will to choose to be an atheist, that it was chosen for me by psychological factors I cannot control. I call bullshit on that! Therefore regarding reading any more of Harris erroneous suppositions, I am using my “free will” right now to say, I won’t be reading any more of SAM HARRIS!

   Rob