The end of faith : religion, terror, and the future of reason

I was thoroughly enjoying this book, but feeling apprehensive about what seems to be a preoccupation with Islamic fundamentalism. Indeed half way through the book Harris embarks on a tirade that is an excellent exposition of the religious assumptions he has attempted to expose. Perhaps there is some truth to his theories concerning the influence of fundamentalist ideas on Islamic 'terrorism', but Harris leaves little room for doubt that his is the only correct view. The fact is that fundamentalism and blind adherence to untested, or untestable assumptions is not particular to religion, and it is here that Harris' seems to have missed the point entirely: he claims that Nazi persecution was religious in nature, i.e. that it had its historic roots in Christian anti-semitism. Most experts tend to view racial theory as a hollow justification for other more insidious processes at work in the Nazi plans, including industrialisation. Keep in mind that Jews were not the only victims of the Nazi's. Another issue I have with this book is the juxtaposing of religion and rationalism, as if rational thought could not spawn equally disastrous consequences. Harris fails to question his own assumptions about the nature of ethics. Just where do these come from if we forgo intuition? My feeling is that this writer is too young to have deeply contemplated religious questions and the meaning of life. Certainly all 'holy books' are full of abominations that are difficult to interpret other than literally. Perhaps the Q'uran more so. But the fact is that one needs to go beyond the superficial meaning of religious texts. The fact is that a great many people are capable of ignoring those parts of a religious text that either mean nothing to them, or would otherwise force them to commit violence. It is only under particular social and economic conditions that fundamentalism thrives. This book should be approached with caution lest it inspire exactly the type of extremist views it claims to expose in religion! In the End of Faith, Sam Harris delivers a startling analysis of the clash between reason and religion in the modern world. He offers a vivid, historical tour of our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs -- even when these beliefs inspire the worst of human atrocities. Harris argues that in the presence of weapons of mass destruction we cannot expect to survive our religious differences indefinitely. Most controversially, he argues that "moderation" in religion poses considerable dangers of its own, as the accommodation we have made to religious faith in our society now blinds us to the role that faith plays in perpetuating human conflict. While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic. "In The End of Faith, Sam Harris delivers an analysis of the clash between reason and religion in the modern world. He offers a historical tour of our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs - even when these beliefs inspire the worst of human atrocities. Harris argues that in the presence of weapons of mass destruction we cannot expect to survive our religious differences indefinitely. Most controversially, he argues that "moderation" in religion poses considerable dangers of its own, as the accomodation we have made to religious faith in our society now blinds us to the role that faith plays in perpetuating human conflict." "While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic."--BOOK JACKET. " The End of Faith articulates the dangers and absurdities of organized religion so fiercely and so fearlessly that I felt relieved as I read it, vindicated....Harris writes what a sizable number of us think, but few are willing to say."―Natalie Angier, New York Times In The End of Faith , Sam Harris delivers a startling analysis of the clash between reason and religion in the modern world. He offers a vivid, historical tour of our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs―even when these beliefs inspire the worst human atrocities. While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic. Winner of the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for Nonfiction. A startling analysis of the clash of faith and reason in today's world, this historical tour of mankind's willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs, even when those beliefs are used to justify atrocities, asserts that in the shadow of weapons of mass destruction, we can not expect to survive our religious differences indefinitely. Most controversially, argues that moderate lip service to religion only blinds us to the real perils of fundamentalism. Harris also draws on new evidence from neuroscience and insights from philosophy to explore spirituality as a biological, brain-based need, and invokes that need in taking a secular humanistic approach to solving the problems of this world. Reason In Exile -- The Nature Of Belief -- In The Shadow Of God -- The Problem With Islam -- West Of Eden -- A Science Of Good And Evil -- Experiments In Consciousness. Sam Harris. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 293-321) And Index.