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5th out of 229 books
—
549 voters
Letter to a Christian Nation
by
Sam Harris
“Thousands of people have written to tell me that I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile of these communications have come from Christians. This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness more effectively than their own. The truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love are deeply, even...more
Hardcover, 91 pages
Published
September 19th 2006
by Knopf
(first published January 1st 2006)
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This seems like a completely unhelpful, pointless book. Sam Harris knows full well that the likelihood the people he purportedly addresses in his 'letter' (conservative Christians) will actually read it is close to zero. OK: he does state in the preface that its primary purpose is to "arm secularists", which I guess means he really had a different audience in mind from the start. Fair enough. But why use the particular framing device that he does - a belligerent, hectoring letter to fundamentali...more
Oct 24, 2007
Manderson
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
a Christian who needs their faith challenged
Shelves:
non-fiction
What is interesting about this book, as in most atheist thought, is that in lambasting fundamentalist institutional religious dogma, the author ends up doing exactly what he accuses his opponents of: polarizing, claiming to know what truth and reality are better than anyone else, and pushing moderates into extremism. He claims, as all atheists do, to be speaking solidly from the standpoint of reason. As a reasonable man, then, he should have recognized that fighting antagonism with greater antag...more
27 likes · like · see review
It's clear that Sam Harris wrote this book out of frustration with Christianity in particular, and religion in general. The book's style and tone conveys the author's frustration--in such a way that makes it largely a turn-off for many Christians who might otherwise earnestly listen to what he has to say.
That aside, Sam Harris makes a lot of good points, that I think many Christians today should take to heart. His view of Christians reflects many in our culture who see us as, for example, peop...more
That aside, Sam Harris makes a lot of good points, that I think many Christians today should take to heart. His view of Christians reflects many in our culture who see us as, for example, peop...more
12 likes · like · see review
Nov 05, 2007
Steve
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who appreciate critical analysis of religion
I agree with other reviewers that there are no new or surprising arguments here. He goes over ground which is thoroughly familiar to those who think critically of religion. What makes the book so worthwhile is not, therefore, any (ahem) great revelations.
What I found thrilling about this book, as an atheist of over 40 years, was the startling, forceful simplicity, directness, beauty, and artistry with which he made his points. Consider one quote: "If the Bible is an ordinary book, and Christ an...more
What I found thrilling about this book, as an atheist of over 40 years, was the startling, forceful simplicity, directness, beauty, and artistry with which he made his points. Consider one quote: "If the Bible is an ordinary book, and Christ an...more
29 likes · like · see review
Mar 03, 2008
James
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in religion's impact on society
Wow! Concentrated essence of critique. This book is passionate, and tightly reasoned and put together. It catalogues some of the problems organized religions have inflicted on humanity, past and present, ranging from causing division, hatred and war to putting the brakes on truly free scientific and intellectual inquiry.
Harris takes a number of common arguments in favor of the existence of God and/or the validity of various bodies or tenets of dogma, and shows that under logical consideration th...more
Harris takes a number of common arguments in favor of the existence of God and/or the validity of various bodies or tenets of dogma, and shows that under logical consideration th...more
16 likes · like · see review
Mr. Harris book is an easy and fast read as well as a 'must read' for anyone who values rational and moral thought over religious faith as a guide for behaviour. The current rise of the religious right in America frankly frightens me. As Mr. Harris says in his preamble 'the truth is that many who claim to be transformed by Christ's love are deeply, even murderously intolerant of criticism.' This quote from Jann Levin sums up the book nicely.
"“Sam Harris fearlessly describes a moral and intellect...more
"“Sam Harris fearlessly describes a moral and intellect...more
In his later work, Letter to a Christian Nation, Harris takes up Christianity and the Bible directly. It is notable, however, that Harris never discusses Christians or the “Christian world” with the same language that he directs against Muslims.
There is an incredible level of dishonesty involved here. Even if one were to accept Harris’ premises—that it is primarily religions belief that is responsible for acts of violence—one must, if looking at the situation objectively, conclude that the most...more
There is an incredible level of dishonesty involved here. Even if one were to accept Harris’ premises—that it is primarily religions belief that is responsible for acts of violence—one must, if looking at the situation objectively, conclude that the most...more
4 likes · like · see review
Feb 11, 2008
Rob
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
atheists, Christians on the fence
Shelves:
read-in-2008
Seems to be more of a letter to atheists than to Christians. I've yet to find a truely compelling message to divert humanity away from religious thought, and Letter to a Christian Nation is far too accurate and on point to be convincing to a Christian mind.
One concept which I've found to be unique in this book is this: the word "Atheist" should not exist. There is no term in English which identifies someone who denies the existance of Aliens. There isn't a word for people who deny that Elvis is...more
One concept which I've found to be unique in this book is this: the word "Atheist" should not exist. There is no term in English which identifies someone who denies the existance of Aliens. There isn't a word for people who deny that Elvis is...more
Harris has all his arguments in order, all the footnotes covered and has layed out a perfectly rational essay. Yet nowhere, either here or in 'End of Faith' does he adequately address the fact that Atheism, in this country and other first-world countries anyway, is essentially a comfortable position for those who can afford it. I say this as an atheist, and I might recommend this book to anyone firmly entrenched in their religion who also has a safe house to live in and a lawn to mow. However I...more
4 likes · like · see review
This book is very quickly read as it is pithy and direct. In it Sam Harris responds to the many comments and views addressed to him by believers in the United States. The idea of reason versus religion is not new and has been expounded as well by other scholars. However, Sam's approach is still valuable. I think such a "letter" to the Christians is needed as Christianity has, in many minds, taken on the veneer of civilization by being the major religion of the developed, modern, western world. I...more
I'm not going to lie, Sam Harris is pretty abrasive in this book. He is not open-minded and this is clearly a rebuttal for the letters he received in response to his first book (have not read it yet). Considering that he is responding to some (probably pretty volatile) hate mail, I like the intensity of his response. This is the first time I've read a book on faith that does not pussyfoot around the possibility that religion, as a whole, is a wounded concept. I am not saying that I believe this,...more
3 likes · like · see review
I wish Sam Harris at written this before The End of Faith or I had read this book first. In Letter to a Christian Nation, he takes a more gentle tone and walks the reader through his disbelief in Christianity and other religions. I found it hard to dispute his point of view. The connections he makes between religion and flawed political policies (i.e stem cell research) are especially effective. I'm glad he put away the sledgehammer and decided to spoon feed his readers rather than beat them ove...more
I love atheist literature mostly because extremely intelligent people contribute to the body of works. This book, however, was a little extreme. Although I am a Bright and therefore agree with nearly everything said in this short number, I often found myself thinking thoughts defending the silly Christian right. Why? Not because I agree with them (please…) but because I automatically think skeptical thoughts when confronted with a quasi-militant agenda. Sam Harris lacks the delicate poise that o...more
This book should put to rest once and for all the paper-thin theological arguments and blind 'faith' by which many human beings lead their lives. It is clear, concise and utterly rational and reasonable. Mr. Harris' call for a new secular humanism to take the place of the silly superstitions and blatant fairy tales contained in so-called 'holy' books is timelier than ever. As we approach another election in which the Christian Right is pushing its noxious agenda on the American people, we need r...more
1 like · like · see review
I wonder if Sam Harris was really trying to be persuasive in this book--a lot of his statements seemed a bit tongue in cheek and the audience who would read it, I would imagine, is not the audience the book should reach. I mean--no convincing needed here that we have to be in a society that's not run by the religious right!
Sam Harris sets out to "demolish the intellectual and moral pretensions of Christianity in its most committed forms" in only 91 pages. Mr. Harris repeatedly refers to Christians as arrogant narcissists, yet he regards his own intellect so highly he only requires 91 page to snuff out 2,000 years of religious tradition and intellectual questioning of billions of people who have concluded there was something about Jesus that compelled belief. These 91 pages could have been put to far more productiv...more
2 likes · like · see review
A fair share of reviews mention his anger, but I see it more as frustration and very well-founded frustration at that. The statistic he cites that the U.S. placed #33 (out of 34, just above Turkey for cryin' out loud) of countries whose majority of population accepts the theory of evolution is an alarming one. As he states, we are a country built on ignorance which does not bode well for the rest of the world. Some have taken umbrage at his focus on the danger of Islam, but what I took from this...more
5 likes · like · see review
A heartfelt polemic against Christianity written as a letter directly to Christians in the USA.
Contains all the usual arguments against God (who created the creator, the Bible is of it's time, and doesn't make any sense or have any consistent internal logic, atheists have morals too etc.), but they are presented with a fantastic simplicity and clarity which is a product of writing the arguments as a letter - there is a lot packed in in less than 100 pages.
Whilst I would like to think that those...more
Contains all the usual arguments against God (who created the creator, the Bible is of it's time, and doesn't make any sense or have any consistent internal logic, atheists have morals too etc.), but they are presented with a fantastic simplicity and clarity which is a product of writing the arguments as a letter - there is a lot packed in in less than 100 pages.
Whilst I would like to think that those...more
1 like · like · see review
An intriguing little read. This, being my first exposure to Harris, marks the start of what will, I’m sure, be something of a fruitful symbiosis between the neuroscientist and myself. Though I’ve been knocking on the door, a door that ought not exist, of atheism for some time, what with watching much more then my fair share of debates featuring each, with occasional permutation, of the 'Four Horsemen’, I feel with this book I’ve now peeked, rather bashfully, in through the keyhole. With Enlighte...more
This is perhaps the worst book I've ever read the whole way through. Harris makes atheism look like the religion of angry high school kids, filling 90 pages with oversimplifications and visceral disgust with most human beings. He has not a single good argument going for him; all of his arguments are taken either from Bertrand Russell (who, by the way, actually knows how to write against Christianity) or Jeremy Bentham. Sam Harris is way out of his element on this one.
1. The writing style is put...more
1. The writing style is put...more
3 likes · like · see review
Oct 22, 2008
Michelle Galo
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Christians, Atheists
Recommended to Michelle by:
I first heard of Sam Harris on NPR's Word for Word.
Just about everything Harris says in this book, he also says in various articles, speeches, and debates available on his website; so if you're familiar with any of Harris's work beside his books, you'll likely recognize material in this book.
None of that makes this book any less valuable.
It's an easy read, just over one hundred pages and written in clear, concise, extremely readable prose. Anyone daunted by the size of Harris's first book, The End of Faith, might want to consider picking up thi...more
None of that makes this book any less valuable.
It's an easy read, just over one hundred pages and written in clear, concise, extremely readable prose. Anyone daunted by the size of Harris's first book, The End of Faith, might want to consider picking up thi...more
I approached this book as a person who has a religious/spiritual Christian background. While critical of many organized religions and the damage that they do, I still feel a connection to my spiritual roots.
Perhaps it was too much to expect a well-reasoned invitation to dialogue in picking up LTaCN. Reading it, I could practically hear Harris spitting out each sentence with disdain. This tone left me in a place where I let his words glance off of me rather than delving into what he had to say. I...more
Perhaps it was too much to expect a well-reasoned invitation to dialogue in picking up LTaCN. Reading it, I could practically hear Harris spitting out each sentence with disdain. This tone left me in a place where I let his words glance off of me rather than delving into what he had to say. I...more
I read this book out loud in about 2 hours to my son and husband. It's very accessible and quick to read. Good if you are really interested in Sam Harris, but don't have the time for reading _End of Faith_. He focuses specifically on Christianity too, which is one of the reasons I really liked it, since I have some basis for listening to his arguments, having been raised Catholic. His arguments are eloquently stated and highly compelling. His irony makes me laugh a lot. He is brilliant.
Of cours...more
Of cours...more
Mr. Harris may be the most unsuspecting AND the most effective of the "Four Horsemen" writers of Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennett, and himself.
"Letters..." is more-or-less a summary of some of the more effective points made in "The End of Faith". Despite the specific title, Mr. Harris does go into other religions as well.
Sam Harris comes across as very genuine and is always very clear about not having an interest in offending believers. I happen to believe him.
But I also don't have a problem with off...more
"Letters..." is more-or-less a summary of some of the more effective points made in "The End of Faith". Despite the specific title, Mr. Harris does go into other religions as well.
Sam Harris comes across as very genuine and is always very clear about not having an interest in offending believers. I happen to believe him.
But I also don't have a problem with off...more
Who could forget the devastation wreaked upon thousands of innocent people and a prime symbol of capitalism and modern achievement that took place on September 11, 2001? Certainly not I. What some people, religious moderates in particular, seem unable or unwilling to accept, is that acts of violence such as the cruel, unctuous and calculated murder of what were considered "oppressors" and "infidels" were motivated entirely by religious brainwashing. Education and intelligence are no guarantee of...more
For as much as Harris speaks of the importance of evidence as a ground for belief, he chooses an odd method for attacking Christianity. Because of the brevity of the book, he makes virtually no attempt at providing evidence for atheism or evolution, and he provides no evidence that theism is false. In the end, Harris even admits that there is no reliable scientific explanation for how the evolutionary process started. He accepts by faith that it started at some point. At some point, any viewpoin...more
This guy makes Richard Dawkins seem low-key and polite.
When I read God Delusion, I expected Dawkins to brutally attack religion. Though Dawkins certainly does tear into religion, he does it in a elegant way and mostly does it in defense of science and reason. Sam Harris, on the other hand, downright attacks religion. He might as well be screaming at the reader. And though I agree with some of the things he said, I think many of his views are extreme.
Plus it's unclear who this book is for. He's...more
When I read God Delusion, I expected Dawkins to brutally attack religion. Though Dawkins certainly does tear into religion, he does it in a elegant way and mostly does it in defense of science and reason. Sam Harris, on the other hand, downright attacks religion. He might as well be screaming at the reader. And though I agree with some of the things he said, I think many of his views are extreme.
Plus it's unclear who this book is for. He's...more
Sam Harris wrote this book to address mail he got from fundamentalist Christians after his first book, The End of Faith. He addresses many of the defenses they have for their belief in a literal interpretation of the Bible. Later he briefly goes into the harm of religion on the whole, and the failures of humanity as a rational global society to respond to it. It is essentially a call to action against fundamentalist religious belief, but it is framed as a letter to fundamentalist Christians in t...more
An excellent, logical argument vs. the perils of dogma. Not screechy, just a calm refutation. Succinct and beautifully written.
Too many good quotes but here are three:
"I know of no society in history that suffered because it's people became too desirous of evidence in support of their beliefs"
Science vs religion: "It is time we acknowledged a basic feature of human discourse: when considering the truth of a proposition, one is either engaged in an honest appraisal of the evidence and logical ar...more
Too many good quotes but here are three:
"I know of no society in history that suffered because it's people became too desirous of evidence in support of their beliefs"
Science vs religion: "It is time we acknowledged a basic feature of human discourse: when considering the truth of a proposition, one is either engaged in an honest appraisal of the evidence and logical ar...more
>>> “I know of no society in human history that ever suffered because its people became too desirous of evidence in support of their core beliefs.”
>>> "In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises...more
>>> "In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises...more
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"Sam Harris (born 1967) is an American non-fiction writer and philosopher and neuroscientist. He is the author of The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason (2004), which won the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award, and Letter to a Christian Nation (2006), a rejoinder to the criticism his first book attracted. His new book, The Moral Landscape, explores how science might determine human...more
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“The president of the United States has claimed, on more than one occasion, to be in dialogue with God. If he said that he was talking to God through his hairdryer, this would precipitate a national emergency. I fail to see how the addition of a hairdryer makes the claim more ridiculous or offensive.”
—
373 people liked it
“In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism is nothing more than the noises reasonable people make in the presence of unjustified religious beliefs.”
—
226 people liked it
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