The idea, therefore, that religious faith is somehow a sacred human conventionโdistinguished, as it is, both by the extravagance of its claims and by the paucity of its evidenceโis really too great a monstrosity to be appreciated in all its glory. Religious faith represents so uncompromising a misuse of the power of our minds that it forms a kind of perverse, cultural singularityโa vanishing point beyond which rational discourse proves impossible.
Sam HarrisUnreason is now ascendant in the United States - in our schools, in our courts, and in each branch of the federal government. Only 28 percent of Americans believe in evolution; 68 percent believe in Satan. Ignorance in this degree, concentrated in both the head and belly of a lumbering superpower, is now a problem for the entire world.
Sam HarrisUnreason is now ascendant in the United Statesโin our schools, in our courts, and in each branch of the federal government.
Sam HarrisWhile believing strongly, without evidence, is considered a mark of madness or stupidity in any other area of our lives, faith in God still holds immense prestige in our society. Religion is the one area of our discourse where it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about. It is telling that this aura of nobility extends only to those faiths that still have many subscribers. Anyone caught worshipping Poseidon, even at sea, will be thought insane.
Sam HarrisThere's no way to reconcile Islam with Christianity. This difference of opinion admits of compromise as much as a coin toss does.
Sam HarrisThere is no reason whatsoever to think that Buddhism can compete successfully with the relentless evangelizing of Christianity and Islam. Nor should it try to.
Sam HarrisIt is merely an accident of history that it is considered normal in our society to believe that the Creator of the universe can hear your thoughts while it is demonstrative of mental illness to believe that he is communicating with you by having the rain tap in Morse code on your bedroom window.
Sam Harris