Letter to a Christian Nation Part III

Or

"Abandon all hope ye who enter here."

Notes from the last 11 pages of Harris's Book.

Religion, Violence, and the Future of Civilization:

79-83) Hard to find a usable quote here. Harris explains that most societies are aligned along religious lines, then lists a series of wars which he claims are being fought because of religion.

84-85) "Political correctness and the fear of racism have made many Europeans reluctant to oppose the terrifying religious commitments of the extremists in their midst." Two points; In 2005 (I think) France outlawed the wearing of religious paraphernalia in public places. This was to limit the dress of Muslim women, but it also included crosses. Second, This seems more a fault of political correctness and "fear of racism."

85) "The idea that Islam is a 'peaceful religion hijacked by extremists' is a fantasy, and it is now a particularly dangerous fantasy for Muslims to indulge." This proceeds a paragraph in which Harris states the danger of Islam. I think I see where he is going here and my answer is this: Christianity is not Islam. I know Harris attempted to liken Christianity to Islam earlier, but he was not successful. He concludes this section by claiming that religious dialogue and "tolerance" are not the answer, that one faith will not be reconciled to another. For once we are in agreement. He has not claimed here that Christianity is violent like Islam, but he is leading us there.

Conclusion:

89) "You may even experience feelings of bliss while praying." Talk about patronizing. Clearly this man has never prayed.

89) "I would point out however, that billions of other human beings, in every time and place, have had similar experiences--but they had them while thinking about Krishna, or Allah, or the Buddha, while making art or music, or while contemplating nature." More evidence that humans have an internal need to cry out to, and imitate our creator. Not all people know His name, but every one wants to be near Him. What about the cosmos instilled this instinct? If we evolved by means of pure chance, where did this desire come from? Wouldn't this have been naturally selected away eons ago? If evolution constantly making things better, (Contrary to the second law), and Belief in anything greater than me is bad, then why isn't religion extinct?

89) "You are, of coarse, right to believe that there is more to life than simply understanding the structure and contents of the universe. But this does not make unjustified (and unjustifiable) claims about it's structure or contents any more respectable." OK Harris has been very careful to point out that science cannot answer questions about the reasons behind the universe, with this statement he indicates that it is OK to believe something about the meaning of life. But he's written this whole letter attempting to convince me that there is no meaning of life. He wants to have his cake and to eat it too.

90) Next Harris claims that religion must have served some evolutionary purpose, but that purpose is over, and we must move on. If this is true why doesn't evolution take care of it? He concludes with this comment: "There is, after all, nothing more natural than rape." Only an Atheist could say something like that. To suggest that rape is anything but sin requires a level of moral depravity one could only find by turning his back on God.

91) "This letter has been an expression of that amazement [that you believe in a living God] and perhaps a little hope." What hope does Mr. Harris have? By abandoning God he has abandoned hope, and he is encouraging us to do the same.