One of the "Four Horsemen" of New Atheism
Controversial philosopher, neuroscientist, popular podcast host; Sam Harris gained public awareness with his uncompromising attacks on organized religion focused on Islam ("utterly deranged by its religious tribalism"), Judaism ("intrinsically divisive; a lightning rod for intolerance"), Catholicism ("a ghoulish machinery [that]demonizes human sexuality, attracts pedophiles, and increases poverty), and religion in general ("one of the most perverse misuses of intelligence we have ever devised"). Scathing but well-written, his attacks—translated into 20+ languages—have international recognition. Although a self-proclaimed liberal, the Southern Poverty Law Center accused him of helping to "channel people into the alt-right" and by Chris Hedges of "advancing Neoconservative agendas."
Lineages
Letter to a Christian Nation
“The Muslim world is utterly deranged by its religious tribalism…The idea that Islam is a 'peaceful religion hijacked by extremists' is a dangerous fantasy—the dogmatic commitment to using violence to defend one’s faith, both from within and without to varying degrees, is a central Islamic doctrine”
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“Religion is one of the most perverse misuses of intelligence we have ever devised.”
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“The ideology of Judaism remains a lightning rod for intolerance to this day… Judaism is as intrinsically divisive, as ridiculous in its literalism, and as at odds with the civilizing insights of modernity as any other religion.”
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“Catholicism is a ghoulish machinery set to whirling through the ages by the opposing winds of shame and sadism that has spent two millennia demonizing human sexuality to a degree unmatched by any other institution. Its forced celibacy attracts pedophiles, and its opposition to the use of contraception increases poverty, shorter lifespans, and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS”
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“Islam, as it is currently understood and practiced by vast numbers of the world's Muslims, is antithetical to civil society.”
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“If you think that it would be impossible to improve upon the Ten Commandments as a statement of morality, you really owe it to yourself to read some other scriptures. Once again, we need look no further than the Jains: Mahavira, the Jain patriarch, surpassed the morality of the Bible with a single sentence”
from Letter to a Christian Nation
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