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Letter to a Christian Nation
Written by Sam Harris
Narrated by Jordan Bridges
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Immediate New York Times Best Seller . . .
The Challenge to Religious Dogma that has Sparked a National Debate!
"Forty-four percent of the American population is convinced that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead sometime in the next fifty years," writes Sam Harris. "Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the U.S. government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religious dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency."
In response to his award-winning bestseller The End of Faith, Sam Harris received thousands of letters from Christians excoriating him for not believing in God. Letter to A Christian Nation is his courageous and controversial reply. Using rational argument, Harris offers a measured refutation of the beliefs that form the core of fundamentalist Christianity. Addressing current topics ranging from intelligent design and stem-cell research to the connections between religion and violence, Letter to a Christian Nation boldly challenges the influence that faith has on public life in our nation.
The Challenge to Religious Dogma that has Sparked a National Debate!
"Forty-four percent of the American population is convinced that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead sometime in the next fifty years," writes Sam Harris. "Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the U.S. government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religious dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency."
In response to his award-winning bestseller The End of Faith, Sam Harris received thousands of letters from Christians excoriating him for not believing in God. Letter to A Christian Nation is his courageous and controversial reply. Using rational argument, Harris offers a measured refutation of the beliefs that form the core of fundamentalist Christianity. Addressing current topics ranging from intelligent design and stem-cell research to the connections between religion and violence, Letter to a Christian Nation boldly challenges the influence that faith has on public life in our nation.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Letter to a Christian Nation
Written by Sam Harris
Narrated by Jordan Bridges
Description
Immediate New York Times Best Seller . . .
The Challenge to Religious Dogma that has Sparked a National Debate!
"Forty-four percent of the American population is convinced that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead sometime in the next fifty years," writes Sam Harris. "Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the U.S. government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religious dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency."
In response to his award-winning bestseller The End of Faith, Sam Harris received thousands of letters from Christians excoriating him for not believing in God. Letter to A Christian Nation is his courageous and controversial reply. Using rational argument, Harris offers a measured refutation of the beliefs that form the core of fundamentalist Christianity. Addressing current topics ranging from intelligent design and stem-cell research to the connections between religion and violence, Letter to a Christian Nation boldly challenges the influence that faith has on public life in our nation.
The Challenge to Religious Dogma that has Sparked a National Debate!
"Forty-four percent of the American population is convinced that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead sometime in the next fifty years," writes Sam Harris. "Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the U.S. government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religious dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency."
In response to his award-winning bestseller The End of Faith, Sam Harris received thousands of letters from Christians excoriating him for not believing in God. Letter to A Christian Nation is his courageous and controversial reply. Using rational argument, Harris offers a measured refutation of the beliefs that form the core of fundamentalist Christianity. Addressing current topics ranging from intelligent design and stem-cell research to the connections between religion and violence, Letter to a Christian Nation boldly challenges the influence that faith has on public life in our nation.
About the author
Reviews
Sam Harris is one of the current group of neo atheists who are thankfully taking back some of the public discourse space from the evangelical right. His books are articulate and well-reasoned counterpoints to religious fundamentalism, although he sometimes conflates the worst aspects of religion with all religion, and seems to leave little space for co-existence with the positive aspects of world religions. This one is a quicker read than The End of Faith, but equally good.
A smart, straightforward argument laying out the harm that religion does to society.
It was like preaching to the choir. I have little respect for religion as does the author. And while I can respect people's differing beliefs, I have a hard time taking god and religion in general seriously. This book points out some of the absurdities and goes down well. I suppose I should read the counter argument book "Letter to A Christian Nation: Counter Point" by RC Metcalf next.
I think that the number of people who should read this book that will read it is sufficiently statistically small as to be safe in saying no one who needs to read it will.
I agree with everything Mr. Harris said, though I think his comparisons of Christian fundamentalism to Muslim dogma and adherence might get the wrong attention.
I agree with everything Mr. Harris said, though I think his comparisons of Christian fundamentalism to Muslim dogma and adherence might get the wrong attention.
Harris's answer to the letters and e-mails he received from outraged Christians following publication of his first book, The End of Faith. This volume is short and can be read quickly - I read it in a single evening. One thing that elevates this book above some of the others is that he rarely cites any verse from the Bible without giving the reference to where it can be found. A good gift for that relative who keeps insisting that we are a Christian nation, and that Christianity is the religion of love.
In 'Letter to a Christian Nation' Sam Harris articulately rebuts common and popular arguments for Christianity in American culture and politics. It is a short and easy read which tackles the self-righteous attitudes of many of America's Christians -- particularly of the Evangelical stripe. Harris frames the book, as the title suggests, as a letter written to, and addressing, America's conservative Christians. This book is a response to criticism from conservative American Christians regarding a previous book Harris had written. I recommend 'Letter to a Christian Nation".
It gave me some interesting food for thought, but arguing with staunch Christians on the ground Harris covers would seem to me to be a futile effort.
A very pointed overview of the weak and illogical tenets of Christianity and majority of organized religions in general.
Bringing religion out of the shadows. Well written. Recommended.
Great arguments against theologians, believers and god himself (if he/she/it exists)! A must read/listen in times like these! I hope he writes a book like this for „Muslim nation!“ I salute Sam Harris‘ bravery, a true gentleman, a complete human being!
This is my favorite Sam Harris offering so far, recommended.
Not interesting, Sam had some insights that I didn’t think of
Sam Harris is the kind of "intellectual" who doesnt find it wildly presumptive to try to undo a millennia of religious history with some high school level arguments about how ridiculous the bible is or how all Muslims are frothing jihadists as soon as they see a Koran.
Not a serious thinker or a serious book.
Not a serious thinker or a serious book.
This letter points out the infantile yet dangerous state the USA is in. If almost half the population believes that the world will be destroyed and recreated. Then what’s their incentive to protect the planet that humans rely on for survival. It seems like the religion that I use to be a part of is a death cult.
Must read for anyone interested in analyzing reasoned facts versus uncontested opinions.
Absolutely the best book for someone in doubt of their Christian faith. It was also a refreshing reread for someone who lost that faith long ago.
Whether a reader is devout, wavering on a border, or an atheist, only a fanatic could not be persuadedinto examining the foundations and history of his or her faithby the unremitting analysis, argument, and attacks that Sam Harris has delivered in his Letter.Not only Christians, but Jewish and Islamic people are addressed and found deeply wanting.What is missing, for both current and previous religious people, is the author's deeper understanding of both the role of Hope and that of Second Nature.For many religious believers, without a creator or higher power, there is only THIS, with no Hope for eternal life,redemption and forgiveness from sins, and Divine Protection to come soon.With Second Nature, for those raised in a religion based on its Good Things - love, music, songs, prayers,community, peace passing all understanding, casseroles, safety, comfort, and help when sick, dying, or mourning -there is no Union of Concerned Atheists to turn to.
This was a really insightful book and a nice experience
a very good insightful book I loved how he wrote fairly objectively and was careful while expressing his opinion
Harris' writing is engaging and cogent, but he primarily attacks the straw man of American Evangelical Protestantism--an easy target but a mere sliver of global Christianity. His mockery of Old Testament laws ignores the low moral state of the post-exilic Israelites, for whom the harsher, lesser, "prison rules" law of Moses may have been expedient in the eyes of an omniscient being with specific designs for that people. Harris' re-hashings of the old "Problem of Pain" arguments, while emotionally evocative, lack philosophical merit IMO. I find his criticisms of the anti-science lobby and of six-day-creationists very convincing and spot on. However, he is too quick to belittle the reasons people come to faith in a God (e.g. "feelings of wrapture"), while ignoring the much more profound and difficult-to-explain-away encounters with God that thousands like myself have had. A good read, but one that Atheists will be too quick to agree with wholesale, and one which many believers will feel is written to "those other Christians."
Sam Harris is ignorant abt basic things just rhetoric. Sad
Harris' message was succinctly put and although I didn't agree with everything he said, I appreciate his candor and methodology. I'm not so sure that Christians would be so receptive to this "letter" but someone with even a little intestinal fortitude and personal integrity would have to at least reevaluate their believes.
"I don't like God therefore He doesn't exist."
"Religion has done a lot of bad things therefore God doesn't exist."
This is the summary of the book
"Religion has done a lot of bad things therefore God doesn't exist."
This is the summary of the book
Poorly constructed arguments and sheer lack of research to back up what amount to a bunch of stabs to various religions, not only Christianity. This would have been better written by an investigative journalist. This provided amusement value only on the basis of the hollow arguments, misquoting of the Bible to back up claims and short sentences. What would have made this better is making a point and backing it up with several credible references to build to a conclusion.
Listen to this if you have an hour or two to spare whilst driving; find something else to listen to if you want to be enlightened.
Listen to this if you have an hour or two to spare whilst driving; find something else to listen to if you want to be enlightened.
A novella length book from Sam Harris about religion feels slightly short and I wish it were longer. Like all the books from the author I've read, the information is deceptively easy and maybe too simple looking. For that or some unknown reason, I've always regretted forgetting most of the deliciously pertinent and insightful tidbits that are up for offer for the open minded. I want to remember those facts because what I do remember makes a better, prettier, less ignorant, happier, and more illuminated state for the sentience that dwells in my mind. Imagine how happy I'd be if I remembered most things from Letter To A Christian Nation. The book is meant for both adults and children, provided they have curiosity and are not anchored by dogmatic training. It doesn't use big words, or swear words, there's no sex, but an adult will immediately classify the book as not middle grade or Young Adult. There are no fairies, no magic, no escapism, no allegory, yet a child or a teenager will immediately think - I assume - that this is a book meant for him or her. This book is the product of a modern and relevant and gifted teacher. These are rare, and I can pay Sam Harris no bigger compliment.
More direct and blunt even than Dawkins. Sam Harris really calls this country out for it's irrationality.
Sam Harris is an excellent writer; clear and concise without being condescending. This book is more than just an argument against religion, it is also a plea to judge the claims made by religion about the universe and our place in it, using the same standards of proof we expect from every other discipline. As with other books advocating reason over religion if you are an atheist you will find plenty of ammo here to bolster you arguments, if you are questioning your faith you will find a lot here to think about, and if you are secure in your faith there is nothing here to be afraid of.
Poorly written, lightweight critique of religious belief. As a Christian I found nothing in this letter to even approach a level of scholarship or depth of thought which comes anywhere close to being convincing. Even more troublesome is the outright intellectual dishonesty that permeates this book. For example, conflating of all religious beliefs into a common pool while consistently nuancing all non-religious beliefs, failing to note any of the well-respected arguments opposing the author's beliefs, and the failure to accurately depict believers views in many areas. The author also uses many straw man arguments and fails to note the myriad catastrophic failures of atheistic beliefs.
Harris' latest blast against religion, 'Letter to a Christian Nation', is a response to the Christians who wrote to Harris after publication of 'The End of Faith'. Harris has embarked upon an ambitious project - nothing less than "eradicating religion." 'Letter to a Christian Nation' is a short (91 small pages), but devastating critique of the absurdities of biblical religions that claim inerrancy for a 'book' written some 2000 years ago. It is easy to poke fun at belief in the literal truth of the Bible. A favorite quote is from J.B.S. Haldane that God must have "an inordinate fondness for beetles" given that there are some 350,000 species of beetles. At times Harris fails to apply his own test of evidence such as when he paints broad strokes such as "most Muslims are utterly deranged by their religious faith." He also throws in some sloppy correlations between religion and various social problems in the US - which could just as arguably be due to other factors, like the disparity of wealth and free market ideology. It is still not clear that religous freedom would be safe with Harris at the helm. Harris is at his best when sticking to specifics. The book is worth reading if you only learn that Dr. Reginald Finger, a thankfully-former member of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, would consider opposing a hypothetical HIV vaccine on the grounds that such a vaccine would be a "disinhibition" to premarital sex. He also expressed reservations about the actual HPV vaccine against cervical cancer because it would detract from the religous right's abstinence message. An appendix contains a handy listing of Harris' 10 recommended books, including the 'God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins and 'Freethinkers' by Susan Jacoby. A recommended quick read for readers interested in a little freethinking.
I suppose this book has been so popular because its shorter than Hitchens or Dawkins' works. Harris brings no new arguments-- he doesn't bring any arguments, really. He claims at one point to be arguing on behalf of thousands of years of science and philosophy but does not cite any of it, particularly philosophy. There have always been philosophical debates about the existence of God, and plenty of philosopher apologists-- Harris is apparently unaware of all of them. As such, he does not argue with thousands of years of philosophers who held a Christian world view, he is only arguing with a caricature of a modern Christian. He apparently is also unfamiliar with logic as the book is filled with contradictions. Harris argues, as Hitchens and Dawkins do, that plenty of atheists are "moral people" who show "compassion" but Harris does not define what morality is. The reader can conclude that Harris himself determines what morality is, or perhaps the 51% majority do? In that sense, Harris makes same mistake as the others-- he has no objective basis on which to make his claims of morality. Christians, on the other hand, make moral claims on the belief that there are absolute truths that are known, one of which being that life is precious because man is created in the image of God and therefore worthy of respect.
Harris, however, opens the book by praising "Christians" who reject absolute truths, which is a major problem for him. Hitchens, for one, rejected liberals or moderates who did not believe in a resurrected Christ who literally lived, taught, died, and was resurrected because that is what the Bible teaches and is the bedrock of orthodox Christianity. Harris basically accepts anyone who marginally believed there may have been a Jesus as a "Christian," which again defies logic. Why hold up as enlightened liberals who reject thousands of years of scholarship and archaeology to reach their own conclusions on who Jesus was based upon their own subjective opinions? It's not clear.
Since Harris alone defines truth in his world view, he can reject as "ignorant" anyone who does not agree with him. He's horrified that the majority of Americans believe in a God, a judgment day, miracles, etc. He does not acklnowledge that thousands of PhD-holding biologists, astrophysicists, anthropologists, etc. are also in this majority and have been for centuries. His preferred method of setting laws and education would be a tyranny of an elect, enlightened few who share his identical ideas. Yet, he calls Christians "intolerant," not realizing that he is also.
Harris is also ignorant of biblical theology. He criticizes his Christian caricatures for taking verses out of context when he is guilty of the same. He is completely ignorant that orthodox Christians, protestant, Catholic, etc., believe that the Old Testament is interpreted through the New, that all of it points to Christ. Therefore, he's completely lost in arguing Christians should follow the laws in Deuteronomy. Like the other new atheists, Harris sees much of the Bible as a prohibition of sexual pleasure-- prudishness for prudishness sake. (He also does not acknowledge that polls repeatedly find married Christians more satisfied with their sexual lives than non-Christians). He does not understand the Gospel, which is tragic.
The book is Hitchens and Dawkins lite, nothing more. The reader should check out Francis Schaeffer's How Then Should We Live for a look at how Western thought, including the humanistic atheism that Harris claims is "truth," developed. It's much better written then this trope and spans centuries of scientific and philosophical thought. I would also recommend William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith, for starters.
It's worth noting that Harris shares a position with many evangelical Christians-- inter-faith dialogue is "useless." Harris writes that many on the Left in the West want to refuse to believe that religious wars happen, when most of the tensions we see around the world revolve around religion: Muslim vs. Buddhist, Christian vs. Muslim, Sunni vs. Shia, etc. Harris opines that it has more to do with religion than simply tribes or cultures. When a person's worldview leads him to conclude that he knows what absolute truth is, then everyone else must be wrong and part of the problem. Harris points to 9/11 and other terrorist attacks as examples of what happens when a group of even well-educated people demonstrate that they "truly believe in a God" and an afterlife. His comments about Islam have drawn criticism from many in America.
Still, Christians would do well to read these kinds of books to see what outsiders think of them and to examine certain statements they make that are problematic. These are the low-hanging fruit that the new atheists latch onto. Harris calls Christians to task-- if we really believe in a God and an afterlife, why don't we live with more conviction? If we believe in a God who is able to work miracles, why do we never pray for an amputee to regrow her limbs? I just wouldn't recommend this one as it's far inferior to Hitchens' God is Not Great. 1 star out of 5. Check out the one-star reviews from atheists.
Harris, however, opens the book by praising "Christians" who reject absolute truths, which is a major problem for him. Hitchens, for one, rejected liberals or moderates who did not believe in a resurrected Christ who literally lived, taught, died, and was resurrected because that is what the Bible teaches and is the bedrock of orthodox Christianity. Harris basically accepts anyone who marginally believed there may have been a Jesus as a "Christian," which again defies logic. Why hold up as enlightened liberals who reject thousands of years of scholarship and archaeology to reach their own conclusions on who Jesus was based upon their own subjective opinions? It's not clear.
Since Harris alone defines truth in his world view, he can reject as "ignorant" anyone who does not agree with him. He's horrified that the majority of Americans believe in a God, a judgment day, miracles, etc. He does not acklnowledge that thousands of PhD-holding biologists, astrophysicists, anthropologists, etc. are also in this majority and have been for centuries. His preferred method of setting laws and education would be a tyranny of an elect, enlightened few who share his identical ideas. Yet, he calls Christians "intolerant," not realizing that he is also.
Harris is also ignorant of biblical theology. He criticizes his Christian caricatures for taking verses out of context when he is guilty of the same. He is completely ignorant that orthodox Christians, protestant, Catholic, etc., believe that the Old Testament is interpreted through the New, that all of it points to Christ. Therefore, he's completely lost in arguing Christians should follow the laws in Deuteronomy. Like the other new atheists, Harris sees much of the Bible as a prohibition of sexual pleasure-- prudishness for prudishness sake. (He also does not acknowledge that polls repeatedly find married Christians more satisfied with their sexual lives than non-Christians). He does not understand the Gospel, which is tragic.
The book is Hitchens and Dawkins lite, nothing more. The reader should check out Francis Schaeffer's How Then Should We Live for a look at how Western thought, including the humanistic atheism that Harris claims is "truth," developed. It's much better written then this trope and spans centuries of scientific and philosophical thought. I would also recommend William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith, for starters.
It's worth noting that Harris shares a position with many evangelical Christians-- inter-faith dialogue is "useless." Harris writes that many on the Left in the West want to refuse to believe that religious wars happen, when most of the tensions we see around the world revolve around religion: Muslim vs. Buddhist, Christian vs. Muslim, Sunni vs. Shia, etc. Harris opines that it has more to do with religion than simply tribes or cultures. When a person's worldview leads him to conclude that he knows what absolute truth is, then everyone else must be wrong and part of the problem. Harris points to 9/11 and other terrorist attacks as examples of what happens when a group of even well-educated people demonstrate that they "truly believe in a God" and an afterlife. His comments about Islam have drawn criticism from many in America.
Still, Christians would do well to read these kinds of books to see what outsiders think of them and to examine certain statements they make that are problematic. These are the low-hanging fruit that the new atheists latch onto. Harris calls Christians to task-- if we really believe in a God and an afterlife, why don't we live with more conviction? If we believe in a God who is able to work miracles, why do we never pray for an amputee to regrow her limbs? I just wouldn't recommend this one as it's far inferior to Hitchens' God is Not Great. 1 star out of 5. Check out the one-star reviews from atheists.