Letter to a Christian Nation
by Sam Harris
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Book Reviews of Letter to a Christian Nation
Book Review: loved it!!
Summary: 5 Stars
this book is great!! it's a quick, easy read, very effective, and says everything it needs to say. i couldn't put it down from the moment i picked it up. i love reading books that actually quote scripture line for line and point out how dispicable it is!! ...encouraging slavery, murder, intolerance, you name it... most of the religions of the world seem to suggest the exact opposite of what everybody thinks they stand for, so why are those that follow them literally seen as extremists? isn't it the religions that are extreme? and if we can so clearly see the faults in them, why can't we come up with a new system and begin a dialogue that doesn't presume so much respect and credit to these systems that were imposed by barbaric, stupid people??
anyways, atheists and agnostics, by all means, buy this book right now! everybody else, i'd say don't...unless you intend to truly answer the questions and truly think about what he is saying. so many are quick to get defensive when the book already contains sufficient arguments for why he is lumping religious moderates and liberals in with extremists and why he is attacking biblical passages that are currently disregarded as outdated or nonsense. read it all before getting defensive, and see if you can give honest answers rather than just doing what you're programmed to do.
Book Review: Thought it would be funny...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a must-read book for all agnostics and so-called "progressive Christians". I sat down and read it in one sitting- I could not put it down (obviously). As I began reading this book, I expected it would be funny. I expected Harris to point out the various fallacies of religiosity and indeed he does. Usually, the suspension of reality and adherence to superstition in the face of overwhelming evidence is indeed quite funny (to me).
I was not laughing by the time I got half-way through this book. I was mad and sad. The list of historical atrocities in the name of religion is well known (Harris does not dwell on these), but Harris explains the current and indefensible behaviors of Christians including missionaries teaching people not to use condoms (furthering the spread of HIV). For me and most other atheists, this book is probably "preaching to the choir" (no pun intended). For so many agnostics who think that religion is not for them, but okay to keep the masses in-line or give people a sense of belonging (I've heard them all), this book is going to open your eyes to why religion is not benign- It's down-right dangerous.
This is indeed a great little book! I highly recommend it.
Book Review: A Tribute to Christian Hate Mail
Summary: 3 Stars
Here, Harris responds to the thousands of mostly indignant letters he got for writing "The End of Faith". We might assume he is attacking a stereotype of Christianity, as a fanatically intolerant relic of the Dark Ages. But it seems these Christian letter writers really did convince him, quoting chapter and verse, that their religion stands for bigotry.
To me, Harris's letter sounds roughly like an argument between two Americans, one a critical thinker, and the other some kind of super-patriot who actually insists that everything said or done in American history has been God's will, because America is God's country. That would roughly compare to claims of inerrancy for the Bible's vast record of ancient Middle Eastern civilizations.
Harris makes reasonable arguments against the delusions of thinking we speak for God. We would all applaud his efforts if he was a Saudi Arabian or Iranian doing likewise against Islamic fanaticism. Harris knows this, and uses our current fear of Islamists to discredit similarly fanatical Christians. But most Christians and Muslims both will feel he depicts their religions as believed by their stupidest members.
--author of Correcting Jesus
Book Review: Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
If I was ask for my recommendation of book(s) by someone having doubts about their religious beliefs, I would list 2 books.
Letter to a Christian Nation (Vintage)
Why Evolution Is True
In this book, Mr. Harris is very to the point, which I like. Although, I wish he didn't use the phrase "You believe" throughout the book. It's human nature to find it offensive when you tell someone what they believe. Obviously his readers will have very different beliefs, so it lessened his creditability by claiming to know what the reader believed (IMHO).
It's a fantastic book which I highly recommend. Personally, I prefer shorter books like this one. Authors could write most books in less than 150 pages, but instead they ramble on about unrelated things to make the book 300-400 pages. This is similar to a barber that could cut your hair in less than 10 minutes, but will take 20 minutes to make you feel like you're getting your money worth.
Book Review: simple and brilliant
Summary: 5 Stars
In a concise, clear, interesting, and convincing manner, Harris tells it as it is. Every high school and college student in America should be required to read and understand what is printed on these pages. The logic here is overwhelming, yet, unfortunetly, even a hammer as hard as this one will have a hard time breaking through the barriers to reason surrounding those people brought up in a religious households.
Harris clearly exposes the absurdities of Christiantiy. It does not, however, take an Atheist to see these absurdities; for any fundamentalist believer of another religion would make the same arguements. This is, of course, also true in reverse. A fundementalist Christian would argue against the tenents of Budism just a fervently as any Athiest. This all reminds me of one of my favorite quotes:
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
-- Stephen Roberts
If you are on the fence regarding your religious beliefs, I urge you to read this very important book.