Sam Harris quickly cast the gauntlet for a new expression of atheism in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. His first book, “The End of Faith,” is an open letter, a short one at that, citing religious belief as the motivation for much, if not all, evil in the world.
Though more serious works have followed, Harris’ first book was not much more than a paperback rant. He set his sights higher with “The Moral Landscape,” which is predominantly a philosophical work punctuated with scientific references. Though the subtitle claims “How Science Can Determine Human Values,” the reader might separate the science from the philosophical assumptions and question how much support is left for the author’s thesis. But who can blame the guy for trying to tackle one of the largest difficulties that plagues a reductionist worldview.
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March 15, 2013
“Our sins, when laid upon Christ, were yet personally ours, not his,” said John Bunyan, ‘so his righteousness, when put upon us, is yet personally his, not ours.” (more…)
November 29, 2012
Though he preferred, albeit jokingly, the title “grandfather,” he is remembered as the “father” of secular humanism.
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October 24, 2012
“I want atheism to be true,” writes professor Thomas Nagel, “and am made uneasy by the fact that some of the most intelligent and well-informed people I know are religious believers.” (more…)
October 18, 2012
Born in sin I knew no other way.
Condemned within, until the day.
When in grace, I was remade: (more…)
September 7, 2012
In the mid 1950s audiences roared as Ralph Kramden, played by Jackie Gleason, jovially threatened Alice, his sitcom wife, to send her “to the moon!” (more…)
August 28, 2012
Death follows hard after breathing beings;
He ain’t stoppin’ ’til he freeze your feelings;
Or seize your nerves and leave you reeling.
This is no joke: its been told before;
It’s too late when he’s knockin’ at your door. (more…)
June 8, 2012
