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Letter to a Christian Nation Sam Harris 9780307265777 Books

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Letter to a Christian Nation Sam Harris 9780307265777 Books

After reading Sam Harris's latest book I have to question who the intended audience was supposed to be. With a title like "Letter to a Christian Nation" one could assume that the author was addressing it to Christians but you would have to be fairly naïve to think that most readers aren't secularists and/or atheists. However, the book is WRITTEN as if it is indeed addressing a Christian reader. Many statements begin with `Christians like yourself...' and then proceed to define the reader with statements like "The problem is that Christians like yourself are not principally concerned with teen pregnancy and the spread of diseases" I despise when religionists take it upon themselves to define secularists/atheists and I find it discouraging when secularists/atheists use the same distasteful tactic. The Christian he describes would be more of the fundamentalist strain given statements like, `Christians like yourself expend more "moral" energy opposing abortion than fighting genocide'. Since over 80 percent of American's are self professed Christians and over half of American's are pro-choice that means there's a lot of overlap but the author ignores these nuances as if Christians all drew from the same repository of beliefs.

So the book was written for fundamentalists Christians. Except, of course, for the fact that one of the defining features of fundamentalism is the desire to insulate members from secularist society hence the high rate of home schooling. It's doubtful that more than a handful of fundamentalists would even bother to read this book. Plus the fact that Sam Harris's aggressive, in your face style will likely turn off both fundamentalist AND moderate Christians. This is the first book I've ever read where the quotes in the `Advanced Praise' section included a disclaimer. Roger Penrose wrote, `I have some sympathy also with those who might be worried by his uncompromising stance'. Uncompromising is the word. As harsh as he is on Christians, Harris really lets loose with both barrels on Muslims stating that, "most Muslims are utterly deranged by their religious faith"

On the final page the author scolds our schools for failing to, "announce the death of God in a way that each generation can understand" Fundamentalists like to set up secular bogeymen to rally the troops but in this case Sam Harris is the realization of those fears. As if our schools systems didn't already feel embattled. This is horrible advice and this book will likely just set back the struggle of secularists and atheists. The author makes some very good points but I always have the feeling he's typing with just one hand because the other is balled up in a tight fist. For someone who claims to be a fan of reason his writing seems to flow from emotion.


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Letter to a Christian Nation Sam Harris 9780307265777 Books Reviews

Well-written, well-documented, and completely intriguing. I bought the audio book, listened to it, then started again from the beginning. I was expecting a diatribe of the Facebook/Twitter type and was delighted with the intellectual approach to the subject of the erratic Christianizing of the country.
This is probably one of the most important short books, I have had the privilege to read. It should result in sincere discussions about the role, or current lack thereof, religion plays in today’s world.
May-be future generations will look back at this time as a watershed moment, where humanity takes a step further towards enlightenment.
I enjoyed reading this book but found it disorganized. I warn using this book as any more than something that provokes thought. Many believers will likely be immediately turned off by Harris’s tone, and it’s purpose seems more to gratify non-believers than to convert theists. Sections of the book are unnecessarily extra harsh on Muslims, and may be used (out of context) to promote violence against them. Regardless of who you are, should you get this book, read through a filter, recognize Harris’s biases, keep an open mind, and enjoy his moments of insight.
I read on , and highlight things I want to remember. Typical a book will have 9 or 10 highlights. I was 70 pages into this book before I hit a page that DIDN"T have something highlighted. I've read hundreds of thousands of books. Hands down, Letter to a Christian Nation is the best non-fiction I have ever read. I just wish I could download it to my head. Thanks to Sam, when people were stalking my Dog Park (Seriously? A Dog Park?) with signs saying "What the Bible Teaches Us" I was able to tell them "Not math. God may have been omnipotent, but he couldn't figure out how to measure a circle. (I hardly ever leave reviews, but this book NEEDS to be read. By everyone.)
After reading Sam Harris's latest book I have to question who the intended audience was supposed to be. With a title like "Letter to a Christian Nation" one could assume that the author was addressing it to Christians but you would have to be fairly naïve to think that most readers aren't secularists and/or atheists. However, the book is WRITTEN as if it is indeed addressing a Christian reader. Many statements begin with `Christians like yourself...' and then proceed to define the reader with statements like "The problem is that Christians like yourself are not principally concerned with teen pregnancy and the spread of diseases" I despise when religionists take it upon themselves to define secularists/atheists and I find it discouraging when secularists/atheists use the same distasteful tactic. The Christian he describes would be more of the fundamentalist strain given statements like, `Christians like yourself expend more "moral" energy opposing abortion than fighting genocide'. Since over 80 percent of American's are self professed Christians and over half of American's are pro-choice that means there's a lot of overlap but the author ignores these nuances as if Christians all drew from the same repository of beliefs.

So the book was written for fundamentalists Christians. Except, of course, for the fact that one of the defining features of fundamentalism is the desire to insulate members from secularist society hence the high rate of home schooling. It's doubtful that more than a handful of fundamentalists would even bother to read this book. Plus the fact that Sam Harris's aggressive, in your face style will likely turn off both fundamentalist AND moderate Christians. This is the first book I've ever read where the quotes in the `Advanced Praise' section included a disclaimer. Roger Penrose wrote, `I have some sympathy also with those who might be worried by his uncompromising stance'. Uncompromising is the word. As harsh as he is on Christians, Harris really lets loose with both barrels on Muslims stating that, "most Muslims are utterly deranged by their religious faith"

On the final page the author scolds our schools for failing to, "announce the death of God in a way that each generation can understand" Fundamentalists like to set up secular bogeymen to rally the troops but in this case Sam Harris is the realization of those fears. As if our schools systems didn't already feel embattled. This is horrible advice and this book will likely just set back the struggle of secularists and atheists. The author makes some very good points but I always have the feeling he's typing with just one hand because the other is balled up in a tight fist. For someone who claims to be a fan of reason his writing seems to flow from emotion.