'Letter to a christian nation' interview

Very interesting video featuring an interview with Sam Harris, author of 'Letter to a christian nation'.

He makes some quite astute points;particularly towards the end of the video when he is discussing the apparent corellations between 'better behaved' countries like Sweden and Norway being 'non religious' in nature.
He also briefly covers the inherent dangers of 'end time' religious fanactics enacting out 'self fulfilling prophesies' via nuclear detonation.

reply to post by karl 12

This guy is not to be taken seriously, in my opinion, because he joins in the deceptive rhetoric of saying that Christians block stem cell research which he calls the most promising type of medical research. First off, Christians block the Federal Government spending money on embryonic stem cell research that is not promising in the least. No one is blocking anything and if it was promising, private companies would invest in that research.
He makes out that because Christians look forward to the second coming of Christ that they would like to start Armageddon which anyone should know is the war of God against the forces of Satan and has nothing to do with believers bringing it about.
The guy is just another Christian basher and should go to Saudi Arabia and go out in the street complaining about Islam and see how intolerant Christians are.
The only Christian entity that wants to convert people by force is the Roman Church and America was formed by people wanting to get away from that. America is a bastion of liberty and other so-called free nations can claim that status because of the protection of America.

First off, Christians block the Federal Government spending money on embryonic stem cell research that is not promising in the least. No one is blocking anything and if it was promising, private companies would invest in that research.

Thats a fair enough point,I'll have to look into that one.

He makes out that because Christians look forward to the second coming of Christ that they would like to start Armageddon which anyone should know is the war of God against the forces of Satan and has nothing to do with believers bringing it about.

I'd have to strongly disagree with your opinion there-I think
there is a very real and inherent danger of religious extremist 'end time' fanatics enacting out self fulfilling prophesy-whether they are conscious of it or not.

It may take the guise of hysterical cultists throwing nuclear warheads at each other (with every other reasonable,rational person caught in the middle) or it may just be through the apathy/inaction of
not resolving conflict/attrocity due to the mindset of "it has all been foretold anyway".

I suppose if a person had enough emotive agenda and selfish motivation they could find all manner of corellations between modern events and the Greek and Roman mythologies too - it doesn't mean their true does it?

The guy is just another Christian basher and should go to Saudi Arabia and go out in the street complaining about Islam and see how intolerant Christians are.

Thats just employing the tactic of courting victimhood through an alleged persecution complex whilst not addressing certain points.
Can a person not criticise organised religion without being labelled a 'basher'?

I think he makes some good observations about the misconceptions of religious moral integrity-particularly when hes discussing the conduct of non religious countries.
If you can be objective and impartial enough I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

You are right about the abrahamic wahabbi cult mentality in Saudi Arabia though:
www.belowtopsecret.com...

The only Christian entity that wants to convert people by force is the Roman Church and America was formed by people wanting to get away from that.

Not realy- overt/covert active recruitment is almost a national sport with the abrahamc religious cults/sects:





And lets not forget the premeditated indoctrination and conditioning of young children by hysterical and irresponsible adults:




[edit on 02/10/08 by karl 12]

reply to post by karl 12

Can a person not criticise organised religion without being labelled a 'basher'?

An anarchist may criticize government, thinking all forms of government are inherently bad. A maybe more rational person could criticize the government, not because he thinks the Constitution is a flawed document but that certain people in the government use the Constitution for toilet paper.
The world will always have insane people who will use any tools at their disposal to perpetrate crimes or fulfill dark desires of their twisted souls. Because they might find Christianity as a convenient tool to their ends does not make Christianity bad. Such people are not true Christians and should be criticized.
Christians should get into a better mindset and not fear looking like they are anti-Christian by pointing out people who are not following Christ but using his name for evil. Just like you can criticize a politician for putting his own ambitions above the will of the people he has been elected to represent, a Christian should criticize individuals who put on the cloak of the righteous when they are anything but.

reply to post by jmdewey60


Well, I certainly think no organised religious sects/groups/cults should be above criticism -particularly the abrahamic ones with their track record.
After all they're just 'groups of people' - why should they be afforded any 'special authority' whatsoever outside their respective temples?

Can you imagine if the 'turnip worshipping cult of South America' was afforded special privileges in society like government handouts,tax breaks,
pro media bias etc...?

Also,when fervently proseltysing,many 'overt fundamentalist radical' types would do well to remember they're just expressing an opinion and nothing more (that is why it is called 'faith' and not 'fact').


[edit on 02/10/08 by karl 12]