Is History Repeating Itself? Religion, War, and Democracy with Sam Harris & Simon Sebag Montefiore

[@danielschaeffer1294]

“We have learned the lessons of history so well we can repeat them exactly.” - Peter Cook.

[@euphegenia]

Who?

[@danielschaeffer1294]

@ Google him. A British comedian.

[@gmw3083]

Not exactly. But it rhymes

[@govindagovindaji4662]

@@danielschaeffer1294 My first thoughts went to Captain Hook don't ask me why, though.

[@Right_Wing_Liberal]

Precisely. It's crazy...EVERY time we butcher women and kids in the open air starvation prisons we herded them into, they get mad, and eventually a few of them will read their fairy tale book and convince themselves that they will get lots of posthumous goodies for blowing us up. Don't they realize that OUR fairy tale book gives US the right to take what we want? They're animals anyway.

[@iamanomas]

That’s right. Your intro is right on the mark. I’m 79 and was born in the Netherlands and then immigrated with my parents to Canada. I have been saying for years but more so in the last 10 years that I’m so grateful for having decades of life in peace. No bombs, no revolution, no hunger, no homelessness, no divorce between my parents who lived to be 90 and 101 years old, the benefit of a good education and a great social cushion if needed which thankfully I’ve not had to rely on other than healthcare. ❤️❤️❤️🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@justins.5222]

I’m subscribing after the holidays. I can’t go 4 more years of Trump/Elon without the sanity check that is Sam Harris. I’ve been given a free account once before but I realize more and more how important this podcast is for me. Need to be smarter about the stuff I’m paying for and to support the 🐐 Sam Harris is high priority.

[@romerosneck]

Get a grip dude

[@John_Doe742]

Bruh, you can’t be serious

[@arthursmom]

Accurate

[@gking407]

Same here. Taking control of your information sources gives you more power and less to the random algorithm.

[@justins.5222]

@ big facts

[@romeomatei5692]

By chance, I have ”Jerusalem” & ”Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar” in my library. I am also a gret admirer of Simon Sebag Montefiore. Thank You, Sam Harris, many thanks.

[@Jamminn555]

Phenomenal conversation with Sam and Simon, two deeply insightful and reflective thinkers. And far-too-rare mutual listening through each of the other's thoughts and comments with respect and without interruption. Thank you Sam and Simon for all of your books and work. - Benjamin

[@SpammoJohnson]

lol “air jerkoff motion”

[@christine-j4r2m]

I was thinking about the idea of being able to sleep at night, which I have grappled with in the past few months. It is very stressful to recognize the limits of control over what happens on a macro level. This is where philosophy and the arts help me, and I am trying to take the long view. We live a few miles from an area where the native people lived continuously for 10,000 years. You can easily see remnants of their life (grooves on rocks near the stream). I feel heartened when I consider how much things changed for them during that time and the resilience that was required. When I hike in this area, I consider what likely hasn't changed much in that time, which also gives me peace. They were forced to move inland a little over a century ago, which was awful, but their culture still thrives, and they live on. I do my best in my circle of influence to improve things, be part of the solution, and balance information with being. I still have occasional sleepless nights, but this approach has helped.

[@Bootrosgali]

You would like political philosopher Vlad Vexler, calmly analytical guy from a high up viewpoint

[@ColdHawk]

History is like a massive dragon upon whose back we live. While it slumbers we go about our days forgetting that what feels like solid ground beneath our feet is a leviathan that will - inevitably - shift, shudder and roll in its long slumber. The long view only calms me a little. Those major shifts in the past have caught so many and crushed them in the upheaval. That some survived, that cultures came through to the present, that the earth persists and nature abides are all reassuring but only in the abstract…speaking as a flea living on a dragon.

[@nicolasolton]

Does the native culture still thrive?

[@christine-j4r2m]

@@nicolasolton From an outside perspective, their culture seems intact, but the tribes (The Kumeyaay) would have to answer that themselves.

[@hollywooda111]

Get offline go outside live your life, walk your streets & you'll realise this constant fear mongering online to create content is the poison in your water stream its the lead in the pipes. Dont allow this false narrative to live in your head.

[@thunderbird3694]

"Faith" is required to "Believe in Lies" and that is why religions demand "Faithfulness" to maintain Power & Control over their Subjects

[@nicolasolton]

💯 %

[@karljuhnke8882]

Same as science and secularism.

[@thunderbird3694]

@karljuhnke8882 wrong! with religion "Faith" is required to "Believe In Lies"... with science "Evidence" is required to "Discover the Truth"

[@helenachase5627]

Faith may be necessary for many things. Check yourself to question what you have faith in .

[@helenachase5627]

​@Merriwether-w8kask Elon if faith is required. He may have an interesting answer

[@JGentry1978]

Keep the video content coming please sir. At least on KZbin. This is excellent. You can reach many more people doing the video format on KZbin. Thanks Sam!

[@CP-nl2zb]

Sam is a World Champion Pseudo intellectual. Sammy The Pseudo Harris.

[@pcbacklash_3261]

@@CP-nl2zb Stick around. You'll have time to copy/paste this comment at least five or six more times.

[@imtotallyseriously]

@@CP-nl2zbI think Sam will constantly think of your comment while he eats, sleeps and meditates. You made a real difference today.

[@knachos2233]

Yes

[@davenaden8115]

@@CP-nl2zb Pseudo? Are you kidding me? Please enlighten us as to who you think is a "real" intellectual!

[@michaeledmonds9203]

"All of these things will have to be fought for again." Sobering, but so very true.

[@DentArthurDent68]

Nope, I'm done fighting for my ideals because I've been told repeatedly that my ideals are wrong.

[@Bugtortoise]

Who says we'll be around to fight?

[@rostamr4096]

Thank you, Sam Harris, for providing enough sanity and intellectual discourse through this crazy time we live in....I have been following your writing, talks, and podcasts since 2002.

[@John-pp5bq]

You sound like an insufferable Jew

[@Kimura117]

Please keep doing podcasts like this Sam. Makes me feel much more connected to the conversation. Thank you! 🙏

[@Nathan-May-or-May-Not]

I understand that visuals can detract & distract from the core of any one argument or point that's made, likewise add inputs that may induce fallacy, however I've read & listened to Sam for so long now, & admire & appreciate his views so deeply, that it's always so good to "see" him. Especially when he's looking directly into the camera like this.

[@kwimms]

Feel sorry for you. Maybe start listening to something intelligent for a change?

[@Nathan-May-or-May-Not]

@@kwimms I’ll take your cheap condescension into consideration in approximately forty-eight hours from now, or maybe next week.

[@trinaka]

​@@kwimmswhy are you here?

[@psyanide1603]

@@Nathan-May-or-May-Not He's religious, seemingly on the more fundamental side, so no wonder he's seething and frothing at the mouth over Sam Harris 🤣

[@Sharetheroad3333]

@@kwimmshaha. Nothing of value to add their champ? Never ceases to amaze me how primates drown in ad hominem to willingly shout to the world -“I’ve got nothing!” 😀😎👻

[@iwantanxbox8765]

Sam, I’m not sure if you want to do this because you might not like the attention, but if you keep doing these video podcasts and get rid of the paywall, you would be insanely popular

[@evanacey1414]

Hard to call it a paywall when anyone can get a free account via his website.

[@Martinworrod]

That's high

[@KipEarlywine]

He would make exponentially more money and have more footprint. But I think he has designed things the way he has to protect himself from audience capture.

[@amosbackstrom5366]

He would be insanely popular if stopped defending a genocide

[@dogsandyoga1743]

​@@amosbackstrom5366It's nothing remotely close to a genocide.

[@jannastam5203]

🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:00 *Simon Sebag Montefiore discusses his vast historical works, focusing on Russian and Middle Eastern history.* 02:21 *Observations from witnessing the collapse of the Soviet Empire provided invaluable experience for Montefiore as a historian.* 06:48 *Montefiore reflects on the exceptional period of post-World War II as a time of relative stability and liberal democratic advancement.* 10:48 *The discussion addresses whether the unraveling of the liberal world order is irreversible and the possibility of a resurgence in liberal democracy.* 12:11 *Montefiore emphasizes that great powers often fall not due to external pressures but due to internal psychological defeats.* 15:22 *The historical significance of Jerusalem is highlighted as a focal point for religious tensions among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.* 20:39 *Montefiore expresses concerns about the potential for conflict in Jerusalem due to its deeply revered status among multiple faiths.* 24:17 *The importance of the Bible in establishing Jerusalem's significance as a holy city is discussed, underscoring its historical and cultural legacy.* 25:21 *Analysis of historical anti-Semitism reveals its roots in theological beliefs and how these intersect with contemporary views on Israel.* 26:32 *The Judeans, from whom the term "Jew" originates, emerged from the Canaanite peoples and established kingdoms in the region around Jerusalem.* 27:10 *The belief that Jews are the chosen people is rooted in their historical narrative of escaping Egypt, while a secular view sees them as one of many ancient peoples.* 27:24 *The Kingdom of Israel and the House of David were notable political entities, with evidence of their existence found in historical inscriptions.* 28:33 *The Judean kingdoms prospered during times of crisis for larger empires like Egypt and Assyria but faced conquest when those empires regained strength.* 29:13 *Alexander the Great's conquests led to further political changes in Judea, eventually resulting in rebellion against foreign rule and the establishment of a short-lived Hasmonean kingdom.* 30:32 *The Roman arrival in Judea led to a complex power struggle, with the Herodian dynasty emerging under Roman patronage amidst internal conflicts.* 31:13 *A significant Jewish revolt against Roman rule culminated with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, leading to widespread exile and transformation of Jewish religious practices.* 34:04 *The destruction of the Second Temple resulted in a shift in Judaism from temple-based worship to practices centered around synagogues.* 36:43 *Constantine’s conversion to Christianity in the 4th century marked a pivotal alliance between the Christian church and state power, shaping the future of Christianity.* 37:51 *The emergence of Islam in the 7th century involved Muhammad as both a religious leader and state builder, influenced by existing Jewish and Christian traditions.* 39:54 *The early military successes of Islamic forces can be attributed to religious fervor, military efficiency, and external geopolitical factors during a time of instability.* 40:34 *Early Islamic governance allowed for religious tolerance towards Jews and Christians, exemplified by their actions in Jerusalem following conquest.* Made with HARPA AI

[@Seekingsophia00]

Please continue with the video format-it's incredibly valuable. That said, I’d recommend avoiding the comments section, as it can often detract from the clarity and focus of your work. Much appreciation for all that you do. If you or your team happen to read this, I’d love to see you engage in a thoughtful and civil conversation with Bret Weinstein. It’s unfortunate how events unfolded between you both, as it seemed you were once aligned in many respects. Revisiting that relationship in a constructive way could bring much-needed clarity to an otherwise murky situation. Thank you for your work and the intellectual honesty you bring to these discussions.

[@janebovary626]

Why would he engage with Bret Weinstein? Why would anyone…? The covid period sorted out the wheat from the chaff and I’m afraid Weinstein belongs with the chaff.

[@Japplesnap]

9/11/2001.......Financial Crisis of 2008......Covid pandemic.....Trump. It has been 25 years of crap.

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

You omitted the 2008 GFC.

[@Japplesnap]

@Simon.the.Likeable True. I'll edit my comment to include that.

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

@@Japplesnap The GFC and Covid were when the irrecoverably huge transfers of wealth away from the masses occured.

[@Japplesnap]

@Simon.the.Likeable Better times are coming....eventually.

[@Simon.the.Likeable]

@@Japplesnap After they blot out the memory of Amalek, they will come to destroy Edom, metaphorically.

[@Bronco541]

Im genuinely glad Sam keeps mentioning 911 and I feel like not enough people do and too many people have sort of completely forgotten it and how important it is/was. "never forget" was the mantra that apparently nobody is listening to.

[@MindfulMovementPractice]

Love the video format. Its really nice to see you talk.

[@autumnstarrs]

Wow! It's a treat to get a conversation like this on video. Thanks, Sam!

[@rodneycraft1005]

Carlin said as Americans we would have a front row seat at the end. We are living the death of a empire in real time. I have adopted the guests point of view. Enjoy the historic value of the time. The rest is dark.

[@mouse6210]

I listened to Carlin too. His work never gave me an excuse to stop working toward solutions.

[@rossmcgowan123]

I love that you've released video.podcasts. Emotive language, intonation and the rest just isn't enough sometimes. There's more of a connection with the conversation too. I know you probably felt that sort of air of professionalism might be lost but it isn't. It's just an evolution.

[@debrahughes]

What a great episode! I have just finished "Young Stalin" by Simon and it was a masterful biography.

[@RhodirSofa]

I could listen to twenty more hours with Sam and Simon.

[@cinemar]

We have to just to make up for listening to the left rant about Gaza's, ahem... genocide ;)

[@t14dann18]

Sam, please have a conversation, if not a debate, with someone who DISAGREES with your position on Israel Palestine.

[@MistaNimbus]

Yeah, as eloquently as they parse the Gaza situation, I just cant get over the Palestinian civilian casualties.

[@urameshi4725]

He's a coward and hates Arabs, he'll never do that.

[@itheuserfirst3186]

@@MistaNimbus Yet you can get over the Israeli civilian casualties. Physician heal thyself.

[@MistaNimbus]

@ nope just as bad! No civilian casualties please!

[@DrJoshman]

In the west, 500 arabs are worth the life of 1 white westerner.

[@JamesRichardWiley]

The challenge is to understand the coming danger and fight against it instead of feeling defeated. That is what I am doing.

[@LWarrenF]

How?

[@AGILISFPV]

Finally Sam is doing videos!!

[@turbozed]

Everyone should listen to this guy's guest appearances on the Empire podcast about the history of Russia. It's incredibly interesting and entertaining!

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

cool.

[@ThePrytanis]

23:00 Atheist me here. It's not a coincidence that Jerusalem is so important. It is where the Jews founded it, so no coincidence. Because of Jerusalem's importance to the Jews in the prophecies, it HAD to be important for the Christians. They claim that Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. As for Islam, to quote Hitchens, much of the Quran is plagiarized from the Old Testament and Jewish writings. Abraham and Jesus are considered prophets in Islam as well. So Islam HAD to establish dominance over Jerusalem. It's all part of the plan of three different but related faiths to establish dominance over one another. Not a coincidence. Power politics.

[@malcolmxfiles]

Love the video format!

[@ApostateRasta]

I was hoping Sam would eventually get in front of the camera 😃 another high quality guest.

[@todoz11]

Hey, love the video format! Hopefully more of these?

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

do you reckon

[@susie4045]

I wonder why there’s never any controversy around the Buddhist religion?

[@musicauthority674]

This is another occasion where Sam Harris has an equally intellectual guest on. and it made for a deep, and substantial, and thought provoking conversation. thank you fellas I thoroughly enjoyed this.

[@nickyd922]

Thank you Sam for your ongoing rationality

[@twntwrs]

To keep your biases comfortably confirmed.

[@kellenwaters9087]

Rational?! Sam is far from rational. The dude ruins his many vacations by reading comment sections. What a tool

[@KJ-yk4nq]

Hopefully we are smart enough to still learn from the worst parts of history. Even though the forces that control human nature and motivate our behaviours toward one another don’t change.

[@trevor5666]

I hate that I had to be young at this point in history, man. It feels like only mass suffering will stop the course we’re on. And that’s terrifying.

[@michelecollier7492]

I understand because I’m glad I’m 70…

[@kwimms]

Yup... get ready boy.

[@theepiphany3560]

@@KnaebenThere are about 9 billion people in the world. You believe there will be 1 and half people that survive??? Also what are you talking about?

[@garyferguson1105]

Don’t lose hope. Never underestimate Trump’s ability to get everything wrong. The voters are stupid, but also fickle. Try to wrap your head around the fact that many people who voted for Obama twice, voted for Trump in 2016. Also, remember that every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

[@Mick-uk5uc]

@@theepiphany3560what are you talking about? I can’t understand your statement.

[@toobasaurus23]

So refreshing to see two intelligent people discussing complex world issues while being civil, patient, responsive, and accommodating to one another. Fantastic video and conversation.

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

honestly just gonna use this opportunity to type out CHIAROSCURO because who wouldn't

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

still the greatest power that's ever EXISTED!

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

the reason Libera democracy was SO SUCCESSFUL

[@patrickdeckdoctorokeano9146]

History will keep repeating itself until people realize that condemning their children with debts these children neither created nor consented too, is far from loving.

[@howdareyou41]

islam celebrating martyrs above all else. some parents think what's best for their children is to be a martyr.

[@DentArthurDent68]

And people keep teaching us that religion is good, despite history. God tells us we're worthless because he made us worthless.

[@patrickdeckdoctorokeano9146]

@@DentArthurDent68 maybe there needs to be a new god and new ideas to believe in.

[@fosil100]

@@howdareyou41 I dont get your point. We should continue over spending?

[@kwimms]

Lol... y'all so blind. You need Jesus more than ever!!!

[@ColdHawk]

The past two decades have had that building tension that sometimes accompanies a storm forming on the horizon out to sea. Swimming near the shore, we are feeling the drag of history’s undertow. If you are like me, you are watching for the rip current that may be forming and preparing yourself to swim hard, parallel to the shoreline, to try to get out of its grip. History, (just metaphorically speaking and not in any overly personified Hegelian sense) has swept millions out to sea and complacency is beginning to seem foolish if not dangerous. I cannot shake the conviction that these are the interesting times of the old Chinese curse.

[@Seanonyoutube]

I’m a Jerusalemite. I love my city, but it’s so weird how obsessed the whole world is with it. Al Aqsa is pretty and the air here is crisp, but other than that it’s just a city with a bunch of people going about our day. Leave us alone!

[@77kromah]

@ seanon, read the Bible or Jewish history. That city is different that's why the whole world is obsessed.

[@Seanonyoutube]

@ i grew up on the bible but have come to realize it’s just a man written book. The glorification of Jerusalem really isn’t justified. It’s just a nice city with lots of history. Most certainly not a justification for endless wars.

[@spiralss]

They need to add a feature that for each like/dislike it shows how long they watched the video for because I swear people are disliking purely based off the titles/creator of the video without acknowledging any of the substance

[@Sarah8561]

I’m really enjoying Sam lately, his material has been fantastic as of late.

[@mookiewilson4166]

@@Sarah8561 The guy’s lost the plot and lost his mind over America choosing Republicans over Democrats this next election cycle. I have defended him as a reasonable person so many times, but it’s hysteria. Sam should meditate in a cave for 1,000 days and we’ll let him know when it’s safe to come out and he can feel safe knowing the Democrats are back in power.

[@messipist]

Since he exposed himself as an israhell shill?

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

he has his finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist, especially with regard to his explicitly devout peers

[@jase3289]

Having video is helping me focus and follow more of this than I otherwise would. I’m not sure how you’re deciding which interviews to do on camera, but having video on this one seems to be a good call.

[@josephk.4200]

I’d like to hear Sam’s thoughts on Bibi being declared an international fugitive.

[@longlakeshore]

Our species is instinctually tribal. War will not end until that instinct evolves out of us. There is little pressure for it to do so. We're stuck with it.

[@karagi101]

This is what Stephen Kotkin, one of the greatest historians, has been saying for decades. Sam should have him on his podcast.

[@nicolasolton]

Kotkin is great!👍

[@karagi101]

@ And the way he talks… I can listen to him for hours.

[@User-9x52q23-d]

What an excellent interview! I watched the full version on your website, but came over to KZbin just to tell you how much I appreciate an authentic historian on these issues.

[@josephlandman1402]

I love the black background it's so relaxing for the eyes

[@jennifermclick9050]

Sam is my DAILY Balm. ♥️

[@pegm5937]

Like others have commented, I got the free subscription once and after that, signed up. My sanity/reality check comes from Sam. I'm someone who was always a card-carrying tree hugger, but identity politics threw me right off of the tracks. I now find myself periodically agreeing with thoughts from far-right wingnuts and being terrified of the far left. I'm politically homeless. But Sam is walking right where I am and articulates what are frequently just "feelings" on my side. He gives my thoughts form. And yes, from time-to-time I disagree with Sam or his guests, but that just reassures me that my critical thinking compass still functions. These times, though, yeah. I keep trying to tell the people around me that we are headed for some serious bumpy times, but I'm not convincing them. This history lesson was extraordinary. The guest is an jdane wealth of information- off the top of his head, no less. Such a valuable resource ❤

[@dailygrindism]

Excellent production, Sam. Kudos to you and your team. Sending well wishes from CA.

[@Roland-k6g]

Worry is the MIND’s job, our job is to enjoy the ride 🤍

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

you're not yourself in the viennese sense of the following-up to 'portrait'

[@benderthefourth3445]

14:36 It is true, that America set the standard and that everyone wanted to look like it. It's because once you see how good a society can become, every country wants to achieve the same. America was able to do it because of high ideals... Ideals that are dying. I'm not an American!

[@ZeuzBluez]

Video format is far better than audio only👏👏👏👏

[@richarddecredico6098]

History repeats itself whether we learn it or not. Learning it yields zero control over it.

[@jbanders2358]

When you let Zionists commit genocide and continue to steal land that isn't theirs you let history repeat itself and make excuses for why you let it happen.

[@itheuserfirst3186]

Yeah, you learn history so you don't repeat it, just teaches it just teaches people how to do defeat it. Given enough time, history

[@nicolasolton]

@@richarddecredico6098 One would think that learning history might give us the means of avoiding the mistakes of the past, no? This would mean at least some control it would seem.

[@richarddecredico6098]

One might think that And they would be incorrect Have you not learned this from history? ; )

[@LeeWang-y9z]

I really like this new set-up. Looks good.

[@WilliamMoneyhun]

Sam, from time to time, you have a guest that really catches me up. Simon Sebag Montefiore is one of them. Fantastic discussion. Thank you.

[@RICKJames-mk1to]

Respect both these guys. Simon's book on Jerusalem is my foundation for understanding the history of Israel. Whereas Harris does a really good job of discussing the current threat facing the West from radical Islam.

[@PlayNiceFolks]

What's so important it requires a book? The entire issue could be summed up in a slightly long paragraph.

[@dovhalpern]

Try a book called the Bible

[@kenkaplan3654]

America is a far greater threat right now to the world than Radical Islam.

[@kenkaplan3654]

@@dovhalpern Wrong answer.

[@he1ar1]

Radical islam has been around for decades and I think that our institutions have evolved to face it. It is a known threat and most of the holes in our security and intelligence networks has caught up. A nuclear power invading a European country is something completely different.

[@corbarr]

Very odd factual errors around 29:25 He says the successor kingdoms of Alexander the Great were the Seleucids and the Assyrians, but the Assyrian Empire was long gone by this point, it was the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt that fought the Seleucids for control of the Levant. And then he says the Maccabean Revolt was against the Assyrians… but it was against the Seleucids.

[@korenmoscovich4681]

Well spotted, probably slip of the tongue and meant Ptolemies based on rest of sentence.

[@michaeldillabough8933]

Oh phew I thought my model of history was all wrong for a moment there.

[@The_Tisch]

There's also a factual error when Sam says (uncorrected by his more knowledgeable guest) that orthodox Jews would want to rebuild the temple: the vast majority of orthodox Jews say this should be left up to God when the Messiah comes. Jewish religious law, halakha, even forbid Jews from entering the Temple Mount, ostensibly because we don't know the exact location of the Holy of Hollies. This is what's called, "Passive Massianism". The variant he's thinking of, known as "Active Massianism" is a very modern phenomenon restricted to the ideological settlers in the West Bank (about whom I wrote my MA thesis) and their theological kin. It is opposed by other religious Zionists and certainly by the ultra-orthodox who are anti-Zionists for those same reasons I mentioned above. It's quite a bad factual error. There's no serious doubt in Israel that whatever the political future in terms of a possible shared sovereignty, the Temple Mount would be continued to be run by its Muslim religious authority, known as the Waqf. Another mistake they seemed to make was confusing the grey Al Aqsa mosque with the magnificent Dome of the Rock, though Simon Sebag Montefiore obviously knows the difference. BTW. I was there today, or rather at the western Wailing Wall, for my son's Bar Mitzvah.

[@kbone8137]

This was an EXCELLENT episode. BRAVO!!

[@HandgunSafe]

This is the most depressing history lesson there is, the origins of three religions likely to bring about our end one day.

[@kwimms]

This is very entertaining!! Trump is amazing and will blow your socks off.

[@theotherview1716]

Oh gawd

[@toby9999]

​@@kwimmsTrump is a clown.

[@jbanders2358]

This genocide has nothing to do with religion. Zionism is about stealing land that isn't yours.

[@psyanide1603]

@@kwimms Lol lets see how well your comment ages when all Trump manages to achieve is making your fuel, food and domestic goods cost 15-30% more, a less stable economy, and a less able military . The worsening of foreign relations will be the very least of your concerns when poverty and crime surge, destabilizing your already wobbly society even further. But don't mind those of us outside the USA, we're just sitting here with popcorn while we watch the USA harm itself and weaken it's footing on the world stage 🤣

[@jj-mcgreezies]

Sam is truly a paragon of rationality, he's also the only intellectual I've ever seen who will admit when they were wrong and change their mind the second they are presented with compelling evidence. The world would be a much better place is everyone was a little bit more like Sam.

[@niallfahy9401]

what about the compelling evidence of at least 17,400 children killed by israel in gaza over the past year?

[@nickk6556]

Echoing the other comments, love the video content! Much more engaging.

[@peterbutlerjellytime]

Fascinating conversation! Simon and Sam brilliantly outline the evolution of some of the largest religions. Clearly, Simon is a talented and well accredited historian, but I have some doubts about how much truth we can capture going back to 1000 BC based mostly on biased or untruthful texts. Am I just a paranoid man in a time of distrust and misinformation? Or is most-all of what Simon covered based in well-evidenced truths? Would love to hear from someone more informed than myself😊

[@timunderwood4314]

Loved this overview.

[@dsshakespeare]

The intertwining of religion, power, and conflict is an ancient and complex theme, especially as it plays out in the modern world. The Russian Orthodox Church's alliance with Vladimir Putin, and its support for the war in Ukraine, forms a potent example of the deep intersection between faith, politics, and national identity in contemporary Russia. This connection echoes historical precedents, notably during the Soviet era, which is meticulously chronicled in Simon Sebag Montefiore's Young Stalin. His exploration of Stalin's rise reveals the ways in which religion, revolution, and personal ambition collide to shape political landscapes. Religion and the State: The Russian Orthodox Church and Putin’s Russia In modern Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church has positioned itself as a key ally of President Vladimir Putin. The Church's support for the war in Ukraine is rooted in a mixture of nationalistic fervor, religious revivalism, and the desire to restore Russia’s spiritual and cultural dominance, as perceived by Putin’s administration. The Russian Orthodox Church, long suppressed during the Soviet era, has reemerged as a major political force, and its influence over Russian society has grown dramatically since Putin came to power. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has been particularly vocal in his endorsement of Putin’s policies, framing the war in Ukraine not as a geopolitical conflict but as a religious and moral crusade. This alliance between Church and state mirrors the role of religion in political life throughout history, where religious institutions often align with ruling powers, just as the Church of Russia did during the Tsarist period. In this context, the Church’s support for Putin’s war can be understood as both a reaction to the secular, Westernized influence of post-Soviet Russia and an attempt to reclaim its position as a central authority in Russian life. Stalin’s Legacy and the Religious Question Montefiore’s Young Stalin offers profound insights into the mechanisms of power, and the way in which Stalin’s brutal rise to power can be linked to Russia’s complex relationship with religion. Stalin, who was initially trained as a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church before embracing Marxist-Leninist ideology, represents a figure in which the secular and the sacred clash dramatically. His early years were marked by deep spiritual conflict, and his ultimate rejection of faith in favor of ruthless political calculation set the stage for his ascent to power. This tension between faith and ideology was not only central to Stalin’s personal journey but also to the trajectory of the Soviet Union itself. In Stalin’s case, the early, romanticized version of the revolutionary who sought to liberate the proletariat from oppression became, over time, the embodiment of a tyrannical leader who erased religious and cultural identity in favor of his own vision of socialism. The Soviet regime’s official stance of atheism led to the persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other religious institutions. But Stalin's relationship with religion remained ambiguous and opportunistic, with the regime selectively allowing the Church to function in the face of growing public unrest. The historical narrative of Stalin’s reign illuminates how ideology, in its most extreme form, can wield power over faith and identity. Stalin’s tactics of manipulation and control, often brutal and calculated, helped establish a regime that replaced the Church with the state as the ultimate authority. His own transformation from a young, passionate idealist into a cold, paranoid dictator provides important context for understanding how the interplay of power and religion shapes political systems. Putin and the Return of Authoritarianism The alliance between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church can be viewed as a modern-day parallel to the power struggles and alliances of Stalin’s era. Just as Stalin’s success was partly due to his ability to harness political and ideological forces-including his early relationships with the religious institutions he would later suppress-Putin’s regime thrives on a similar balancing act. He has embraced the Russian Orthodox Church as a stabilizing force, leveraging its influence to solidify his rule and counter Western criticisms of his increasingly authoritarian policies. The Church, for its part, has found a powerful patron in Putin, who presents himself as a protector of Russian cultural and religious identity. The war in Ukraine, for which the Church has voiced support, is framed as a holy mission to defend the Russian-speaking Orthodox population, especially against what the Church and state portray as the threat of secularism and Western liberalism. This echoes Stalin’s own use of ideological purity-though Stalin’s mission was secular and Marxist, while Putin’s is deeply rooted in Russian Orthodox nationalism. This spiritual justification for violence is alarming but not unprecedented. The history of war in Russia, from the Crusades to the Soviet Union’s violent purges, reveals how religion and national identity have long been used to rally populations to support war and political consolidation. Power, Religion, and the Persistence of History The intersection of religion and politics in Russia, as illustrated by the alliance between Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church, resonates deeply with historical themes. Stalin’s rise to power, as detailed in Young Stalin, shows how the personal and ideological forces of faith, politics, and revolution often clash and coexist, creating a powerful but dangerous brew. Whether in Stalin’s purges or Putin’s war, religion becomes a tool for the powerful to justify their actions, whether those actions are revolutionary or imperial. In the case of Putin’s Russia, the Church’s support for the war in Ukraine is a reflection of the ongoing tension between national identity, religious authority, and political power. Much like Stalin before him, Putin uses both secular and religious forces to maintain control and justify the actions of his regime. The war, now framed as a moral crusade, reflects not only the longstanding use of religion as a tool for state power but also a chilling continuity in Russia’s political history: a history where religious and political authority often merge, and where war is sanctioned as a means of achieving national glory.

[@Nancysoulshine]

Happy for the visual

[@P4GYY]

Sam ty for finally doing video, although i respect the desire to remain voice only, having video feed will broaden your viewer-base 100%

[@Kuticul]

Sam keep doing the podcasts in similar format, we need to fight the anti intellectualism coming from the right wing side with their mentally challenged podcasters with no intellectual integrity

[@phillipluwes9077]

The biggest weakness of mankind is the ability to think for themselves, relligion. Einstein said, there are two things that are infinite, the Universe and human stupidity.

[@mareezy]

Woohoo, video is better than audio. Keep this format plz

[@DanielWhite-v4e]

'doubles down' on the 'pivot'

[@nicholaschiappini]

who else brings up a dictionary when they listen to sam harris?

[@rosegarden3686]

I knew it was exceptional !!! And yes, we can do it again, but the younger generations need to step up or else it will not suceed.

[@LeonFeldmanMusic]

I am so happy that you’re doing video Sam!!!!!

[@FaraZaminii]

Sam the video format is the way forward btw. Being an only audio podcast now is like being a vinyl in the walkman era.

[@lindagray1809]

I listen better with audio only.

[@Mageblood]

​@@lindagray1809then look away 🙄

[@nickh6674]

It's interesting to me that I don't think Sam realizes if he got rid of his paywall and did more podcast like this it would be one of the most successful and lucrative podcast in the world. But by putting behind the paywall he loses a lot of people I love listening to him so much and the only reason I don't listen to a lot of the people I never go over to the site.

[@retyifourthree6929]

hey man, love the video content. i'm a long-time listener. a few things to note about the Israel situation: Israel is a settler-colonial project. Settler colonialism is specifically when a group of people breaks away from their home country and "settle" in a new place, which inherently displaces the indigenous population of that place. it's not colonialism or imperialism like the British expanding their empire, or establishing "colonies" for the purpose of extracting resources. it's the type of colonialism that we Americans carried out by settling here, then breaking away from Britain. so in our case, it started as British colonialism and empire expansion, and it ended as a settler-colonial project of our own. we gradually displaced and massacred the native population, and that's exactly what's happening to the Palestinians, year after year. for some reason, i never hear the Palestinian cause given any amount of credibility on this show, and i never hear any good faith explanation of their perspective, or even the type of situation they're in, regardless of whose fault you think it is. any Jew from anywhere in the world can move to Israel and literally "settle" there, which they call the right of return (which is an interesting form of gaslighting since you can't "return" to a place you've never been to). the insane religious extremists in the West Bank actually call themselves settlers. meanwhile, the Palestinians, who have just as much of a claim to the land as the Jews do, have to deal with permanent military occupation, Jewish settlers stealing their houses and kicking them out, getting arrested and held without charges, or they're stuck languishing in refugee camps, or much worse, like in Gaza. i could go on and on and on and present so many things that this audience has probably never heard. i don't think it's too much to ask for you to bring in someone who will represent the Palestinian side and at least give your audience the opportunity to hear something outside of the echo chamber on this particular topic. i hope you do that.

[@pidgepagonis]

he won’t, because he knows he will be exposed for the hypocrisy he has now double downed on.

[@littleking1994two]

Every one in the audience has heard the argument, they just know how bullshit it is. While americans never had a history in america until their british ancestors landed their but for the jew, not the individual living in modern times, that is were they orginated from and they have be considered a homes people settling in other peoples lands for thousands of years, they may have modern jew may have come from a europe but have not been considered erupoean by other europeans for most of their history there and many jews themselves never considered them selves the same as the locals wether it be russian, german, ect. Again you can make the argument that they are a settler state like the US or new zeland but they're not the since the ethnic group does have a history there and many times the group is more important than individuals especially when it comes to international laws and agreements. Some of the mot of important stories in the jewish faith if being kick out of their land and eventyually being able to return, going back there is part of the history, religion and culture. When Hamas took control of gaza after isreal forced all the jews there to leave they were firing rockets at isreal with in a year which basically sends a message to isreal if you fore your people to leave and give us some land back we will use it to take more and more land back and still use violence, biggest reason to annex the west bank if you understand basic incentives.

[@CL-lo4wd]

Glad to hear “it’s very hard to sleep at all” and know I’m not the only one who feels like this given the state of the world.

[@magazinevibe]

The US involvement in the world is not about bringing more libelarism and stability. It's about US interest often at the expense of other parts of the world

[@benhallo1553]

Yeah I think Chomsky would have a very very interesting take on this conversation

[@MADDcartman]

Thanks for the video Sam. Having both options can only be a plus for your message and the broader movement. As a millennial, I’ve dodged the TikTok mania but KZbin is a huge part of my media consumption.

[@PierredeCur]

Interesting the mention that even Western Europe had some dictatorship up to 1974/75... Franco, who died in 1975, I suppose. 🙂

[@andrewsilberman5066]

And Salazar

[@mattwinn5667]

Simon Sebag Montefiore - what an interesting guy. Makes me want to read all of his books. Sam just listens….

[@diandenmark]

I think the primacy of the Jewish claim to the Land of Israel is based on the unbroken attachment in scripture (Tanakh and commentaries), holidays (tied to the seasons of the land), liturgy, and daily prayers. In other words, as Monerfiore says: the portable religion, always yearning back to Jerusalem. The claim is not exclusive, but important enough to legitimize a nation state giving the Jewish people self-determination - with a clear Jewish majority, where Hebrew is the primary official language, the calendar is the Hebrew/Jewish calendar, and Jewish customs, such as repecting the sabbath, are more fully supported than the customs of minorities in Israel. Food for thought: What about the connections of various indigenous peoples all over the world to their land? Why is this not a threat to the liberal world order?

[@davidpringle4299]

What? Superstition and ancient tribal rivalries deserve a place in a modern technocratic society? Don't let the door hit you

[@WilliamMatthewConnolly-m5i]

No Scripture rules international affairs nor trumps international laws, property laws, nor elemental ethics.

[@ATCrogerwilco]

Amen

[@Arphemius]

The claim is right of conquest. The Ottomans took it, then centuries later that Empire fell apart and the British, who took over for the European powers that defeated the Ottomans, gave it to the Jews. No more discussion is necessary. No religious hocus pocus need be considered.

[@DrJoshman]

Might is right? No international law required?

[@dtdyvr]

Excellent! Thank you Sam and Simon, greatly appreciated.

[@Ineosa]

Commnenting to help Sam with the algorithm. Love it. Keep going!

[@raijinhatake6558]

Truly enjoyed learning about the history of Jerusalem

[@ATCrogerwilco]

It's been captured 44 times throughout history. He barely scratched the surface.

[@unclesamshrugged2621]

The only religious hatred Sam acknowledges is antisemitism; the only religious violence he acknowledges is that done by Muslims. He'll look at history from Roman times, but finds the last 75 years of Palestinian history "uninteresting." This is all galling in the current context in which Muslims in the US have been stabbed, shot and nearly drowned since Oct. 7. And in which Israel, the 5th most powerful military in the world, one of the few nuclear powers, backed by the only super power is killing tens of thousands of unarmed Palestinians, including at least 16,000 children, and displacing millions of Palestinians and starving them. Sam, we don't care what religion you are. If you kill 16,000 kids, you deserve condemnation. Get some guts and interview someone who is pro Palestinian.

[@learnnewthingsfinance6483]

Sam has been exposed as a fraud

[@autoscopy]

That's because Sam is a chosen one. It's obvious.

[@unclesamshrugged2621]

@@autoscopy The answer to anti-Muslim hatred is *not* antisemitism, no matter how subtle. Not interested in your bigotry.

[@davidpringle4299]

Sam sees both sides; he understands that religious superstition is the problem

[@unclesamshrugged2621]

@@davidpringle4299 Show me where Harris applies the same critiques he makes of radical Islam to radical Zionism. In 2023, the IDF and radical Zionist settlers killed 38 Palestinian children *before* Oct. 7, plus hundreds of adults -- all in the West Bank, where Hamas does not have power. Has Harris condemned this extremist religious violence against civilians? No he has not. He says he is *not interested* in anything that happened before Oct. 7. He simply parrots the talking points of the extremist religious leaders of Israel -- as a supposed atheist and "public intellectual." That ain't both sides, it's not moral and it sure doesn't represent intellectual honesty and self-examination.

[@investorswantedchannel8059]

The very greatest show and pod!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never miss an episode!

[@Xo1ot1]

Sam looking good.

[@samsarajack3673]

It’s amazing how peacefully we give up our freedoms to an obvious despot. “Not with a bang but a whimper “.

[@J.R.Y.]

I wonder how much damage Trump can do before his adorning fans would say, "Hmmm. Maybe I was wrong about him."

[@BubbaF0wpend]

They'll just chalk up anything they perceive as bad as coming from "libtards" and those evil democrats *shakes fist* Cultists gonna cult.

[@DUDEBroHey]

Biden did plenty of damage and is trying to do even more as a lame duck. Have you said "hmm. Maybe I was wrong about him"?

[@J.R.Y.]

@ Yes I have. Now it’s your turn.

[@DUDEBroHey]

@@J.R.Y. I'm not in the US. Though, Trump is 1000x better than Harris, the economy is about to collapse. It would be a miracle if Trump got out of office without the US economy collapsing. The replies one could make are obvious. So I'll get ahead of them by saying yes it's obvious the economy is about the collapse and issues related to the economy is why Trump won the election.

[@Alnivol666]

He was pres for 4 years. It was okay. He will try out some new stuff now. Wish him luck. It is your country too.

[@qwerty123457891]

Love the video content. Please keep em coming

[@S.BYH2O]

It's only a threat to democracy when your party loses.

[@joy-of-chemotaxis]

Only for those who place party above country.

[@TheirIAre]

Thank you, Sam. You're the man.

[@Dr.EgonCholakian]

LOVE THESE VIDEO FORMAT PODCASTS A LOT MORE. WHEN IS DESTINY GOING TO BE ON THE SHOW?

[@JuliusCaesar103]

My fave troll

[@Dr.EgonCholakian]

@@JuliusCaesar103 Careful what you call me.

[@lonergraphics4087]

@@Dr.EgonCholakian Komrade

[@CMClaudio1989]

Why does Destiny need to be on with Sam?

[@CP-nl2zb]

​@@CMClaudio1989Sam is a World Champion Pseudo intellectual. Sammy The Pseudo Harris.

[@DudeFun-yi7nu]

This is the most fucking intense revelation on human behavior. It ties all loose ends of insanity back to how stories and imagination interrupt and destroy human progress. The best 42 minutes online anywhere. Well done.

[@rodneycraft1005]

How long before Putin has American military equipment and expertise?

[@JonHanzen]

The diatribe of Simon, particularly toward the end of this episode, was very eloquent in a biopolitical worldview. The ability to return to a [geopolitical] context salience between a country and its current ruling government is quite rare. I appreciated his understanding with regard to Iranian people, which I felt respected their culture and thus principles for ethically living their life and lifestyle there.

[@itheuserfirst3186]

You're pretentious. Get over yourself.

[@JBS512]

Reasons why Israel is seen as a colonial project: 1. Palestinians were descended from Israelites that converted to Christianity, or Islam. Families that have been displaced had families living on farms going back hundreds or thousands of years. Jewish settlers moved in in mass, because it was seen as their cultural/religious right, not an ancestral right. 2. At certain points in the Ottoman empire only 1.7% of the population was Jewish. Sure some were always living there, but no other culture can reclaim an ancient land by moving in people in mass because a couple thousand of their people lived there and not expect resistance. If that's the case, wars could pop up in any country. 3. Israel was destroyed 2000 years ago. If a bunch of Christians decided to reform the Byzantine empire. I would not want the US to fund their forever wars, because "Christians" were always living there. 4. Jewish settlers did not integrate like Arab settlers did. They created segregated communities and governed alongside the British excluding the non-Jewish natives initially. 5. Western countries have been putting money and military bases into it in order to exert influence over the middle east for decades. I'm curious if Sam Harris has anything to say that would make me change my mind. I've never heard him address real arguments.

[@pidgepagonis]

whispers *and he wont*

[@LeonFeldmanMusic]

So good to hear some history in an era when so many want to erase it