Sam Harris at Idea CIty '05

Sam Harris gives a brief speech of the ideas expressed in his book, "The End of Faith". The video came from samharris.org.

[@weener09]

One of the best videos on the internet. Especially today.

[@pdema030]

I love how much the MC agreed with him. That was such an honestly loving hug.

[@TD12Funk]

Awesome lecture - what a brilliant piece of communication. I wish our leaders had this level of enlightenment.

[@UNDFTDGordon]

I admire Sam's eloquence and his commitment to the scientific method. One of the most admirable traits a human being can have is a commitment to finding out what is true regardless of one's ideological or cultural slant.

[@LoboR1]

Sam is the man!!

[@yoitsjust]

No one talks better than him. I don't know what it is. His words are so perfectly put together

[@futurefields]

Sam Harris is a brilliant man. His eloquence is inspiring. I wish I could articulate myself as well as he... I thank my lucky stars he is available to speak on behalf of reason and logic in an increasingly unreasonable, illogical world. Bravo, Sam!

[@alwaysfallingshort]

Absolutely amazing. This is one of the greatest, most compelling and well constructed arguments in favor of atheism I have ever seen. I believe anyone who cannot speak to these points is a fool. Here here for the Socratic method.

[@ArizonaBaySwimming]

still awesome

[@K1LL2ON3]

Very informational speech by Sam Harris. By far my favorite author.

[@GodlessMorality]

Thank you, Sam! I wish the world to watch this video.

[@Naked4Jesus]

Fantastic! Thanks for the upload, I enjoyed!

[@mmmodafoca]

sam harris just makes things simple.. no punch line, no making fun of everyone, very polite and very professional. He is right.. reason and reason alone will help us prevail.

[@dougmanjones]

How could anyone listen to this guy and not buy into what he's saying? He's overwhelmingly convincing.

[@piazzaj88]

Sam is able to articulate in words what I've been feeling for years.

[@timbomcjimbo]

I think i just learned like 50 new words hearing Sam harris talk. He has a very good vocabulary.

[@blaziermissy]

Sam has the talent to present reality in the least way possible without offending...honestly,personably, and respectfully. He is a most excellent speaker who has the ability to reach out and cross the barrier of "un" reason!!!

[@KletosApostolos]

I am one of those fundamentalist Christians. I take the Bible literally & believe everything in it, is the Word of God. But, I must say, I wish that more people were as well-thought-out & articulate as this guy. He has a brilliant mind & he is right about alot of things. Of course, he is wrong about the most important thing. But, it is a pleasure to listen to such a great mind.

[@brettygood1]

The point he makes around 20 minutes is incredibly spot-on!

[@jimjamgumbob]

Wow....that was a great speech. Thanks, Ben stiller!

[@LaudenKleer]

This speech is one of my all time favorites. I don't think we need two camps (believer/unbeliever). We are wired to prefer ANY explanation to NO explanation. Many years I personally despised the immaturity of religion yet strongly believed there must be some truth, path, or secret to be found. The cure to that view was avid reading, growing more informed, and that took time. Sam is right, moderates should make the extra effort toward intellectual honesty instead of persisting in an error loop.

[@hhaa9700]

He has a great mind and is current on affairs of the world, not just the US. ignorance keeps people a prisoner to belief systems that just don't work anymore. I am glad Sam Harris is speaking out so eloquently and with great knowledge. I wish his book was required reading.

[@hrchamp]

I can watch this every day.

[@flyhead2]

Amen; it's about time somebody said that. Listening to this gives me hope for our species. There is no moderate religion, only self-serving accommodation and hypocrisy.

[@deemon8]

Excellent...thanks!

[@hrchamp]

I have watched this so many times,I consider Sam a friend.

[@jackdarby2168]

I used to watch him too

[@yogabear1962]

He is truely brilliant - great examples and great points.

[@imbalancingact]

"Well, I feel better. It's about time somebody said that." Exactly. Harris is the best.

[@oran6es]

"I am the light that is over all things. I am all: From me all has gone forth, and to me all has reached. Split a piece of wood; I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there."

[@Guedingen]

Brilliant - many thanks

[@Trixilver]

This is exactly what I thought about the world, I just couldn't properly word it. Cheers Sam.

[@temdatli]

Sam Harris is great! He speaks clearly and to the point. It's nice to hear such clarity in a world full of lies, misconceptions, wishful thinking, and mind control. He also does a lovely rendition of Over the Rainow!

[@Neanderthalcouzin]

I could listen to this guy for hours.

[@tuanisthename]

best line was after the applause, delivered by the guy at the end, "well i feel BETTER. it's about time somebody said that."

[@okterb68]

From 21:10 to 22:34. Such a simple, eloquent and powerful statement is rarely made. No one should let their beliefs subvert this message. No one.

[@oran6es]

Have a great Christmas season.

[@SevenRiderAirForce]

I love this guy. It'd be awesome to go to one of his talks.

[@devious222]

great lecture

[@Xepp375]

"He points to fanatics as if it were the standard, not the exception to the rule" No, and he makes this exceptionally clear time and time again throughout his speech.

[@evadnie100]

Sam thank you for your insights into reality. Many of us don't realize how religion affects us or don't care. We let others tell us how good religion is without questioning.

[@jimjamgumbob]

@misterioustranger What part did I not read exactly? I covered each point you made.

[@prodigies6576]

This guy's arguments are extremely compelling!

[@oran6es]

Who do you guys give thanks to for thanksgiving?

[@A1phagaming]

Well I feel better. It's about time somebody said that!. gold.

[@loganhuss]

Last thing then i must go...what do you make of Ron Suskind's new book, which you may or may not have heard about?

[@billgoldbergmania]

Nicely put. And true.

[@jgonsalk]

This man may be the catalyst for change. Dawkins and Hitchen tend to belittle religion and come across as arrogant. Harris discusses the real issues that religion involves and dissects the arguments very neatly. The diamond in the backyard is something to remember. These rebuttals are so precise and really find the crux of the matter. Brilliant.

[@NavarCrowbarr]

Sam is one of the most sensible and calm speakers for the atheist movement. I have never, not once, seen him get riled up the way religion does about his message. I think that in itself, speaks volumes.

[@SylviabombsmithUjhy75bd34]

YES! ......Yes.....its about time somebody said that

[@TKStoddart]

This is a brilliant speech.

[@HeyDropthat]

Moses- you left your sandals up here -God Sam Harris is the man, I'm enjoying The End of Faith tremendously...

[@khylate]

Sam Harris speaks a truth that many of us are uncomfortable to admit especialli in our PC times.

[@oran6es]

" I have often wished that I was a more devout man than I am. Nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of my administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance in God, knowing that all would go well and that He would decide for the right." Abraham Lincoln

[@TrevorSiemens]

lol "It's about time somebody said that" I whole heartedly agree, good sir.

[@Zatki]

And people call him extreme! This is the first time I've seen a sam harris clip, I've heard alot about him. Everything he said was said with love and hope for his species.

[@superkevy11]

brilliant points made

[@PookySan1]

years from now, hopefully Sam and other forerunners in the promotion of reason and rational thinking will be heralded in schools and circles of intellectual discourse for their contribution to leading humanity out of what I call the Dim Ages

[@AaronH9111]

Amen to that brother!

[@InnocenceExperience]

@brancron was it when he said he has to stop talking soon?

[@Jomex1972]

just read End of Faith and now an atheist! wow this book should have been published two decades ago, now I am 40!

[@satosan24]

whos the guy giving the intro to Sam?

[@oran6es]

Simple: Seek truth, love one another. Presto, you've found Him.

[@paisan30]

Great stuff! Gotta love Sam.

[@Haeleus]

"We're building a civilization of ignorance." Very good way to sum up the major issue here.

[@boorens18]

@TAXtheAtheist sounds like talladegatom is right Tax....can you provide the verse for him? Otherwise it looks like you are wrong.

[@SummerSunshine1988]

I used to think that the Bible was a sexist book too. But then I learned what the words mean in the original language, how the different verses worked together, and I realized that in reality the Bible doesn't regard us as "second class" at all. Right from the beginning, women hold a special place.

[@mccote]

He says hes 'from a Country from the south'. Is he speaking in Canada? Where was this held?

[@Keldrath]

@EnnoiaBlog assuming this is the case, isnt it the mm part of this combination that is abomination? and as such any combination of M and M is abomination? as you say it claims MMF is abomination but not MFF, but so MMMF is okay? or MMM is okay? it seems clear its prohibiting any kind of MM including MM itself

[@crimsonsamurai14]

He is brilliant, and so well spoken.

[@Wikimedian]

I don't quite understand your point in the first two sentences... As for your second point, do you still think, as you suggested a little back, that it is not only possible but probable that the "primordial matter/energy" would produce such laws of nature and constants?

[@tanialupin]

Indeed. I also think that about: ‎"When the stakes are high we have a choice between conversation and violence, both at the level of individuals and at the level of societies"

[@ladicius]

he's crisp. i admire his style with which he delivers his thoughts

[@Drunkcilla]

Amazing !... i love Harris..

[@carmodifire]

lol, I am 14 and I have to do an essay in college on this; his arguments are so easy to flatten.

[@qaplatlhinganmaH]

If he doubts, he knows he does not know. If he doubts, he judges he ought not to give a hasty assent. I love this being and this knowing. Where these truths are concerned, I need not quail before the academicians when they say, 'What if you should be mistaken?' Well, if I am mistaken, I exist." From Saint Augustine's City of God

[@oran6es]

Love exists. Real, palpable, true. No problem.

[@landesdesign]

Hitch has the same odds as all of us regardless of faith. At least we have great speeches like this. Long live free thought!

[@JoshLemer]

was this talk given in Canada?

[@wHisperis001]

@franciszek8D What you might consider evil i might consider good. Who are you or your book to tell me you're right and im wrong?

[@crisrubi]

Sam Harris has a brazilian fan. He totally rocks!!

[@bary1234]

Imagine this man as the president of the USA. He could do so much good in this world.

[@zambimaru]

Great speech.

[@UjioSatashi]

every human on earth should watch this.

[@LAnonHubbard]

Sam Harris is speaking in Bristol, UK on 13th of April 2011. See St. Georges concert hall website.

[@MXF11]

@vonunu What? Is that the message you received. Maybe you need an interpreter to explain my post. BTW, dogma backwards is amgod.

[@bottlezone]

Science gets by on one assumption: the world is not consistently lying to us. Faith against reason assumes the opposite.

[@tiove]

who is the introductory speaker? i swear i think i have heard this guy at start of zeitgeist? about 'he loves you (about god) and always needs money!'

[@cjunk351]

I kept so alone as a christian.....pulling away from theists yet while trying to come to terms with christian theology. All I had was prayer.. but then one day, after much thought I come to see that it was all rubish. Then I sat there thinking that I was the only person on earth that knew that religion was the greatest vehicle for our stupidity.....then I found Sam harris and the atheist KZbin community.... Didnt feel so unique....but no longer felt lonely.

[@Whollychao23]

If I could, I would edit out the guy introducing Mr Harris. That guy seemed to approach it all with the emotionalism of a preacher. Sam Harris was brilliant

[@BrianASoto]

What you're describing are feelings of love and tranquility that you've subconsciously ascribed to an entity you've been made to believe in, but you don't need a subconsciously contrived entity to feel those things. The same effect can be seen on people leaving a Tony Robbins motivational seminar, inspired, and glowing with happiness after hours of positive affirmations, some even in tears. Belief is the engine for behavior, no matter how crazy the belief, or how crazy the behavior.

[@goshrx]

Sam is absolutely brilliant with his presentation. He could not be more correct. Unfortunately, ignorance is bliss for most of the planet, and they're going to take us smart people down with them.

[@teddywinroth]

amazing

[@jay7cor]

I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.

[@Xaeravoq]

how does the light bulb turn on when you flip the switch? magic of course.

[@SocialDissimulation]

Yes sir, we're looking at it right now. Humanity is about to evolve.

[@badad4444]

I found his challenge at the end (at about 21:00 on) of the video...challenging...and optimistic. To openly and humbly explore the evidence of practices and disciplines that bring meaning and peace without all the nonsensical baggage of religion and supernatural superstitions seems a worhwhile message for this group. I don't know what he means by "spirituality," but I like his challenge that we understand and own it.

[@SamHarrisSinger]

Hey Sam fans! We just uploaded a video from our vaults from when Sam appeared on OPRAH and sang (search for) "You'll Never Walk Alone and Take My Hand Precious Lord by Sam Harris" ... Enjoy!

[@kmg501]

. This is quite probably one of the best short speeches I've seen on humanity and religion to date. Sadly it reinforces my view that humanity is probably still another thousand years away from collectively and willingly deciding the religion is just not in our best personal interests. . That it what really needs to happen, people need to figure this out for themselves. You can not force people to come to this realization, otherwise it is invalid. .

[@astat1]

any arguments behind this statement?

[@MegF142857]

I appreciate his frustration in dealing with religious folks' irrationality and competing certainty.