Sam Harris - Faith vs Reason in the Modern World

[@squidgewinkle]

If you listen carefully and consider his reasoning, you'll realise that everything he says makes sense and he is an extremely intelligent man. Open your mind to possibilities other than those forced upon you as a child...

[@sameska2353]

more than half the shit he says has been imposed on you as a child...

[@JaIch9999]

@@sameska2353 actually not. Religious nonsense was forced on me.

[@Skyclub12]

Really? Like when he said, "How about not deep-frying all of your foods?". He lost me. He's using humor to discredit a religion and that's how shallow he is in his argument.

[@Bumpki]

@@Skyclub12 That was only one of many examples at that point in his presentation and you chose to hear that one as his argument. Also god forbid you crack a joke in an hour long presentation

[@korbendallas5318]

He uses a lot more than humor, but you are free to ignore everything that would threaten your world view.

[@primus7776]

Pure, unencumbered, rational, logical, factual reason and insight. Thank You Mr Harris. A privilege !

[@jestermoon]

Yes my friend

[@4Sportsonly]

"Marriage of 21st century technology with stone age philosophy" .... Wow!!!! You can't put it in a better way Sam....👍👍👍

[@peteralleyman1945]

The horror imagining guys in black clothing with atomic bombs at hand in stead of knives.

[@schechter01]

@@peteralleyman1945 "black clothing"? Fundies can wear any kind of getup. Most Islamists don't wear all black; their clothes are usually similar to what other people wear in their parts of the world. Same goes for Christian dominionists & other fundamentalists. The Nation of Islam cult dresses up its men in dark suits, white shirts & bowties; its women tend to dress in white with head coverings.

[@peteralleyman1945]

@@schechter01 I was referring to a special brand of muslim fundies. Their victims were often dressed orange.

[@harrymills2770]

I think "Bronze-Age" would be an improvement.

[@MrSickbastard]

He said iron age.

[@professionalname5298]

One of the greatest orators of our time, so lucky to have him around

[@badker100]

blah blah blah how come Harris is this pompous arrogant ass thinks he knows everything . I think he contradicts himself, since he said there is no heaven and hell he should enjoy his life by living a complete immoral hedonistic life committing the most forbidden sins, enjoying every moment but no he is happy lecturing us that there is no God. Arrogant fool . Since there is no God, go start doing immoral things you always dreamed of ? live an immoral life enjoy why not there is no God to stop you or punish you in the after life

[@cameronlacook5461]

@@badker100 Rape and Pillage, Rape and Pillage... that is all I want to do now that I know there is no God. I might even let my slave in on the action. You have to be joking Right?

[@1minutetomastery881]

Death to religion

[@1minutetomastery881]

@@badker100 u sound childish

[@ketchup143]

listen to pete buttigieg

[@jonjosenna5581]

This is one of the greatest speeches against religion. Great point after great point.

[@jonjosenna5581]

Jay West It was same for me can’t thank them enough, also Richard Dawkins had a great influence on me.

[@The22on]

My awakening came from applying reason, and science to religious claims. The claims just vanished in a puff of logic. Later, the Internet was a valuable tool to reinforce my conclusion. There are soooo many good videos from so many great speakers like Harris, Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennett, Joseph Campbell.

[@bensteven3091]

@@filmeseverin what substance where you consuming? LSD? by the look at your description this would fit.

[@bensteven3091]

@@filmeseverin it seems as if your trip has left some long lasting damage. at least you are consistent in all those unprovable claims that others make and try to sell them as truth without a shred of evidence. oh and uttering the sentence "its true because i know" is not a valid argument nor evidence.

[@bensteven3091]

@@filmeseverin if we cant see any of this whats the point in pretending it to be true, it doesnt make a difference to us. in fact, all it does is create suffering.

[@nateo6518]

attended a catholic funeral today. beautiful service. lovely music. i laughed. i cried. i remembered from childhood certain prayers long forgotten. then i came home and watched this. thanks brother.

[@patbrennan6572]

I'm Canadian and in my country a belief in a religion is not required to run for public office. That makes us about 5 hundred years ahead of the U.S.A.

[@samdg1234]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hl7YZKJonduXi8k

[@chromeinox]

That's why your Prime Minister is sooo good as a polititian, and as a person. You know, F. Castro's bastard son. Like father, like son.

[@aarondavid826]

except for the whole free speech thing and seizing of people's bank accounts for donating to the trucker protest.

[@robertfranklin598]

I bet you do better at the polls if you claim a deity. Bias is earths problem, even in predominantly secular countries.

[@jennifer60515]

@@chromeinoxWhat does your opinion of one person have to do with the OP’s statement? It is absolutely silly that politicians have to pretend to be Christians, when we know most of them only believe in themselves. And even when someone does have a belief system, the other political party calls him a liar, like with President Biden. These are the same people who worship a criminal who can’t name one book of the Bible or say what he likes best about it.

[@b.porterv7418]

I have awoken from a slumber - this talk confirms what I’ve intuited for a long time. Thank you, Mr. Harris.

[@jeffreyphillips4182]

Good for you. He's instructed me as well and I've read much of what he's written...

[@dougpridgen9682]

That’s good and I’m glad to hear it, but instead of relying on intuition, which is no more reliable than faith, I recommend you pick up a logic text, learn induction and deduction, and figure things out for yourself. Then you don’t have to wait for someone like Sam to tell you the answers you already intuit but don’t have firsthand knowledge of.

[@b.porterv7418]

@@dougpridgen9682 Quite an assumption you've made here. I know logic, I teach it to high school students. Thanks for your unsolicited recommendation, though.

[@dougpridgen9682]

@@b.porterv7418 You’re the one who used the word intuited, so unless in your usage it’s a synonym for reason my inference, not assumption, follows. An assumption or presupposition is more akin to a premise than a conclusion, so there is no assumption. Perhaps you misspoke. Also, unless you judge my recommendation as bad or inappropriate, you can consider it a gift. Whether you decide to heed it is your concern, not mine. You’ll find that words have an exact meaning and all reasoning presupposes clearly defined concepts.

[@youknowwho9247]

"Try not to deep fry all your food" is definitely my favourite second commandment.

[@harryrenner3001]

That's exactly why I own an air fryer.

[@FactStorm]

LMAO, on other news - Americans express distaste for said stipulation and was found to be the most broken commandment!

[@lauranovak8407]

DeepFried=Hell!

[@arthurfleck629]

@@harryrenner3001They’re the best hahaha, vegetarian sausages taste exponentially better if I air fry them. They go from being amazing, to being to die for, they end up being almost like a drug, especially if I’ve just slept for somewhere between 12 - 20 hours uninterrupted, all those calories and all that fat, there’s something primarily enjoyable about the deliciousness

[@delta-9969]

"an afro of sufficient diameter as to suggest a total detachment from the opinions of his fellow human beings"... Sam doesn't get enough credit for being hilarious

[@kantraxoikol6914]

it is rather a dry humor lol

[@JonMurray]

Agreed

[@JonMurray]

@@kantraxoikol6914 but also, agreed haha!

[@IndieMusicMinute]

This is Sam’s best presentation I’ve heard. Masterpiece

[@vegass04]

I have absolutely no doubt that Sam would be a world class stand up comedian. His sense for the moment for the punchline is impecable.

[@matthewtenney2898]

He is a stand up comedian. And an author and professional lecturer.

[@JohnSmith-cg3cv]

And if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Why do people love stand-up comedy? Well, one of the reasons is that stand-up comedians speak the politically incorrect truths that nobody else dares to talk about. And that is precisely what Sam is doing; he’s shutting down religion and theism in a world where - at least at that time - it is taboo to do so. He’s speaking the truth and common sense in a world that has gone mad.

[@dubs3007]

This talk is so logical and unencumbered by superfluousness that it seems amazing that it isn't just common knowledge. Every sentence is simple basic logic that any 6 year old could grasp. It makes one wonder why so much religious belief still exists in educated humans. The taboo of religious criticism is at minimum highly problematic, and at its worst could lead to the extinction of humanity. The patience of atheists in discussing these topics with believers is absolutely impressive and unfortunately it will need to increase exponentially soon or humanity will collapse. Sam is one of the best examples of this patience materialized.

[@Venusbabe66]

Thank you! My thoughts exactly!

[@daniel1fullerton]

It's because 1. People are scared of the possibility of going to hell 2. People just arent interested in seeking their own truth or otherwise too lazy to seek it 3. The power of groupthink really is incredible and not just a vulnerability exclusive to religion

[@nacarreira777]

@@daniel1fullerton in addition to childhood indoctrination and brainwashing.

[@countvanbruno182]

Sam has more patience than I do. I have tried to explain to Christians the Logical Fallacies that they think prove their "faith," but they just keep on with their Circular Logic Fallacy. I think that once people get past a certain age they can no longer be reasoned with. They are Cult followers and they will kill and die for their Cult when told to do so. Its truly hopeless. Atheism seems to be in decline. Islam and Christianity are on growing in numbers every year.

[@raysalmon6566]

Why listen to someone who will die in their sins

[@flaviomachado8619]

THE SAM COMMANDMENTS: I - don't mistreat children II - don't pretend to know things you don't know III - try not to deep fry all of your food

[@raysalmon6566]

Flávio Machado. . 10 months ago. . THE SAM COMMANDMENTS: I - don't mistreat children II - don't pretend to know things you don't know III - try not to deep fry all of your food. 6 replies. 25 likes. how do you feel about 600000 abortions every year

[@kingdavid2882]

@@raysalmon6566 I wonder why god allows it ... Oh wait right he doesn't exist 😅 and interestingly enough god mentions abortions once all throughout the bible except they are all pro abortion verses such as exodus 21:22, leviticus 27:6, numbers 3:15, hosea 9:14, hosea 9:16, hosea 1:16, 2 samuel 12:14, numbers 5:21. And just add the fact didn't fix anything about slavery let alone abortion lol

[@raysalmon6566]

@@kingdavid2882 Jesus did not teach such a thing Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

[@trevorb2650]

@@kingdavid2882 wow Sam would be proud of his little fan boy butchering facts to make a case. good job.... is this how you support your atheism too? just make shit up and then use that to support you world view? Ex 21:22- says if a man kills an unborn baby - the punishment is life for a life.... not exactly pro abortion. Lev 27:6 - you obviously have no understanding what this verse is about - but here's a hint.... it's not about abortion Num 3:15 when they did a census they didn't count anyone under a month old.... and you interpret this as "God likes abortion"? wow... you are really smart! what's one plus one? let me guess.....abortion? Hos 9:14and16 - the death of babies is a sign of evil or being cursed by God..... hardly an endorsement for abortion Hos 1:16 doesn't exist... ill guess you mean 1:6 which gomer names her baby "not loved" which had nothing to do with abortion and the baby wasn't killed..... (so ...I am forced to wonder.... are you really a really stupid atheist or just an atheist who loves to lie?) The sad thing is, you look down on religious people like they are dumb and yet you can't seem to comprehend what you read..... This is my experience with most atheists.... a special blend of lies and stupidity....from the bottom dwellers- such as yourself- to the atheist "elite" like Sam.... it's all lies and stupidity......

[@grash4435]

@Alex McAuliff yes it did work when the law did not exist, it was whip to keep ,,little ones ,,in line.

[@shanjidarafahraiyan1972]

I'm happy that I see such a person in my lifetime.

[@MichL_71]

He actually has a really great sense of humour, too.

[@mrloop1530]

"Actually"? Why wouldn't he? 👀

[@leondenengelsen]

I think atheists in general have a greater sense of humor than theists

[@wesmanshaw]

Can't argue there, the thing about Thou Shalt Not Deep Fry All Thine Food had me rolling.

[@jasonantigua6825]

Leon den Engelsen The Jews have a great sense of humour!

[@nickydaviesnsdpharms3084]

i watch it on 1.5 speed but i don't want to lose any meaning i think it's ok

[@alexblance7598]

I admire Sam Harris eloquence in dealing with the subject.

[@wulphstein]

You do know he's a scam artist, right?

[@Superknullisch]

@@wulphstein Said no one ever! You attention seeking master troll!

[@diabl2master]

@@rickhuntling7338 When did he do that?

[@SlippinJimmy4Life]

Ironically listening to Sam Harris makes me feel less alone. I also like it as a vocabulary lesson. "Abrogate"? Nice.

[@edwardruthazer1849]

connubial

[@1minutetomastery881]

Good comment. Makes me feel less alone also

[@AMikeStein]

N64 Classics if you like listening to Sam for vocabulary words, I recommend Christopher Hitchens

[@PresidentialWinner]

Had to google that word after you commented.

[@zacshifler]

Youre never alone with Jesus.. sorry, you made me do it

[@mohamednaim6090]

What a wholesome speech. Well done, Sam!

[@DaniboyBR2]

Substitutions: Carl Sagan comes out, Neil DeGrasse Tyson comes in Christopher Hitchens out, Sam Harris in

[@primus7776]

Hitch is a near-impossible act to follow. Sam Harris does his legacy proud, however.

[@ArestheGood]

​@John Digsby I don't usually do this but someone needs education. Please watch the following video multiple times. The rest I'll pretend I haven't read. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGG6m4lsgtJ2r68 Thanks in advance and our intellectual exchange ceases after that. P.S. the post you commented on is six years old, I just don't see the purpose of your move

[@kindairish2562]

@John Digsby So are you "spiritually smart"? Because it sure looks that way.

[@mrsatire9475]

@John Digsby - That's not even remotely true. We need to keep you 9/11 nuts away from planes.

[@duaynemiller9450]

@John Digsby of all the retarded comments I have read you win the prize. So by your logic don't listen to people who are smart have studied their fields of research and speak rationally instead just read this ONE book and you will know everything (actually know less because the book was wrong on some things) then you too may judge people and spit hateful lies.

[@jeffwatkins352]

Brilliant on every point! Especially on the danger of religion, something apologetics work so hard to gloss over, yet which literally threatens every living creature on this planet with immanent destruction. We so desperately need the voice of reason to speak out as loudly as this, and many times over. For the sake of our children's children.

[@adamarmstrong622]

Sam Harris for president 2020!!!

[@debranelson1987]

I'd vote for him!

[@aaronarmstrong1642]

He’d never win because he’d actually be good at it.

[@The22on]

Anyone with enough ambition to want to be ruler of the most powerful nation on Earth... should not be the ruler of the most powerful nation on Earth. lol

[@paulmorris6177]

Sam has actually said that he'd never win because anyone that wants to be the leader of the most powerful nation on earth MUST BELIEVE (or in Trump's case, con enough people to make them believe that he's a "Christian") in Christianity. Anyone that says that they do not believe in a celestial deity will never win a presidential election in this backward nation.

[@IsaacNewton1966]

As long as The Family has influence, that will never happen.

[@TheJHCDigital]

Ben Stiller is a pretty smart dude after all

[@Dennis19901]

@@rickhuntling7338 Fuck off Rick. You've made yourself look like a clown elsewhere already. Please stick to one clowning at a time, thanks

[@men3498]

Dude i knew I couldn't be alone on thinking he looked like ben

[@moteague]

Powerful speech. Every human on earth should listen to this video. I love the women liberation part of this video.

[@jesusraelian]

This is wonderful! Common sense and logic as a way to seek truth. Thank you Mr. Harris.

[@sirriffsalot4158]

God damn, Sam, you are today's Godfather of reasonableness and logic. Never have I ever heard such a lucid, thoroughly reasoned, and unflinching delineation on this. Re-listened three times already.

[@MrMarco855]

It describes how the many would be deceived by the slick tongue of the beast. You were certain that he wouldn't deceive you.

[@sirriffsalot4158]

@@MrMarco855 Another book I know of deems it irrevocably evil not to stone a woman on her father's doorstep if found a non-virgin on her wedding-night. Don't tell me about the "slick tongue of the beast", if you still read from that same book and actually take any of it literally. Now fuck off.

[@jamesssenkatuuka7]

Thank you Sam, you are a critical thinker your talk is well articulated, it liberates people from the bondage of religious beliefs. I wish you could spread your logical and brilliant and mind blowing talk to the world over

[@MrMarco855]

People don't want to be liberated by the billions, did you and asshole dictator Sam over look that fact and overstep the lines of minding your own business? Just wondering.

[@1pichucho]

I just love someone making sense.

[@FactStorm]

Especially in a world where most don't! The old adage comes to mind "Common sense isn't so common!"

[@mrloop1530]

Our Father in Iron Age myths, forgettable be thy name. Give us this day our daily dosis of love, knowledge and understanding, and free us from religion and other dogma. Amen.

[@mrloop1530]

@user-nz8uy1zm3z Of course not. You can't really mock something that doesn't exist.

[@mrloop1530]

@user-nz8uy1zm3z You can't mock Superman or Batman either. Has no effect

[@petermarcglider]

We are living in a sad world where our world's leaders probably mostly agree with Sam Harris but dare not publicly comment for loss of their office.

[@berty1422]

Quite untrue, only in America, or Iran, Afghanistan does religion play a part in being elected. This does not happen in Europe. Indeed Tony Blair had to keep quiet that he was RC in case it was detrimental to his chance of being elected.

[@angusmcfarlane1225]

Listening to Sam Harris is like listening to someone taking a sledgehammer to a Hall of Mirrors! Good stuff!

[@paulwood3460]

Sam’s logic is impeccable 👏👏👏👏. Just need a thousand more like him and then we can put religious literature in its rightful place In the library I.e the fairy tale section.

[@thevibe1013]

Such a great talk. I especially love the bit where he briefly discusses the 10 commandments, particularly the second @ 14:20 . Serious points made with some excellent use of humour. "How about try not to deep fry ALL of your food?" LOL

[@brianrussel6012]

(guest) Great speech. Especially the chilling summing up.😱. Worth listening to again, folks... Thanks, Sam. 🤔💞🇬🇧🤔😢💞🇬🇧

[@pcplgregorywaynelamen9165]

You know, living in a country where literally 99.9 percent of the population believe in a supernatural god, this guy provides solace.

[@Jjengering]

If you are referring to the USA, I believe that statistic is no longer true. It's more like 25% non religious and growing fast as people are liberated from thier religious shackles. And highest in young populations.

[@billionburns]

@@Jjengering Why are you convinced there is no god?

[@Jjengering]

@@billionburns I'm not 100% convinced, but I'm 99.999% sure, religion is completely man made, religious text written in a different language from thousands of years ago talking of sacrafice, slavery and many terrible acts of violence. Like Sam Harris said, these people knew nothing of the world, guessing that sickness was a curse, when now we know exactly how microbiology works, and how to cure things. It's completely man made, the same way we have seen thousands of religious beliefs come and go, Thor, Zeus etc. It's laughable to believe in Thor, the same way it is all the others. People are raised in a certain religious belief and they always think Thier one is the right one.... It's so obviously indoctrination from a young age. And it's very hard for people to break away after a lifetime of family telling you certain things, and in alot of cases they will put you down or disown you, if you question it or want to get away from your faith. It's complete madness to cut babies gentials in the name of a mysterious being from above that somehow couldn't do the job right in the first place. Try taking a knife to a babies gentials and think to yourself is the really moral? It's absolute madness, religion is full of it and it's tragic. People can cherry pick the handful of nice things religious texts say, but the whole books are just a mess.

[@billionburns]

@@Jjengering so let's go through these points. *1st. Statement* Because some beliefs are false every belief is proven false? According to this logic if one scientific paper is wrong all science is wrong.

[@billionburns]

@@Jjengering *2nd statement* Because there is the concept of polytheism there is no God? Can you elaborate? There is no scientific proof that your assumptions regarding religions is legit.

[@jaqenhghar6996]

Cheers 🍻 to Mr. Harris for intellectually robust logical thought and the condemnation of religious violence, validity and absurdity!!

[@HolyRainbowism]

Brilliant! So simple yet so brilliant! If Sam Harris would start his own church i’d go. 😜

[@mylord9340]

Totally agree with those sentiments that this was a great and fantastic talk.

[@dubs3007]

Lastly Sam says: "It's everyone's responsibility to break humanity's spell of religion"

[@tessalogan586]

Jesus Christ is not a religion.

[@grash4435]

@@tessalogan586 firstly he was, he is dead now.

[@chadmichael8021]

Thank you for uploading this. Amazing we can have access to this on KZbin whereas we'd have never seen it, probably.

[@boothj82]

Awesome! So glad reasoning aka atheism is growing

[@sameska2353]

oh, atheism and reasoning are synonyms now? As if only atheists can reason?

[@richardpetek712]

@@sameska2353 No, but atheism is based on reason and religions are based on faith, meaning "believing on some dogma or scripture - without evidence".

[@Dennis19901]

@@richardpetek712 I'd say athiesm is very slightly based on reason though. Perhaps this is the wrong wording. But the only thing that athiesm does is reject a faith based position, or a position for god without evidence (synonymous). I think calling athiesm rational is a far more descriptive term than reason.

[@richardpetek712]

@@Dennis19901 It wasn't me who made the title "The clash between Faith vs Reason in the Modern World"

[@Dennis19901]

@@richardpetek712 So that means we cannot talk about anything else than the title of the video? I do not see the relevance of your remark

[@michsturge671]

He is NOT wrong and he makes perfect sense. Sai Baba is a complete fool who has conned many.

[@JaIch9999]

So have the other prophets and their apologists.

[@ramakrishnavemulapalli4526]

The situation is just outright ridiculous considering how many millions got fooled

[@JaIch9999]

@@ramakrishnavemulapalli4526 They WANT to be fooled. Statistically most Most people want to be fooled. That's the problem.

[@farisaltkiller3828]

@@ramakrishnavemulapalli4526 ​ Ja Ich I know. This man has always been a pioneer to knowledge. You should watch his videos in where he talks about extracting milk from cats and exposed that Paul Peter and Mary Song: Puff the Magic Dragon. The old dude in the car was schooled.

[@chrisyoung5929]

@@JaIch9999 They have been educated in how to be conned, that it is right and good to be conned, That is the message from every religious leader. In classrooms and at home they get taught how to do practical things, to read and write and count, cook and clean a cut. and then the same people give them the message that it is right and good to believe in these stories,that other stories of just made up but these particular ones in this book have to be believed, it is right and good to believe these no matter what, to be conned as their parents and teachers were conned.

[@The22on]

From about 20 to 30 minutes in, Sam destroys every argument I ever heard a rabbi give for why the Old Testament (actually the Talmud) is good. After listening to Sam using words like genocide, ethnic cleansing, and saying that the ten commandments say to kill your neighbor for violating the sabbath, I can see how terrible that book is. Then, he demolishes the last argument to defend the Talmud which is that it fit the morality of times back then. He says Eastern scholars were able to conclude that you shouldn't kill everyone around you who disagreed or violated the law, so why not jews and later, christians? Weren't they 'enlightened' enough? Man, he drove his Harvester machine and completely de-nuded the field! There was nothing left after he showed the old books to be products of, as he called them, sociopaths. In all the years I heard people speak against religion, I never heard anyone go through issues I was raised with so quickly. Great job, Sam.

[@filhodovento20]

There is absolutely no rational answer a person of strong faith can give to justify their beliefs.

[@avedic]

You don't know that to be so. There may very well be a rational answer someone of faith could give. But...........it's never _ever_ happened. And I doubt it ever will. But it might. It's up to them to make that happen...

[@sameska2353]

Wow, that's a truth claim to which you have absolutely no evidence for. And don't appeal to population, that's a claim that goes beyond empirical data, even if you sat down with every believer in the world, you wouldnt be able to make that claim.

[@marty9660]

@Steve did some your comment get cut off?

[@Nick-hk2vz]

@Steve I don't understand how you can say faith isn't without reason - I thought that was the point. You don't have a good reason to believe in god, so instead you say faith is required. How is that *not* faith without reason?

[@mikeninjitsu4665]

@Steve There is literally NOTHING that cannot be believed on "faith". It's a TERRIBLE way to ascertain the truth of anything.

[@PoetlaureateNFDL]

Go Sam go!

[@lvbdevinelove2329]

Dr. Sam Harris, my hero!!!

[@DeaconShadow]

The simple fact of the matter is that no religious apologist has eve effectively countered these arguments against religious belief. And Harris isn’t even the first person to make these points. He is just one of the most elegant and approachable.

[@jakepacanowski9743]

Harris has an amazing amount of patience to even bother making this argument

[@zeeman3684]

Jake-Yes. I admire his patience and his whole disposition. He's so right on.

[@autumnstarrs]

I've thought this of Harris and Hitchens. Particularly when they debate believers.

[@kylewang1491]

Totally agree. Sam has tremendous depths and patience to deal with such thick and meaningless stuff. This is a quality that can only exist in a leader/educator of a massive movement of enlightenment our species yet to witness.

[@patrickobrien8851]

@Steve You seem confused. It's human to not want to die too early, but not to "not want to die". I knew a number of old people who lived great lives, but once they became seriously ill, were very much ready and willing to die; in fact, had they been able to control the dying process themselves, they would have done so. Second, it's not reasonable to think that someone "designed" the world and our lives. It might be kneejerk for those brought up under superstition, but it's certainly not "reasonable": in fact, I don't see any reasons why it should be so. Third, there's more than meets the eye? Of course, and science admits this all the time. In fact, science is not absolutist like religion, so its a priori assumption is that there will always be more, which is why we must remain curious. The Bible is a spectacularly thin book, with more bad advice in it than it has good commonsense. In short, your type of faith is antithetical to reason, and all faith is - by definition - blind. Antitheists and Atheists prefer to live in a world where we see.

[@patrickobrien8851]

@Steve Yes, faith is blind, in the obvious - and understood - sense that it progresses by means of belief, and not by means of reason. I don’t have “faith” the sun will come up tomorrow. I know it will come up for next 3.5B years or so because of the way stars of that size burn their raw material (hydrogen) and eventually morph into white dwarfs. So, it’s got nothing to do with “faith” - it’s nuclear science. (Aside: your mixing of “faith in spouse” and “faith in a sunrise” is a confusion of types of knowledge: one can be deterministically worked out (sunrise) and one cannot.) As for dying: our drive is to procreate, and to live long enough to do that. You characterize that as “fear”, but many people don’t think that way. And death, btw, can come out of the blue at any time: think of the event 66 million years ago that initiated the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other species - that came out of nowhere, literally. And it will happen again. Fear of the unknown is what gave rise to “gods”, but knowledge is diminishing that fear, though the fear is not yet gone: it will take some time yet to educate people out of that fear, as the fear is embedded in our cultures. You know nothing of the eternity of your non-existence before you were born, and it is to a similar non-existence that you will return after your death. This makes perfect and simple sense, and integrates will the life and death cycles of ALL other living things on this planet. We are NOT SPECIAL: we are just one of millions of species that have existed - and will exist - on this planet over billions of years. You claim that one has to be taught “otherwise” regarding a designer, so that one doesn’t believe in one - and, of course, you are completely wrong here: one has to be brainwashed into thinking there is a designer. If you need to believe in a designer, look no further than Nature, which does a slow and admirable job of it, despite the errors that inevitably occur in a statistically governed universe. Lastly: you said that Christians “use reason like anyone else”. Yes, but they use it selectively, e.g. they might use logic in mathematics, but not logic when it comes to the reasonableness of the existence of a deity. That’s just sloppy thinking on their parts, and it’s very much cultural. These folks (and I know many of them) need to think more rigorously about the world and its processes - they need to learn more, and be less afraid of what they discover. Belief: “knowing” things without any verifiable proof Reason: knowing things with verifiable proof, and with the ability to predict future actions (though not all future actions - combinatorial calculations grow too large too quickly.)

[@nacarreira777]

Thank you....thank you....thank you Sam Harris!

[@buckenheimer3]

Nancy Alexander-Carreira Be thankful to god. The one who created you and gave you life. Jesus is coming back. The signs are everywhere right now

[@joelstein4657]

As Sam grows older he becomes a better and better orator. We can hope he will be able to assume the cape of Christopher Hitchens. We can only hope.

[@JCT75]

Unlikely

[@viidopolikarpus2431]

sobering talk in these crazy times

[@paulmorris6177]

If anyone actually watches any of Sam's FULL debates with people like Deepak Chopra, can see for themselves how he irritates them by calmly, systematically and methodically DESTROYS them and their "arguments". He is one of the most calm, even-tempered, polite destroyers of other people's ideas, beliefs and religious beliefs that is currently on earth (no one can replace Hitchens).

[@gloriannepapolis6525]

Yes, he is very cool under pressure, he irritates the feces out of the delusionals

[@thedada7762]

Watch his debate with William Lane Craig...Harris' quips, jibes, and sarcasm doesn't have quite the same effect as when he's monologuing it. "The first to state his case seems right until another comes and examines him. " Proverbs 18:17

[@paulmorris6177]

@@thedada7762..I have. What are YOU watching?! Any reasonable, rational, intelligent person (without an agenda) would agree that Sam absolutely destroyed not only Craig but Christianity as a whole. His sole argument during his first rebuttal (forget the other two hours) with “god being either impotent or evil” needs no follow up. That’s the truth and the god of the Bible is one of the two...pick one.

[@jennifer60515]

@@thedada7762Fantasyland.

[@markyounger1240]

This is great. But much to logical and intelligent for most people.

[@marklewis4793]

maybe most of your people,..we're woke!

[@Dennis19901]

@Tara R I'd suggest you read a lot of the comments on here. And not the top-comments, but the replies to those comments. You'll find indeed that most people do not (or do not want to) grasp what is being discussed in the video.

[@seanmoore4269]

I think you mean 'too' not 'to' here.

[@gloriannepapolis6525]

@@Dennis19901 not too intelligent for Sam's fans, however for religious folks, I agree. Most christians I speak to have not read the bible so they are believing in a religion they know nothing about

[@S24W2]

brilliant talk! We need people like Sam and Richard Dawkins

[@brentelisens9163]

if humans have to have a leader, why are people like sam harris never 'elected'? if voting mattered and he ran, i'd put him in office with zero hesitation

[@brentelisens9163]

@pappapaps that's why i said, 'if voting mattered'

[@xsuploader]

@@brentelisens9163 harris actually addresses this. He says that anyone who thinks they should be in a position to lead a nation must by definition be a narcissist. I wish someone like sam would run.

[@Dennis19901]

@@xsuploader I think someone like Sam is way too intellectually honest to be in a political leading position. Politics often requires lying or exuberating to further your position of "power", and also requires making less moral or rational choices because of very complicated reasons. I don't think an intellectual like Sam would be a good fit at all.

[@mirkacihlar8110]

You are fabulous Sam Harris. Bravo

[@LindaStevensBZ]

Word craftsmanship.

[@jestermoon]

Take A Moment Thanks to Sam Love your work Stay Safe and Stay Free

[@robbes7rh]

A really excellent talk, Sam. I say this partly because I agree wholeheartedly with your general assessments of the Abrahamic religions in the world today, but also because you’re doing this out of genuine concern and love for the human race and our planet moving forward into a quickly changing and uncertain future. Yahweh and Allah remain blithely silent about the very real problems their earlier interactions with mankind in the Middle East are now causing. You are just one man who has applied himself diligently to the study of philosophy, religion and history, and yet you’ve shown the fortitude to step up to the lectern address the thorny issues that plague our world. These omnipotent beings who have the capacity to do anything, won’t even match your efforts, not even a nod or a wink. One can conclude that either they don’t care enough to help, or they’ve become impotent, or they are simply imaginary fodder for the masses dreamt up by cynical men who wish to claim divine authority.

[@juancalderon909]

Sam Harris thank you!!! Love your books, thanks for giving me another way of viewing things logically.

[@tomascua6377]

In this modern age of technology god still can't be detected he is so powerful and shy

[@0123-y5i]

uwu he must be cute

[@countvanbruno182]

I know and when I ask for evidence the Christians tell me to read the Bible.

[@mrsatire9475]

@@countvanbruno182 - If it's in a book it must be true

[@Dennis19901]

@@mrsatire9475 Oh shit, Harry Potter is real, Let's go to Hogwarts in a flying car fam!

[@phyphrus1934]

I'm very in love with his brain. I love some of the others like Hitch and Dawkins too, but Sam is by far the most rational person on Earth to me

[@ndindamule3134]

He says some very insightful things. Things ive always wondered about

[@ndindamule3134]

This man articulates everything IV always thought and criticized about religion especially Christianity

[@at1970]

I’ll never forget when all of the Republican presidential candidates raised their hands when asked if they thought “the Bible was the literal word of god” in 2012 I almost fell off my chair.

[@Fritz999]

Faith has never needed Reason, or even liked it. The faithful are even worse than sheep, believing whatever Unfug the faithleaders tell them to believe.

[@jocular1910]

He has faith in reason.

[@ndindamule3134]

This man is very insightful

[@joshuamlnarik5942]

This is the 3rd or 4th time I've revisited this gem of a lecture and each time is more poignant than the last. We need more minds like this in the world. And the world needs to be willing to listen to what these men are saying; for it is an undeniably honest assessment of the undeniable detriment religion persists to wreak upon all societies still entangled by the kung-fu grip of its greasy, grubby tentacles. This lecture is one that I forward to friends and family I care about the most because after nearly 20 jaded years being brought up in a religious home, school, and every milieu filling in the gaps -- the messages contained here are all true, refreshing to a degree of catharsis. I was and continue to be in awe of this speech's ability to instantly rebutt and discard the decades of indoctrination still deeply programmed into my brain. My adolescence and young adulthood were both spent perpetually, indecisively conflicted. By the rationale possessed by my sound mind, who despite knowing better, clung to the idea of God for reasons I still don't understand?? Growing up I knew all along that this "God shit" had to be fake. There's a reason we're oftentimes baptized as infants. Pious children of God before we even form our earliest memories. How else could a person entering adulthood still buy into such obvious silliness, arcane ignorance and iron-age ethics (or glorious lack, thereof)? Paired w/ a belief that by continually acting as if their Sunday best behavior will be rewarded with the exclusive privilege of eternal life? I mean, have you ever heard anything more insane???? In hindsight, it's very clear to me. Hitchens was correct in saying Religion Poisons EVERYTHING. In the span of an hour Sam here does an incredible job of making sound and reasoned arguments outlining precisely the WHY we all have desperately sought out. All the reasons why we can and should safely ignkre these irrelevant "holy books" for the incoherent tin cans of dogshit they rly are. Religious dogma is a cancer. Don't denigrate innocent believers, simply rejecting the doctrine and knowing your reasons WHY are what matter at day's end. 🥂☮️😂

[@Pikuwashi]

The Awesome. Go Harris!!! Cool!! :3

[@furiousfajitaa2367]

Wat

[@FactStorm]

Thank you Sam, I wish the entire world would view this..but then again, it goes back to the circular vicious issue of indoctrination and how most would probably dismiss logic in favor of faith. It both saddens me and sickens me..

[@yourbeardispatchyaf]

I absolutely love how Sam can remain straight faced when he says some of the funniest stuff ever said.

[@MrMarco855]

He was born with a smirk and it defines his hollow being.

[@yourbeardispatchyaf]

@@MrMarco855 Say, "Simple Snotty Smirks Show Somebody's Shallowness" 5 times anytime you think you're capable, boy.

[@DD-sr9xm]

I was at a private dinner with a Chairman of the Presidents Council of Economic Advisors. It was only a dozen bankers and fund managers in a very private room. After quite a few glasses of wine, the chairman was speaking to the group on inflation expectations; measuring them, managing them, steering them. The chairman started off the speech saying “what you have to understand about the American populace is that two-thirds of Americans think heaven is a real place, think hell is a real place.” We have such a warped society, devoid of reason, peer pressured into competitive levels of faith, that federal economic policy has to account for a sort of mass irrationality.

[@MsKariSmith]

These discussions are so very interesting. It shows how and why people think the way they do to justify their lives as well as the world around them. But and here is a huge "BUT!" Regardless if there is a god or not...."SO What!" The world goes on as usual....humanity should open their eyes and start behaving like responsible adults. I agree with Prof. Dawkins, who advises that people should find quotes and inspirations from all the great thinkers, and not give the bible anymore importance than anyone else's writings. We certainly need to stop being lazy and selfish, using and abusing the planet and ourselves while justifying that we are so very special. That is where religion steers us wrong. We are not special, we are just plain lucky to be here evolving as time goes on. Plus unless there is real evidence, all the "So Called Rules" you find in the various religions are "MAN MADE". That is why over the centuries you find so very much abuse by the head guys running the show. (for example, the pope comes to mind). Religion is a powerful tool using fear and promises that power hungry "men" in the past and still very much in the present have adopted to control and yes use the weaker people in society. In conclusion, we as a race we need to start using our brains and think for themselves and not be lazy and behave like a bunch of sheep. In other words come out of the stone age and live in the present. As for any religion, it should be a private thing if someone needs it, fine but it should never be forced on children and adults using fear and promises of "a happy land or heaven" if you will, when they leave this world. We should live in the present and not on fear or the silly promises of a fantasy future.

[@vanezzavonbargen473]

Isca S.I agreed with you for what you said is true I think you are smart too.Congrats again.etc.Thats all and thanks.

[@Hollis_has_questions]

You are merely reiterating what Sam has said in this speech. Dawkins doesn’t need to be pulled into this, but you’re obviously a fan of his so it must be done. I suppose you consider yourself a Bright.

[@roybrewer7865]

Again, thank you

[@josephkerr5018]

I just don't understand how anyone can listen to his points and not leave there an athiest.

[@The22on]

Wow. He just said the most amazing sentences that sum it all up: "Civilization in the 21st century is passing through a bottleneck. Formed on the one side by 21st century destructive technology and on the other by iron age superstition. The only way is to pass through this bottleneck, more or less intact, more or less painfully, or we'll destroy ourselves". In SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) they call this THE GREAT FILTER. The reason why we haven't heard from advanced civilizations on other planets is because they destroyed themselves. The Drake equation says that this universe should be teeming with life! But, as Enrico Fermi, the great physicist asked about aliens, "Where are they?" When their technology reached a point where they could cause self-extinction through war, bioweapons, climate change, AI, or some other method... they DID destroy themselves. Perhaps it's inevitable that when a reptile brain meets an atomic bomb, the civilization always explodes the bomb. Are we going to pass through The Great Filter? Or, as Harris calls it, a bottleneck. If you think there's little chance we will exterminate homo sapiens, remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. It came out 30 years later just how close both America and Russia came to a total nuclear exchange. The people that were there told their story and the Russians told their story. And both stories were that the generals on both sides pushed their respective leaders for an immediate first strike. If the leaders were not Kennedy and Khrushchev, I might not be typing this. There would be no internet, no technology, and possible, no humans. And now, both sides again are rattling their spears. As Harris says, it's a toss up if we will pass through the bottleneck. See you on the other side.

[@SoulSourceSeeker]

Mamilian* brain is more accurate good sir👍 (But bless those great Sumeritans like Sammy and Elon that put in overtime hours decreasing the probability of our possibly self induced Great Filter... (Re. Extintion/ existential risks)

[@The22on]

@@SoulSourceSeeker When I use the term "reptile brain", I am referring to our early brains which resembled the brains of reptiles. That early brain didn't "think" as much as it reacted to the environment. It's the barbarian in us; the part that causes road rage. This idea became famous when Carl Sagan used the term in his THE DRAGONS OF EDEN book, Technically, it's called the Triune Brain. Here's a link you might enjoy. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triune_brain

[@SoulSourceSeeker]

@@The22on yessir! I understand the basics of heirarchical needs and the layers of brain from amigdala to neo cortex🍻

[@The22on]

@@SoulSourceSeeker oops! I added this before I read your reply. Anyway, here's what I wrote. Yes, we humans have mammalian brains. But we have not lost our early brain structures. The American Museum of Natural History refers to the human "lizard brain" (which I call the "reptile brain"). Here's what they say: Lizards and humans share similar brain parts, which they inherited from fish... these parts--the brain stem, cerebellum, and basal ganglia--are casually referred to as your "lizard brain." In one of my favorite movies, Forbidden Planet, a monster is loose on the planet. The 'creator' of the monster does not realize that it's the primitive part of his brain... his subconscious (he calls it the Id - a Freudian term) that is creating the monster. It's a movie with a very deep message: beware the violence and unchecked instincts lurking in the primitive parts of your head. It's one of the few movies with a message for the ages.

[@earthman4222]

I am pretty smart, have a decent vocabulary, and reject religion and god. Sam Harris is just like me, only he is much smarter, has a much larger vocabulary, and well you get the idea. I learn so much about how to talk to others from him.

[@bjjdutchie1798]

@Steve or maybe, you just don't think

[@cheesesardines]

Steve i respect anyone that has gone through the studying and time to get a Ph.D. Especially in a field like neuroscience that goes extremely in depth about how the nervous system develops and functions. I’d take his word over a lot of uneducated folks right now.

[@barbaraconnett5057]

Sam, thank you, I find, your conversation refreshing, I’m, a 84 year old. Woman, we can 🤔!🐶🌹

[@demonsexslave85]

I am a maintenance man. I work everyday i can to help my fellow man, in their most intimate of places. Their home, is where I work. I fix things for people so that they continue to live their lives the best they can. This grants my life gratification and happiness. More so than most any profession. I love my job because of that. I am an athiest. Was raised with a thiest father, athiest mother. I love, protect, and help my fellow man more so than most thiests alive. Sam hits it on the head. This shit(religion) is nonsense, it's not good and its not moral

[@buddyparrot1]

@@filmeseverin NO, we don't believe , because there's no good reason to! Notice, I said "good" reason.

[@SoulSourceSeeker]

Keep shining that light of urs brightly, good Sumeritan🤙☯🍻💙

[@The22on]

Great response. Over the years, I have come to trust atheists more than theists. In business, I have found them to be more honest and ethical. Maybe it's because to be atheist, you have to really think about things. And if you think about things a lot, you realize that it's in your own self interest to be honest with people. For me, the discomfort I feel after I take advantage of someone is not worth the extra money I get. I seldom took advantage, but the couple of times I did made me feel terrible inside. I try to be totally honest in business. Sometimes I get taken advantage of by others. I guess we each choose our actions and live with them.

[@bjjdutchie1798]

@Steve yes it does! It takes religion for good people to do bad things and most religious people are hypocrites anyway.

[@deejaye2647]

QGarcia- I love your comment! Being of service to others, as in your profession, is the highest order, You do help people immensely and this is virtuous! It takes no religion to act and think this way..probably just the opposite.

[@MikeV671]

10 years ago you would say that, yeah, most people believe in some kind of "God." But that's not the case now a days. Being a non-believer is the new norm now, and it makes me so proud!! Humanity is growing up.

[@Phoenix-King-ozai]

Sam harris for president

[@Honestandtruth007]

Hell No.....

[@Kitakueigo]

44:15 Regarding the notion that Hitler and Stalin (supposed atheists) are responsible for the greatest massacres in human history. Sam Harris destroys this notion. 👏👏

[@paulcantrell7900]

Thankfully someone has the courage to speak out. Hopefully this trend will continue. Our survival as a species may well depend upon it.

[@tomha9884]

Thank you sam! I have found a dr to re attach my circumcision because of you ! 🙌

[@Chryztallic]

*II. Thou shalt not deep fry any of your food!*

[@edwardruthazer1849]

proof that there is no merciful god.

[@gnarlyslur1]

2:58 Sam begins

[@irical100]

to the point of women's humanity in the judeo/Christian/Islamic tradition existing as derivative (of man's existence) - he could have also pointed out that according to Genesis the god had no original intention to even create a woman until he considered man's loneliness and need for help (guessing this means a breeding counterpart)

[@marvelfanpage5573]

Sam Harris for President 2024

[@chriscurtis8597]

Sam is a better man than god will Ever be!

[@albertross6443]

No public policy, public school curriculum, no countries legal system, as a few examples, should ever be developed or determined by faith or religion....that would be pure ignorance..of which most people have an abundance of.

[@chriscurtis8597]

@@albertross6443 Said better than I ever could!!!

[@jackforeman2742]

I am a Christian and I enjoy that these types of discussions are available and as a Christian it seems important that our faith be tested and that it has a foundation in logic and reason. It seems that it is disingenuous and unreasonable of Sam to not at least attempt to fully think through the fundamentals of what he is criticizing and look at things from another point of view. Specifically on the 2nd commandment. If God’s purpose for us is relationship with him would it not make sense that we not create idols. Sam here exemplifies the kind of hubris that the commandment warns us against.

[@nakobot]

The reason why the second commandment exists is because Yahweh was born out of the polytheism of ancient Israel. He's jealous and vengeful as demonstrated by the old testament. But the real reason for all that is surely because the churches wanted to eliminate the competition - and it worked.

[@jackforeman2742]

nakomaru Thank you for your response. The reason I have difficulty with yours and Sam’s premises and even my own to degree is that there is in all, levels of assumptions and a appeal to an external perception of authority. If I relate to and understand and perceive the nature of God as being and having the nature described in the Bible as being an all powerful loving creator desirous of relationship with that which he created (this is how I perceive and understand God) based on scripture, experience, my efforts of logic reasoned analysis of my mind and the world; then the nature of the commandment makes perfect sense. To what degree we can choose to see it we seem to be choosing to look at it very differently. I’m not sure the reason for your choice is based on a stronger or truer understanding of the development/creation of this command. If God’s nature is as the Jews and Christians perceive then would not you expect a change/improved understand to go from poly to mono? And would you not expect God to want to protect and guide the purpose for which we are made? That being again direct relationship as so many obediently/eagerly pursue.

[@yellowpanda04]

I love Sam Harris , he is calm , smart and very logical without being excessively arrogant or aggressive like Dawkins.

[@Dennis19901]

Wait, do you think Dawkins is aggressive? What makes you say this? I've always found Dawkins to be very patient and understanding with people he debates. He's even (as seen in the case of Chopra) far too polite. Maybe I'm biased, but it would be nice if you could point out your reason for believing what you do.

[@tehdii]

I remember watching it back then... when 20 years have gone? :(

[@mikemetcalfe1526]

Someone said, "God is Santa claus for unsmart adults"...Think about that for a bit...What do you think this means? If you can...

[@Toris252]

God is not santa claus, Gods gifts (blessings) are not the same as a one time gift from santa claus and the motivations is absolutely different. God has personal relationship with us. It doesn't take a smart adult to realize that the world is way bigger than you and me and that there is greater purpose here. He walks with us through trials, he does not let us suffer alone, he is more like a father figure, a protector, a loving loving loving God.

[@mrsatire9475]

@@Toris252 - Santa does not burn children for eternity

[@Dennis19901]

@@mrsatire9475 Santa doesn't advocate for slavery either And Santa doesn't drown the entirety of humanity and other animals over a hissy fit (a hissy fit that he himself created and would know it turned out this way nonetheless). Santa isn't an absolute psychopathic maniac. I'd rather have Santa.

[@mrsatire9475]

@@Dennis19901 - The worst you get is some coal to keep you warm along with a year to think about it and improve.

[@migduh]

“It is faint praise indeed if the best that can be said of much of scripture is that it can now be safely ignored” 🫡

[@Joseph-fw6xx]

U are so correct Sam

[@Thormp1]

If the god of the bible had been portrayed as a king instead of a God , he would be remembered as the most evil, mass murdering, tyrannical dictator of all time! Christians give the bible god a free pass because, they say, he is god the creator. I don't see the difference whether man or god. If his actions were evil or immoral, as the bible states, then he'd be just as guilty of being evil as any human committing the same deeds.

[@Strugglebaddy616]

People don't understand that they can't say God is all loving and then God burns those who have reasons to not believe. All loving, no evil, yet there's a hell awaiting humans. Thanks God lol

[@JaIch9999]

@@Strugglebaddy616 Because many people in many cultures are mandated to "love" their parents even if those parents are using the rod on them. That's how children / people learn to accept "love" mixed with fear and abuse. A psychologically healthy person knows that love never goes together with fear and damage.

[@bretzajac9068]

so you blame God for all evil etc but do you give him credit for all the good? hey idiot one more point, God can do whatever he wants without your opinion

[@premprasad3511]

Thomp1 you are right but Jesus was different from Christianity ! He taught love and peace in a land where people only knew violence !

[@paxanimi3896]

Kendell Clark. But your post is based upon a wrong assumption, the existence of your elusive god. Take out that assumption, what’s left from your text ?

[@ohioguy1946]

If only everyone in the world would watch this video and truly understand what he’s saying... humans have a long way to go.

[@Chryztallic]

Look at Sam's eyes closely, you know he is *woke* .

[@marty9660]

@Steve danielmiessler.com/blog/the-pope-is-evil/

[@schechter01]

Harris himself would not agree with that, given what the self-described woke have wrought on college campuses on both coasts, in protests & riots, & in their manipulation of certain "Big Tech" companies' selective suppression of online political & personal expression.

[@kalmansovari6878]

@@schechter01 partly true partly myth

[@yomilalgro]

Gracias Don Harris for sharing your knowledge with impeccable delivery