New Releases by Sam Harris

Seit Krieg wieder heilig ist und betende Politiker zu Kreuzzügen aufrufen, wird allenorten von einem Wiedererstarken der Religion gesprochen. Sam Harris betrachtet den Zusammenhang zwischen Religion und Gewalt mit nüchternen Augen. Frei von der weit verbreiteten theistischen Betriebsblindheit untersucht er die Hintergründe des islamistischen Terrors. Hier spricht einer aus, was andere kaum mehr zu denken wagen, endlich ein Autor, der zu unterscheiden weiss zwischen Religion und Spiritualität. Ein Weckruf in glaubensverdunkelter Zeit.

Waarschuwing aan de westerse samenleving tegen de gevaren van religie als broeinest van irrationaliteit en geweld, met een pleidooi voor een redelijke levensbeschouwing die is gebaseerd op empirisch, natuurwetenschappelijk bewijs.

On Christianity; with special reference to United States.

Open brief aan (Amerikaanse) gelovigen, waarin aan de hand van met name morele argumenten wordt aangetoond dat het christelijk geloof een gevaar voor de mensheid is.

From the new afterword by the author: Humanity has had a long fascination with blood sacrifice. In fact, it has been by no means uncommon for a child to be born into this world only to be patiently and lovingly reared by religious maniacs, who believe that the best way to keep the sun on its course or to ensure a rich harvest is to lead him by tender hand into a field or to a mountaintop and bury, butcher, or burn him alive as offering to an invisible God. The notion that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that his death constitutes a successful propitiation of a “loving” God is a direct and undisguised inheritance of the superstitious bloodletting that has plagued bewildered people throughout history. . .

"The End of Faith articulates the dangers and absurdities of organized religion so fiercely and so fearlessly that I felt relieved as I read it, vindicated....Harris writes what a sizable number of us think, but few are willing to say."—Natalie Angier, New York Times In The End of Faith, Sam Harris delivers a startling analysis of the clash between reason and religion in the modern world. He offers a vivid, historical tour of our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs—even when these beliefs inspire the worst human atrocities. While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic. Winner of the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for Nonfiction.