I just read "Letter To a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris

[Rabrrrrrr]

Read it during lunch.

Mostly, I agree with him, but he is too much fundamentalist about the badness of religion - he is engaging in some of the bad behavior that he accuses religious people of following. I think he also has a very closed mind about religion.

But, other than those quibbles, he does very forcefully and rightfully point out the dangers of religion - especially American conservative "Christianity" (ironic quotes are mine) and to a lesser extent Islam - and offers some very good and compelling and correctly damning critiques of religion and how it gets expressed through violence, hatred, and ignorance. He has a wonderful section on "Creationism" and "Intelligent Design" (quote are mine here, as well) - really sticks it to the backwards fucks.

It's worth reading, for the religious and the non-religious both, for some good insights and good ammo to use against the fundy shitbags.

Not quite worth the $16.95 cover price (thankfully I only spent $11 or so off Amazon), though.

(I've also posted this over at the Christian forum for a more lengthy discussion, if you care to do so http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=291x4077)

[mark414]

1. i just read it a couple days ago myself

it took a whole 17 seconds to finish...but was a good read

his book before this expressed a lot of the same ideas but in more detail..."the end of faith" it was called

but i'd agree with him about religion...i think it's pointless and a waste of time. belief in god is one thing but why does dogma always have to accompany it?