• anomoly@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    31
    ·
    1 year ago

    I've always liked how Sam Harris addressed this:

    It is, therefore, not an exaggeration to say that if the city of New York were suddenly replaced by a ball of fire, some significant percentage of the American population would see a silver-lining in the subsequent mushroom cloud, as it would suggest to them that the best thing that is ever going to happen was about to happen: the return of Christ. It should be blindingly obvious that beliefs of this sort will do little to help us create a durable future for ourselves - socially, economically, environmentally, or geopolitically. Imagine the consequences if any significant component of the US government actually believed that the world was about to end and that its ending would be glorious. The fact that nearly half of the American population apparently believes this, purely on the basis of religion dogma, should be considered a moral and intellectual emergency.

    Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation

      • ArtieShaw@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        1 year ago

        Well, Y2K was a big disappointment for them. Also a bit of a waste. I never got to use that Tribulation Survival Kit the in-laws sent that x-mas.

    • S_204@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Sam Harris has been an interesting voice this past few weeks.

      Seems to be one of the few willing to talk about Islamic jihadism and its incompatibility with liberal western democratic ideals.

      • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        No organised religion is. They ALL want to control their "flock" even more than they want them to follow laws.

    • rob64@startrek.website
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      I haven't listened to his podcast in a few years, but I still couldn't avoid reading that in his voice.