Clipmarks | Antara's 'atheism' clips

Theodicy and the "Holiday in Hellmouth"

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:37:29 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: good read

http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/holiday-in-hellmouth/

For the lucky few, there is reason to hope that life will be a business of evenly rationed suffering: stern parents perhaps, a few humiliations at school, then a love affair or two gone wrong, maybe a marriage broken. Our parents will die, and farther off, ideally deferred, will come our own steady demise. Plenty of suffering for a life, certainly, but most of us subsist on the plausible expectation that fortune will draw a circle around that personal portion, and that the truly unbearable—murder, rape, dead children, torture, war—will remain outside the cordon. Norman Rush, in his novel “Mortals,” calls this “hellmouth”: “the opening up of the mouth of hell right in front of you, without warning, through no fault of your own.” Without warning, and yet always feared. Job, whom God places into hellmouth to test him, knew that paradox: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”

Tags: sam harris, the new yorker, atheism, belief, faith, religion, theodicy

The Devil's Delusion

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:28:00 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: More from the debates

Better to read the whole review...i could only clip a lil bit.

http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/dont-write-off-religion-just-yet/

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

Don’t write off religion just yet

THE DEVIL’S DELUSION

Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions

By David Berlinski

There is actually very little that is new in the so-called new atheism, whose claim to be based on science is as dubious today as it has ever been. A critique of the contemporary assault on religion is therefore much needed, and in The Devil’s Delusion, David Berlinski gives us a polemic that is powerful, erudite and often savagely funny. Berlinski - a mathematician and well-known critic of evolutionary theory, though not a proponent of “intelligent design” - has two targets in his sights: the conventional belief that religious thought is intrinsically superstitious and the materialist philosophy that Dawkins and his fellow “brights” - as members of the atheist community fondly describe themselves - mistakenly identify with science.

Tags: religion, debate, science, reason, www.samharris.org

Heathen Tv

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:47:05 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks:

Clip Source: heathen.tv

Tags: heathens, infidels, rabblerousers, interesting

If God is Dead, Who get His house?

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:57:31 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: By Sean McManus via Sam Harris.org

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

It seems unlikely that many of the 850 or so people at the Society for Ethical Culture on a recent Saturday night believed that God was still extant. But evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion and possibly the most famous atheist in the world, was not taking any chances. He gave a PowerPoint presentation driving home that religion does not meet any of the standards of basic scientific inquiry, before casually flicking away a few of His last crutches. Doesn’t God provide people some solace? asked an audience member. “Isn’t that a little childish?” Dawkins replied. “Just because something is comforting doesn’t mean it’s true.” Then someone asked about death, and Dawkins quoted Mark Twain: “I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born.”

The room erupted in loud applause. God had definitely left the building—if he were ever here at all.

Tags: atheism, richard dawkins, faith, religion, samharris.org

The Atheists wrong turn

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:03:04 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/atheisms-wrong-turn/

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

In the penultimate chapter of his best-selling book The God Delusion, biologist and world-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins presents his view of religious education, which he explains by way of an anecdote. Following a lecture in Dublin, he recalls, “I was asked what I thought about the widely publicized cases of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Ireland. I replied that, horrible as sexual abuse no doubt was, the damage was arguably less than the long-term psychological damage inflicted by bringing the child up Catholic in the first place.” Lest his readers misunderstand him, or dismiss this rather shocking statement as mere off-the-cuff hyperbole, Dawkins goes on to clarify his position. “I am persuaded,” he explains, “that the phrase ‘child abuse’ is no exaggeration when used to describe what teachers and priests are doing to children whom they encourage to believe in something like the punishment of unshriven mortal sins in an eternal hell.”

Tags: sam harris, richard dawkins, damon linker, atheism, religion

The Atheist's Dilemma

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:25:58 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: Rest of article at :

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071203/pollitt

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

How likely is it that the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims will wake up one morning and abandon their ancestral faith? Even if you are a ferocious Sam Harris-style atheist who thinks religion is completely stupid--the province of shysters and fools--you have to admit it would be quite astonishing if that view persuaded the devout anytime soon: This Koran, which I thought was dictated to the Prophet by an angel, is totally ridiculous and poorly written to boot! Muhammad, that child molester, most definitely did not fly to heaven and back on a winged horse! What an idiot I was to give these notions a moment’s credibility! There’s no question in my mind that horror at militant Islam and fear of Muslim immigration lie behind at least some of the current vogue for atheism--you don’t make the bestseller list by excoriating the evils of Lutheranism or Buddhism.

Tags: atheism, islam, koran, religion

Beyond Belief 2007

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:33:23 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: Rest of article is here:
http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/does-god-have-a-place-in-a-rational-world/

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

WE’RE on the Pacific coast, miles from southern California’s still-raging wildfires, but talk of conflagration fills the air. Some of the best minds in science are gathered here at the seaside resort of La Jolla, together with some of the world’s most insistent non-believers, to take a fresh look at the existence or otherwise of God. And one thing is clear: the edifice of “new atheism” is burning.

The first firebrand is lobbed into the audience by Edward Slingerland, an expert on ancient Chinese thought and human cognition at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. “Religion is not going away,” he announced. Even those of us who fancy ourselves rationalists and scientists, he said, rely on moral values - a set of distinctly unscientific beliefs.

Tags: beyond belief, religion, ideas, discourse

Sam Harris appeal for Ayann Hirsi Ali : Urgent.

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 12:19:55 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: This is a direct link to the security trust set up for Ayann's protection. Even 10 dollars a month from readers will ensure her safety for life. I am so grateful to be able to play a small but essential role in her life: I think she is absolutly amazing and I am inspired and humbled by her work.

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

URGENT APPEAL: Please Help Protect Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Thank you for your interest in helping Ayaan Hirsi Ali. If you would like more information about her, you can find it here.

All contributions made below go directly to the Ayaan Hirsi Ali Security Trust. This private trust is dedicated to financing Ms. Hirsi Ali’s security and can accept donations both from within the United States and internationally. In the unlikely event that money remains after the costs of her security have been met, it will be used to encourage and protect other dissidents in the Muslim world.

While one-time donations will be deeply appreciated, please consider setting up a monthly subscription on your credit card. A monthly subscription can allow anyone to make a meaningful contribution toward Ms. Hirsi Ali's security without incurring great expense up front.

Tags: sam harris, atheism, bravery, islam, courage, amazing life stories

Dan Dennet speaks at AAI 07

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:40:13 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: This just might be one of the best talks of the conference.....this dude is so smart !! I couldn't help not clip it

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: dan dennet, atheism, aai 07, visionary

Philosophers without Gods

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:30:32 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: From book blurb on site:

Atheists are frequently demonized as arrogant intellectuals, antagonistic to religion, devoid of moral sentiments, advocates of an "anything goes" lifestyle. Now, in this revealing volume, nineteen leading philosophers open a window on the inner life of atheism, shattering these commonstereotypes as they reveal how they came to turn away from religious belief. These highly engaging personal essays capture the marvelous diversity to be found among atheists, providing a portrait that will surprise most readers. Many of the authors, for example, express great affection for particular religious traditions, even as they explain why they cannot, in goodconscience, embrace them. None of the contributors dismiss religious belief as stupid or primitive, and several even express regret that they cannot, or can no longer, believe. Perhaps more important, in these reflective pieces, they offer fresh insight into some of the oldest and most difficultproblems facing the h

Clip Source: books.google.com

Tags: google books, louise antony, atheism, female philosophers

Ayann Hirsi Ali talks about her early life and journey from Faith to Reason.

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:13:32 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: Amazing to hear her speak of her first impressions of women living in the west.

Lots more speakers now online from the Atheist Alliance Conference 07 at site including Sam Harris, Dan Dennet, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins , Eugenie Scott and more

Enjoy.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: ayann hirsi ali, atheism aai 07, survival, freedom, women with brains and courage

Stalin was an atheist—so am I

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:36:11 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: The supposed Flew "flip flop "commentary continues.........

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

Flew isn’t your garden-variety non-Christian, however, which helps explain his recent celebrity among evangelicals. Before 2004, Flew was a world-renowned atheist whose 1950 essay “Theology and Falsification” predated by decades the anti-religion musings of Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and other skeptics prominent today. I stumbled upon his writings and comments on the improvability of God when my own agnosticism started giving way to outright nonbelief. To an atheist, Flew’s conversion to any belief in the supernatural would have been just as likely as Iranian President Mahmoud “Israel should be wiped off the map” Ahmadinejad celebrating Hanukkah.

And that’s exactly what happened—Flew’s conversion, not Ahmadinejad’s. In late 2004, Flew admitted that he had changed his mind and believed, based on scientific evidence, in some sort of God. Flew wasn’t a Christian, but a deist—as he made abundantly clear

Tags: atheism, anthony flew, sneaky arguments, false imagery

Suffering, Evil, the existence of God?

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:23:37 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: More on the supposed flip flop of anthony flew--The Bart Erhman book looks really interesting!

Clip Source: www.samharris.org

Bart D. Ehrman is a professor of religious studies and his book is titled “God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question – Why We Suffer.” A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Ehrman trained to be a scholar of New Testament Studies and a minister. Born-again as a teenager, devoted to the scriptures (he memorized entire books of the New Testament), strenuously devout, he nevertheless lost his faith because, he reports, “I could no longer reconcile the claims of faith with the fact of life . . . I came to the point where I simply could not believe that there is a good and kindly disposed Ruler who is in charge.” “The problem of suffering,” he recalls, “became for me the problem of faith.”

Tags: atheism, faith, christianity, theodicy, agnosticism

Sam Harris : The Problem with Atheism. (part 2-Q and A session)

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:36:13 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: Very interesting Q and A .

He was on the hotseat and the conversation was really passionate!
No matter what your belief, this is worth a look.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: sam harris, atheism, politics

Sam Harris : The Problem with Atheism (part 1)

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:33:58 GMT

clipped by: Antara
clipper's remarks: Brave and very comprehensive talk by the brilliant Sam Harris.

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: sam harris, atheism, religion, politics