Sam Harris - The God Who Wasn't There (2005) Extended Interview
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- Sam Harris
The God Who Wasn't There (2005) by Brian Flemming
Extended interview
Harris discusses the harm of theism, irrational thinking, and the overall inanity of religion.
Excellent interviewer - he asks questions simply and to the point, then lets Sam answer completely without interrupting him. And, of course, Sam is an excellent interviewee. Sam Harris is a global treasure....
Who IS the interviewer???
@@fazbell Brian Fleming
Thank Bob for people like Harris, Hitchens and Dawkins who promote a sane, rational world view, its the only way the world can hope to progress and survive.
you won't truly get it until you die
Ive just given up and realized Ive been waiting for help from an invisible, imaginary friend. Id believed my whole life. God made me a promise when I was 4 and I was always so strong in believing. Im 40. God didn't arrive. Ive accepted that it was me. I needed help as a child and invented a coping mechanism.
Sam Harris may be atheist, however, he isn't completely dismissive of so called 'spirituality' in religion. He often speaks & has a high regard for the contemplative religious traditions saying that they have the potential for insights that we are yet to garner into consciousness. Such experimentation may well contribute to our next milestone in the evolution of consciousness together with human/animal well-being; perhaps the fulfillment of the Biblical prophecy of the Peaceable Kingdom
Religion, to the pious, is like a possession, a car, say. And they want us, the non-owners, standing on the pavement looking at the car with a doubtful frown on our face, to be impressed by its owner’s coolness.
When we point out that the car has no wheels, they get irate, not because we point out the obvious fact a car must have wheels, but because they own something they thought of as having high value, but, in fact, has none.
So, rather than smacking their own foreheads, they attack us.
It might be temporal lobe sensitivity that causes the god delussion. There is a body of evidence to support that theory.
The existence of Percy is contingent upon a particular set of neurons, arranges in a particularly complex manner from which the illusion of my consciousness emerges.
When "I" die, the illusion of "Me" will collapse. Percy won't exist, but then it is arguable whether Percy ever really existed.
It feels like I do, but I'm not at all convinced.
I can, however, confirm the existence of the dust from which I had coalesced.
I think Sam was taken back by the language at 3:39 hahaha He wasn't expecting it.
Getting a college degree in biblical studies or theology is useless, a waste of time. Study classical mythology, it is just as rational as religion, well it is dead religion. Allegorical myth is meant to be studied as a guide for morality, but doesn't set down morally. It shouldn't be taken literally like fundamentalist crazies.
if people could only see through god nonsense with that kind of clarity...
Do not be downtrodden. "If" shall give way to "when".
:)
VIGILANTIA i just hope it is sooner rather than later.
Take Latin, Greek, and World/Western historical study. Philosophy is also very good.
Also, be the best debater you can be!
Unthankful little humans your soul is your heart which is your mind. It is way beyond your understanding .
Hahahaha. "I can prove it", "send me the evidence", "no." What an interesting and well thought out argument.
Weird, religious people complain that academia is markedly anti-religion, so what is he referring to in his opening statement.
They talk of days for which they sit and wait...ALL will be revealed....
Hmmm, not yet, but I'm sure they'll gradually evolve over time. Maybe inspiration will randomly hit me by chance tomorrow. Who knows?
What people can't understand is the period of time that allows for such complexities to form in organisms. We're not talking about days, but years (Metaphor on the human brain.)
I am from Sweden, and about 70% has a membership in "Svenska Kyrkan" (Swedish Church). The membership cost about 1% of your income each year, i have paid about 3-5000kr each year, but don't pay it anymore, doe i have ended my membership in the church this year.
People are members from when they are baptised in young age ("1" year of age) and continues as members by tradition, but not by believing in it.
But it's true that most of the people are unbelievers, the "10%" as video says.
Sorry, I must test the response box with a simple entry (xxxx) first because I have been banned from 2 youtube video sites.
Thanks for the civil reply. To convert explanation to a change agent requires some additional components. Since one can presume that a viewpoint contrary to the religious perspective has at it's core the desire to modify that belief, it is necessary to delve deeper into how that belief is acquired and sustained. Simply presenting an alternative does not attain that.
I did not state that. If you can't analyse what someone says properly debate is meaningless. I was specifically talking about this topic and if you think he hasn't thoroughly thought and understood everything he says on the subject you are mistaken. Of course you might disagree, but to say he doesn't understand is giving yourself too much credit.
He also offers alternatives to where we get our morals from and how to live a fulfilled life without religion so I disagree with you.
Excellent interview.
God bless Sam Harris.
My curse stands.
You be a person of love, you have good and blessed life - you be a person of hate, you receive same ten times over.
The Swedes banned corporal punishment in the 50's. Assault became a criminal offence regardless of the age or relationship of victim to assailant . Thus without the rod to beat belief into children, they grow up in reality, and see religious beliefs for what they are, fantasies.
this comment should not be hidden, it's hilarious & quite appropriate.
youtube has no sense of humor, obviously.
Spot on. It seems obvious that evil is a general fact for all human beings, whether or not you believe in God!
Stephen Hawking has lived an amazingly long time with ALS, and is a highly respected member of our society that will remembered for a very long time for his contributions in science. I imagine he must be very pleased with his life. You should also consider there are devout Christians with ALS who will suffer similarly, not beat the odds, die, and be forgotten. I take no pleasure in that, but my point is, why would God favor a well known atheist with the disease over Christian ones?
The method with which behavior and thought is altered can be consistent with scientific thinking and finds it's expression in techniques such as behaviorism. That system provides us with insight as to how to create changes based on simple reinforcement contingencies that can be elaborated upon and applied to conditions such as belief. There are many other applicable modalities and studies that come into play when attempting to understand and control behavior, thoughts, belief systems.
Correct. Affirming existence of dust but not perry.
No. Reification refers to projecting a man-made idea onto reality as if it were not man-made. In other words, confusing the subjective for the objective.
Nothing is wrong with those things if they're arrived at by sound methods. If they're arrived at by faith, though, then what other horrible things might be arrived at by faith, and adhered to unquestioningly because they're mistaken for objective fact.
It's important to take responsibility for morality. That's hard to do via reification.
On the matter of foreign aid, I think you'll find that, if you add the voluntary contributions donated (a tax issue?) by non-governmental sources to the foreign aid given by the government, the US is the top giver. On a country-by-country basis, comparing only those amounts budgeted by government only, Harris is correct.
Yes! I thought this same exact thing a few days ago. It is far too often presented as how our world actually is, and in the same breath we're told to respect all these beliefs. Well, I'll respect one's right to hold a belief, but why should I respect every belief when most of them are clearly outrageous?
It's so sad that in Norwa people are automatically considered christian from birth and has to actively leave the state church in order to not be considered a christian in statistics. And people are lazy, so on paper, over 80 % in Norway are christian, while Norway has one of the least amount of church attendances in the world.
Where did Sam Harris advocate what you're talking about. He's talking about intellectual honesty, and applying critical pressure to people who espouse certainty in things they're clearly not certain about.
I was always at some level an atheist, and I told a guy once even IF god existed, he’s a really inept manager and a REALLY poor judge of character, so I don’t think I have anything to worry about
Yes there are differences, but the underlying irrational acceptance of authority over rational explanation is essentially the same.
what sam does not consider in the comment on "feeling and jesus", is that all that seek religious and spiritual things etc can get feelings of joy, peace etc, the bible make it pretty clear that deception is something christians can fall into, by the means of accepting another jesus and getting another spirit. so a hindu may get his kundalini spirit going and feel awesome, a christian should not reject that as a lie. but would rather call out an unclean spirit instead of the clean (h.s).
We don't know that the universe was created. There are two possibilities which are the same whether you believe in a divine creator or not.
1) The building blocks for life, or a God, have always existed.
2) At some point the building blocks for life, or a God, sprung into existence out of nothing.
The human brain is not equipped to understand either of these explanations. Of course perhaps there is another possibility which we are not even equipped to conceive.
So wise. HA.
1 Corinthians 1:18-21
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,(Sam Harris), but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, ( Sam Harris ); the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
20 Where is the wise person (Sam Harris)? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world (Sam Harris) through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Is that the meaning of science finding proof? Or is it explaining the process. And the process indicates there meaning behind it all. And we dont have any clue why.
What difference would it make to tell dead people anything?
I can totally agree, judging your the sentence structure shown here.
Maybe a jingle or a song for the ad! I'll do the backing track (it'll have to be ROCK laid down in many layers over a long period of time) and you can cut through with a stunning polystrata Satriani type guitar solo over the top.
Hmm... you any good with lyrics?
Gog & Magog are not about Russia against USA. Is not about Clash of Civilisation. Is about God (God believer(GOG) against (Unbeliever Western Atheists(MAGOG) or DAJJAL aluminaties). This has been in the holy scriptures of Abrahamic religions.
I envy you! I live in Texas, a lot of people around here seem to think Jesus is a close friend of theirs.
They are not atheist. Kim Il-sung is ever lasting leader of North Korea. You don't need century old religious texts to to be irresponsible with death but you do need foolish baseless beliefs to feel that death does not matter.
Do you know what a theory is? The theory of relativity. The theory of classical mechanics, the theory of gravity.. Yup... Evolution is a theory. People like you don't get (As I emphasized twice now) the amount of TIME it took for such events to happen.
You know, Evo Cult really sounds like something you could sell if you marketed it properly?
Is there something in our brain that makes us believe these things? Yes. It's very simply this. Fear. Fear of dying alone. Fear of spending the rest of eternity all alone of course you won't know it because you'll be dead. Fear that Daddy won't love you after your dead. It's all fear-driven. All of it.
To merely offer iterations of a contrary system of thought will not produce the intended effect, assuming that is what is intended, perhaps a dubious conclusion. In behavioral terms, what is being offered is punishment, shown to be ineffective. Do I accept the Harris's and HItchen's of the world as offering truth. Yes! This isn't about what I believe , it is about how to broaden the conversation as to understand , and through science itself address belief at it's core.
Yes. That's exactly the reason. Especially the Indian people dig that.
The problem is that everytime a government tries to undermine certain religions, they just radicalise and grow
@jtdialedin
Fair comment - we in Europe do tend to forget how big the USA really is.
It is reassuring to know that certain areas of your country are not very religious.
I hope freethinking spreads into all the states of the union.
Thank you for making me laugh.. This comment made my day!
Go to Svenskakyrkan.se on topp on that page, press "In English", then go to "Economy and finance".
"From the page The work of the Church of Sweden is mainly financed through the church tax that all members pay. The amount of the church tax is determined locally in each parish. The total costs each year amount to about SEK 19 billion, and because the main activities are conducted in parishes and associations, most of the costs are there." //svenskakyrkan.se
Well, to prevent sheer madness I've just become a complete recluse. I think my personality, as far as the socialization aspect goes, would have been much different had there have been interesting conversation to be had here, and even with those three people I have mentioned, there is not. I've only found it in books and perhaps occasionally online. =P Oh well.
That's just the thing though isn't it. The Bible does not tell its readers to interpret certain bits literally and other bits as allegory. Neither does the Koran. Whatever the intentions of the original authors of these texts, we can only guess. And no doubt some of those intentions would be seen as barbaric by twenty-first century standards. We are left alone, with no explicit guidance from scripture, to figure out how to best seek truth and love one another.
No way is it a lack of intelligence. It's something different.
Religion gets taught with a built in idea of "Religion as a topic is outside of logic" and its a really powerful mental tool because without valuing logic with regards to religion you can't use logic and reason to convince someone that logic is valuable.
A lot are smart people who have sadly been mentally hobbled with bagage that is immune to criticism. Its much more depressing than a lack of intelligence.
Read the comment again.
Usually theistic debaters argue that their god is a supernatural or transcended being and that science can't answer the question of it's existance.
You claim that it can, so I'm interested in your proof.
I don't believe in God, but that was sort of my point. Even if he exists, its obvious he isn't punishing people in this world based on their beliefs.
@McLarenF1God
The interview was done by the guy that created the movie, Brian Flemming.
I don't see why you claim he wasn't cordial. Cordial means courteous and gracious. He was completely friendly to Sam Harris. It's theists and other irrational thinkers he ridiculed. All other insults were just jokes and not meant seriously. Brian Flemming appears to have a lively sense of humor.
If you are unwilling to listen to an opposing view, that is a sign of bigotry. Calling it rubbish is not helping either. If you have seen these miracles, please tell me what they were. More over can you define a miracle for me?
Hows the crime rate in Sweden? And how is the job market? I may just make a move out there...
You do understand that the scientific method requires you to provide proof for your claim?
If not, you shouldn't use the term "scientifically".
Appealing to authority as a source of unquestioned belief is a flaw. You have stated that Sam Harris could not possibly understand less about something than I could. I not only disagree but could easily convince you that deconstruction of a religious belief is attainable in the same manner in which scientific truth is obtained. His method is a simple argument against religious dogma and belief, not a serious method to alter belief in a practical and effective way, If you care to discuss more.
2:14 I don't know where you have your numbers from (10 percent), but in 2012 more than 80 percent of the Swedes belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran church. In 2018 this is down to less than 60 persent. With the atheist and muslim groups increasing in numbers still.
Thank "God" for Sam Harris
God is too complex to explain but He exist because the process indicate he should exist.
czcams.com/video/tC0VOx4M5ZE/video.html
Tell that to Newton , Galileo, Laplace and Einstein etc.
2:50 "It's pretty obvious that there's unlikely to be a genetic or neurological difference between the average American and the average swede" A bit harsh Sam!
idk, i guess many are. I don't really consider muslim immigrants swedish people though, since the plan for many or most is to only stay here till the war in their home country is over. They are more like visitors, or refugees i guess
I'm glad you understand now. :D
lol Oh, the Big Bang Theory is a sitcom with a character named Sheldon Cooper on it. One episode he goes slightly mental after his "gf" breaks up with him and he starts collecting cats. I thought you were referencing the episode, because he names a cat Zazzy, but I misread what you wrote and thought you were ... nvm. ^_^ great show.
Why intelligent people are always so concerned about something that doesn't exist?
Where does god come from? Simple. You spend your whole childhood getting all your answers from one guy: Daddy. All knowing all powerful. Now that you're all grown up, you still want to believe that someone knows everything. Our *father*, who art in heaven....
I've been to sweden and never met a single depressed person.
You say that God never sends anyone to hell, we send ourselves. We send ourselves to hell if we don't believe in God. You said that people can't believe in God unless God speaks to them personally. Therefore, God is solely responsible for sending people to hell.
If Harris wants to be taken seriously, he should not entertain questions like the one asked at 3:45. This is unbecoming of a college professor and anyone who seeks to shed light on the god debate.
I agree 100% that we do not need God, or his "son" Jesus, to tell us anything about morality. As for loving truth, I love it as much as anyone. That is why I demand evidence as a requirement for belief. So I have to point out that the Bible, and other Bronze Age religious scriptures, reek of the values of the time in which they were written. That includes the words of your beloved Jesus, who was no doubt ahead of his time morally, but not universally and eternally so. HE WAS JUST A MAN.
Opinions, personal experience, authority - all those things mean nothing when talking science. What is your evidence?
Labels, including the ones you listed, do have meaning.
Illusion of Me? Ah yes. Therefore theres only one absolute and whoever or whatever it is it not an illusion.
I think it's a learning process. We must believe in something first, so we can learn/notice that it was wrong later. Here at Puerto Rico criminality is horrible. Why? School dropouts. Ignorant people need religion to keep them in line once you are intellectual or have at least better understanding belief in God vanishes, just like a kid stops believing in Santa Claus.
The last guy who told me he could hear god I questioned it too. He would not tell me what god actually says. Finally, I asked how he knows if it is god talking. His answer was that god says only the things that aren't sins.
I thought about that and realized that this person must be hearing other voices as well. It is a good thing this guy didn't read Deuteronomy and Leviticus otherwise the other voices might have sounded like god. haha.
Oh, yeah. Almost everyone here has a sheep in a certain cabin in the house or apartment, mine is named Snazy
In what way?
In any case, the same source that produced those 'godly' ideas also produced some pretty awful ideas as well. You know that, according to that same source, slavery is perfectly okay, right? Not a single prohibition of slavery. However, you mustn't beat your slave so hard that they die on the spot. That would be bad, since they're you're property and you shouldn't mistreat your property.
Of course we don't adhere to that anymore. The question is: why not?
When you die and turn to dust. Will there be physical proof you existed?
czcams.com/video/OMtWl_s_9Y0/video.html
I really doubt it, mate. It wouldn't be a debate. He would destroy you in seconds. I would watch that though. Would be highly entertaining.
Too late, I'm already on my way over.
"They're big sheep fuckers" Bahahaha XD
Excellent comment, thanks!
How have I lied about other's belief?
Not john lebebstorx not tell
What about rational people who don't believe things on faith? People who ask for evidence. There are a lot of crazy claims out there, how do you pick out which claims are false and which claims are true if you don't ask for evidence? You can't. If you don't ask for evidence you leave yourself vulnerable to believing things that aren't true. If there was a creator of the universe, without doubt they would understand this.
"You probably cannot comprehend this."
Mostly because I really don't understand what you're arguing. What did Sam Harris say in this video that you object to, and why do you object to it? Can you point to anything that he said in this video that is factually incorrect?
thats interesting. When you talk in your dreams what the language you used?
czcams.com/video/tC0VOx4M5ZE/video.html
I take it as I gave it. It was just.
You said God must call you for you to go to Heaven. Would you agree that if you don't go to Heaven, then you go to Hell? If God does not call you, you go to Hell. So God is directly responsible for that. I'm not understanding how you can say people set their own fate.
i don't know. I know of one person who got murdered, my friends cusin. Other than that i haven't really been in contact with any serious crime. The job market is fine i suppose :)
That is not true. There is some correlation to education. There is the obvious case of childhood indoctrination and so on. But one thing I do notice when talking with believers...There is always some point in there chain of logic which is just absurd. The last one for me was a guy who decided to be a full blown born again with the justification that the Greek myths and others do not have any source material earlier than 127 AD so obviously Christianity isn't a conglomeration of pagan religions.
On Morality, I was a very serious Pentecostal Christian until I was 25. After I left, I did all kinds of immoral (and fun) things. But many of these were things I was always interested in, through all my devotion to God, and upon doing them, I noticed that basics like respect and kindness are always part of me, as is selfishness and insecurity also are. A lot of my atheist friends are devoted to their partners. Because of morals? No, it's because of their principles. There's a big difference.