The End of Faith

By: Sam Harris

Narrated by: Brian Emerson

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is an impassioned plea for reason in a world divided by faith. This important and timely work delivers a startling analysis of the clash of faith and reason in today's world.

Harris offers a vivid historical tour of mankind's willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs, even when those beliefs are used to justify harmful behavior and sometimes heinous crimes. He asserts that in the shadow of weapons of mass destruction, the world can no longer tolerate views that pit one true god against another. Most controversially, he argues that the we cannot afford moderate lip service to religion - an accommodation that only blinds us to the real perils of fundamentalism.

While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris also draws on new evidence from neuroscience and insights from philosophy to explore spirituality as a biological, brain-based need. He calls on us to invoke that need in taking a secular humanistic approach to solving the problems of this world.

©2007 Sam Harris (P)2004 W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Essential for the future of our world

No reasonable person could absorb these arguments and refute how important the hypothesis/conversation Sam is sharing. It is paramount that any sober, lucid, intelligent person take the time to digest what is an existential issue— not just a scientific one.

Almost a five-star work

A rather enjoyable, lucid, and coherent discussion on how and why religious beliefs have created so much suffering in the history of humankind. From why it is untenable to argue in favor of religion as the basis for our morality, to very cohesive arguments supporting morality as unrelated to, and indeed murkied by, religious dogma.

The narrator leads the listener through sometimes very complex reasoning in a clear and lively manner. I wish I could give this audiobook 4 and a half stars, but this rating is not available. The only reason for this is the somewhat oddly placed last chapter on meditation and spirituality. However, I must say the author recovers from this to some extent in the afterword, with his rationale for having included this topic in the book. His "Letter to a Christian Nation" further refines and clarifies many of the central arguments introduced in this book.

Overall a great read/listen. It nicely complements Dawkins' work. However, I have enjoyed more the latter's more unapologetic style.

Incredible

This is a must read for anyone looking to get to the bottom of spiritual dogma. The examples sited in this book in conjunction with the confidence in which it is presented makes this an instant classic and a great guide to non faith based life. Thank you again Sam.

A philosopher's book

A bit dense, a bit heavy on the philosophy of thought and being, and a bit dry, but the arguments are heavy and thought provoking. If you're looking for an unvarnished argument against religion, an argument made with relish and gusto, then this is the book for you. Be warned, however, it's a bit difficult to keep track of when driving or doing anything else, as the arguments can be a bit high-concept.

An Important Observation On Religion

Regardless of one's religious beliefs, a sober view of the traditional construct of faith based religions can only serve to broaden one's scope of reality and their place within it. Though this work is decidedly opposed to religious indoctrination in it's common expression, if your understanding of your faith is so weak as to crumble under rational scrutiny, you had no meaningful insight into your religion and it's teachings. You would be wise to consider your loss of faith under such circumstances a blessing.

That said, this book is coming to me at a time when I have developed not a faith in God, but an interpretation of God that is cogent with my faith in others. My faith in Stephen Hawking and Richard Dawkins, Max Tegmark and Charles Darwin that they all, among countless others, have a profound interest in understanding reality and thus their reports will be truthful and honest. Faith in others and a keen interest in hearing all others has offered me a dynamic picture by which I may reinterpret the religion of my father. This book is welcome reminder of that Faith's shortcomings and the pitfalls that await blind faith therein. It is a stark reminder that such blindness is commonplace in cultures that inculcate on the basis of religious dogma and thus prudence dictates I hold faith in my religious fellows through such a lens.

Common sense

I will preface by saying I am a fan of Sam Harris. This book only reaffirmed that notion. He is absolutely on point when it comes to religious hypocrisy. I take away from his book this ancient line of thinking has no place in the 21st century. Allowing believers and pious thinkers to hold positions of power while others spread the word through ideas, violence, and suicidal action, it is time to stop enabling. We must use science and common sense to combat the forces of religious dogma in our conversations and in our questions. It is then we can properly place religion amongst the false hoods of so many other beliefs i.e., the Greek gods, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny. If not our future just may repeat our past.

Essential reading/listen

This is an essential read for anyone concerned about the future of humanity and some if the biggest Business in the way if or progress, safety and chained

The narration is almost comically bad.

The message comes across well supported. "I wish Harris would read it himself" is an understatment

Important ideas

Important ideas; shining a light on the dark corner of our tolerance towards intolerance.

I would probably had preferred Sam as narrator.

It might have been better if it were more focused on contemporary issues, rather than the depth of the chapter on meditation, which merits its own book (that also actually exists, written by Sam Harris, which I recommend).

Excellent book

Loved the citations throughout the book to scripture. Well researched and thorough. Note that he has refined some of the concepts explored in this book through his later podcasts, debates, and writings. I have been listening to his podcast for years and had heard variations of much of what I read here, but came to this book later. I expect that for most people, it’s the other way around. It’s still a good listen, even for those very familiar with his arguments already.