Observer
'An eminently sensible rallying cry for a more ruthless secularisation of society'
Independent
'A bold and exhilarating thesis . . . A brave, pugilistic attempt to demolish the walls that currently insulate religious people from criticism'
Richard Dawkins, Guardian
'A genuinely frightening book about terrorism, and the central role played by religion in justifying and rewarding it'
Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review
'I felt relieved as I read it, vindicated, almost personally understood . . . This is an important book'
The Economist
'A clever thesis by a clever man . . . Even Harris's critics will have to concede the force of [his] analysis'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Richard Dawkins, Guardian
'A genuinely frightening book . . . Read Sam Harris and wake up'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
This important and timely book delivers a startling analysis of the clash of faith and reason in today's world. Sam Harris offers a vivid historical tour of mankind's willingness to suspend reason in favour of religious beliefs, even when those beliefs are used to justify harmful behaviour and sometimes heinous crimes. He asserts that in the shadow of weapons of mass destruction, we can no longer tolerate views that pit one true god against another. Most controversially, he argues that 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 organised 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.
From the Publisher
WINNER OF THE 2005 PEN AWARD FOR FIRST NON-FICTION
