Excellent reading for those fed up with American religiosity

books:


	• Letter to a Christian Nation (Vintage) Sam Harris Vintage, 2008 - 144 pages average customer review:based on 614 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Thinking outside the box

I agree with the author Sam Harris that too many Christians take the bible literally and live their lives accordingly. Many fundamentalist Christians are more judgmental in their encounters with others. They have their beliefs well engrained and can't think outside the box. One has to have compassion, that this kind of mentality is taking away the true freedom that Jesus the Incarnation of God came on earth to give. When Jesus healed others on the Sabbath, he was admonished by the priest in his temple. Jesus reprimanded the high priests and scribes for their literal translation of the "Torah". Today we have many biblical scholars who have given us interpretations that just make "common sense". Among the many, I have listed some of the best: Walter Brueggemann, an Old Testament scholar The Word That Redescribes the World: The Bible and Discipleship, Marcus Borg Reading the Bible Again For the First Time: Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally and Raymond Brown The Critical Meaning of the Bible both New Testament scholars.

God is in all creation. You do not have to believe or know that you are God's creation in order to do good deeds. Good deeds done in the secular are just as worthy as good deeds done in the spiritual. We are all spiritual beings and do good because we "are" good. We are designed to "be" good.

For further insights read "The Secular Journal of Thomas Merton". The Secular Journal of Thomas Merton In his younger days Merton was not a true believer in the presence of God. He lived a care-free existence and he was at a breaking point in his life when he encountered several books and authors that changed his vision and his life. Merton was a social activist before his conversion to Christianity. Towards the end of his life Merton had numerous encounters with spiritual leaders such as: the Dalai Lama How to Expand Love: Widening the Circle of Loving Relationships,Thich Nhat Hanh Thich Nhat Hanh& D. T. Suzuki Mysticism: Christian and Buddhist. Many of Merton's teachings were not accepted by some Catholics and Christians but time heals and today we are more generous in our openness to new thinking in spiritual matters.

Again, I agree with the author that many people including Christians do good to get rewarded. These acts of love are done on conditions. Whereas, God's love is unconditional and if one lives this out and accepts his/her goodness (even if one does not believe in God) many good deeds will follow with no expectations. I do not believe that atheist are evil anymore than Christians or other religious persons for example Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Dalai Lama to name just a few. All are capable of doing evil acts. A persons spiritual beliefs are not to be judged by another. Jesus tells us to love one another not to be judgmental. "He who has not sinned, throw the first stone".

Many fundamentalist Christians need a certain dogma to live and many are afraid to think for themselves or to make moral decisions without consulting the bible or their pastors. Fear of being ridiculed, fear of God, and fear of consequences. Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith in oneself, faith in one's neighbor and faith in society. The good will prevail whether they are Christians, Atheist, Moslem, Buddhist, Mormons, Catholic, Protestant, and Methodist. Thomas Merton once said: "The truth does not need defending".

I do not want to defend any of my positions because that to me is how wars begin. First in the intellect and finally rests in one's soul. I would rather as this author suggest share my experiences, accept other's responses, discuss and dialogue with others honestly. We are all evolving and growth is the only evidence of life. If we sit back and believe that who we are today is who we will be the rest of our lives, we will become complacent with ourselves and one another and will stop evolving as human and spiritual beings.

One of the criticisms that I have in Sam Harris' "Letter to a Christian Nation" is that he lumps all the Christians in one set of beliefs. Please give some of us credit for being more open to understanding how everyone is different and thinks for oneself. We are not all brain washed by some religious cult. I find the author too arrogant and prejudice in many of his findings. A direct quote from the author: "Many Christians like you believe these facts." "Everyone who doesn't believe in God will spend eternity in hell". Again I have to disagree with the author. Many Christians today believe in a benevolent God, a God of love would not destroy his/her own creation.

I do however agree with many of Harris' points.
1) The sex scandal in the Catholic Church has been a thorn that will last a life time. I myself was brought up Roman Catholic and to this day I am very ashamed of how the institutional church has dealt with this matter.
2) Many Christians divide science and religion. Blending religion and science is starting to gain acceptance by many of the progressive Christians. A good book on this subject is "Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics by Diarmuid O'Murchu".Quantum Theology, Revised Edition: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics
3) Limbo, where children born without receiving Baptism will be placed. Limbo, a state of suspension. This issue was resolved by the Catholic Church many decades ago. I myself have had 1 still birth and 3 miscarriages and could never understand this concept of Limbo. Why would I be separated from my child for eternity?
4) The Virgin birth can be questionable. Again one has to study the New Testament scholars to re-examine the possibilities. Raymond E Brown's "The Virginal Conception aThe Virginal Conception and Bodily Resurrection of Jesusnd Bodily Resurrection of Jesus".
5) Suffering, why does a God of love allow suffering? This is a very important question and deserves a soul searching answer. Jesus suffered excruciating pain and he was well aware that his speaking out for justice would lead him to crucifixion but his love prevailed. Human suffering cannot be eliminated, it is part of life. It would be wonderful if all one could do is pray their suffering away. Suffering is not given by God but is a product of our evolution. Disasters happen, children die, and we all die, some in very tragic situations. War is a human dilemma and not part of God's plan, it is our ego that causes war, want of power etc. I lost my father in WWII, he was a devote Catholic and prayed that he would be returned unharmed. He died with a rosary in his possession. My father studied for the priesthood and had he stayed to further his studies he probably would have missed the war completely. Choices our own choices pave the path. Another author that has come to our awareness is Eckhart Tolle, his new book "A New Earth; Awakening to Your Life's Purpose", gives back to us our role in co-creating with God a new world view.A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61)
6) Harris' final remarks are: "No doubt that your experiences of Christ have changed you". That is a remarkable quote by the author and gives hope for all.

Yes, my experience with Christ has changed me, converted me and this goes on every day. Every day I have to pick up my mat and walk the talk.

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How can you remain religious after reading this?

To the person on this board who states that "it is much more logical to believe that God created the world (possible, but not provable) than believe that something (the universe) came from nothing (absolutely impossible)", you are not seeing that this erroneous statement has one major problem - Who created God then? It folllows, quite logically, that the theist who uses this kind of reasoning must believe that God came from nothing, or did someone create him too? Your solution to the universe's complexity just creates a bigger problem than the one we had in the first place.

"A Letter to a Christian Nation" is completely brilliant. How any religious person can remain so after reading this little book is beyond me. And I loved his point that all religious people already know what it is like to be an atheist, for the Christian doesn't believe in tenants of Islam, the Jew does not believe Christ was devine, The Muslim does not believe in Zeus, etc. Religious people - Come on already, take your irrational beliefs one step further!

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A Compact Critique of Religion and Christianity

This is a must read.

Sam Harris condenses his argument down to bare bones, especially for those who don't have the time or the inclination to go through the more nuanced arguments presented in larger works such as "The God Delusion" (Richard Dawkins), "Breaking the Spell" (Daniel C. Dennett), and "The End of Faith" (Sam Harris).

Even if you've read the more detailed essays mentioned above, there is perhaps no substitute for the sheer uncompromising nature of the stockpile of ammunition contained in this urgent little book.

Excellent reading for those fed up with American religiosity

I gave this book to my boyfriend as a stocking stuffer at Christmas...sort of a paradoxal, I know! :) And he really enjoyed it.

We're both agnostic, but his daughter, who lives with us, is a Christian who brders on fanaticism. This book was full of enlightening information which my boyfriend was able to use in countering arguments with his daughter. He's been able to shut her up on more than a few occasions, to our relief. I really want to thank Sam Harris for offering such a fantastic read!!!

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A Great Book

This was such a well reasoned and written book. Its unfortunate that those who need to read it most will not even consider doing so.

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