Sam Harris

Did Sam Harris really write this essay published on edge.org?

http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/coyne09/coyne09_index.html#harriss

When I was a militant neo-rationalist, I had a sinking feeling that my colleagues and I had not fully reckoned with Boyle on the argument from Design and were, as a result, risking public humiliation. Now it has come to pass…

When I was a neo-fundamentalist rational neo-atheist I used to criticize such behavior as an especially shameful sign of religious stupidity. I now realize—belatedly and to my great chagrin—that I knew nothing of the pain that a pious Muslim man might feel at the sight of young women learning to read. Who am I to criticize the public expression of his faith?

What a shocking reversal of opinion!

Moderators, you can delete this post.

I reposted in Faith (general issues) as I thought that would be more appropriate.  Please do not delete both!

(Repost is here) http://www.samharris.org/forum/viewthread/11710/

Thank you very much.

-Skyhook

This cannot be the same Sam Harris who wrote TEOF.  Doesn’t write like him, or read like him. Not sure what’s going on here.

That does not even sound Like Sam Harris. If so, he needs to write another book. ‘The End of Faith’ sure sounds out of character for him now!

That sounds more like Stephen Gould than Sam Harris.

Hope you are right Jefe. With him calling out Dennett and calling Dawkins THE WORST I could not help but think something is going on here.

I liked Steven Pinkers analogy. Both Science and Religion have to be subjected to REASON!

He’s being sarcastic, but I got to admit the first few paragraphs throw me off a bit.

here

I received an e-mail from Sam (assume you got it, too) saying it was him who wrote the piece, and it was satire.

Hi, Newbie here-post #2.

I’m really amazed that folks thought the Edge essay was a scam! I heard Harris’s voice in it, and I knew the essay dripped with irony. The title of this thread kinda gave it away as well.

The fact that Harris replied to other commentators, in a forum that is fairly difficult to spoof was probably another clue.

Ah well.

tjh

TJ Hanlon - 12 February 2009 02:20 AM

Hi, Newbie here-post #2.

I’m really amazed that folks thought the Edge essay was a scam! I heard Harris’s voice in it, and I knew the essay dripped with irony. The title of this thread kinda gave it away as well.

The fact that Harris replied to other commentators, in a forum that is fairly difficult to spoof was probably another clue.

Ah well.

tjh

I got the email from Sam saying he wrote it. It was absolutely hilarious! I was surprised by the responses to Jerry Coyne’s article too, Sam just rips them to shreds.

It was pretty obviously a spoof.  I thought that was clear by the second paragraph.  Good stuff.

Yeah right brf, you just read Jefe’s post first!

From the article (2nd paragraph):

They don’t realize, as Dyson must, that the more one understands neurology, the more one will understand—and honor—demonology. Have Coyne and Dennett read the work of sophisticated magicians like Aleister Crowley or Eliphas Levi? Don’t count on it. Ask yourself, how could matter conflict with spirit in any way? Answer: it cannot. Forgive me, but I find it embarrassing to have to explain these things to people who are supposed be well educated.

It brings to mind jenaseen’s NDE thread.  Although I understand Harris is being tongue-in-cheek, jenaseen is quite serious as she increasingly spews her condescending diatribe.

Arrogance and religious faith are a toxic combo.