Sam Harris

As an atheist whose major activist commitment is animal rights, it really blew my mind when I read TEOF and saw avoidance of cruelty - to humans or animals - as a fundamental tenet on which to construct a rational ethic system.  (I'm writing from memory and am not a philosopher, so may not have the point exactly right.)

Hillary

Hillary, just to let you know you’re not alone ... you’re right that our ethical spheres should include our fellow creatures, along with the ecosystems that nutured them. I’d love to see all the time that’s wasted on Bible study directed to ethical concerns like this one.

Yes, I think we all can see what has happened as a result of god giving man “dominion” over the “lesser beasts.”