Sam Harris

I am reading right now and recommend ‘Nietzsche and Eternal Recurrence:  The Redemption of Time and Becoming’, by Lawrence J. Hatab, 1978.  (It may be out of print now—mine is a photocopy from a library book.)  Later books of his may be just as interesting.  I’m glad I’ve “rediscovered” this one.

I am re-reading The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity by Hyam Maccoby.  I read this as a doubter in the early mid 1990’s.  Now I am re-reading it as a professed Atheist.  Fascinating.  Again.

Christ in Egypt: The Horus-Jesus Connection
http://www.amazon.com/Christ-Egypt-Horus-Jesus-Connection-Murdock/dp/0979963117/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_4

Christ in Egypt is a must read for those who are interested in the origins of Christianity and just how influenced it was by Egypt. The last chapter entitled “The Alexandrian Roots of Christianity” is one of the best explanations of the development of Christianity I’ve ever seen.

Also, it includes a fascinating “Mythicist Position” on page 12. I find it strange that there has never been a clear succinct mythicist position before - until now. Here’s the video for it.

The Mythicist Position video
http://stellarhousepublishing.com/mythicist.html

Forum thread about the Mythicist Position
http://freethoughtnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2160

The Mythicist Position: Go Beyond the Endless Theist vs. Atheist Debate
http://www.project-reason.org/forum/viewthread/13439/

“I find it undeniable that many of the epic heroes and ancient patriarchs and matriarchs of the Old Testament were personified stars, planets, and constellations.” “I find myself in full agreement with Acharya S/D.M. Murdock”
- Dr. Robert Price, Biblical Scholar
http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/reviews/murdock_christ_egypt.htm

“Your scholarship is relentless! The research conducted by D.M. Murdock concerning the myth of Jesus Christ is certainly both valuable and worthy of consideration.”
- Dr. Kenneth L. Feder, Professor of Archaeology
http://www.freethoughtnation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3033&start=0

I have two book recommendations - it’s been several years since I’ve read them - but they’re both high on my all time list.

1) The Tangled Wing - Biological Constraints on the Human Spirit by Melvin Konnor - an exquisitely writtien synthesis of biology, evolutionary psychology, anthropology and philosophy - one of the best IMHO

2) Encountering Naturalism - A Worldview and Its Uses by Thoman W. Clark - an enlightening and concise science based, non-supernatural over view of human beings and life.

Death of the Liberal Class by Chris Hedges.  It’s captivating, sometimes depressing, but always interesting.  A good start into the truth about politics in the supposed first-world countries.  Whether it’s religion or politics, it’s all about having power over others and keeping that power.

I’m reading a long out of print paperback by Nathaniel Branden that coincides with many of Mr. Harris’ views in THE MORAL LANDSCAPE!  Here’s a sample…

“The belief that moral values are the province of faith and that no rational scientific code of ethics is possible, has had disastrous effects in virtually every sphere of human activity.” - Nathaniel Branden, WHO IS AYN RAND? (1962, Paperback Library, NY)

I would like to recommend Ernest Becker’s work “The Death of Denial”. Despite the conclusions regarding all psychology returning to religion, Becker’s 1974 Pulitzer Prize winner is a brilliant analysis of anthroplogic thought on man’s relationships with the fear of death and how culture provides insulation from that fear. He includes the thoughts of great psychologists like Freud and Rank (a heavy influence) as well as existentialists like Kierkegaard.

For years now I read and re-read What’s God Got to Do Wth It?,  Robert Ingersoll on Free Thought, Honest Talk & the Separation of Church & State.

If only Ingersoll were alive today, the things he would say.

Maybe I’ve missed it, but I haven’t seen a recommendation for “Anti-intellectualism in American Life” by Richard Hofstadter.  I’ve given it away to people for years.  The specific examples he gives are dated (it came out in ‘63) but the arguments are as sound as ever.  I didn’t realize I was an intellectual until I read it in my 20s.