The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason [Anglais] [Relié]

‘The End of Faith articulates the dangers and absurdities of organized religion so fiercely and so fearlessly that I felt relieved as I read it, vindicated, almost personally understood. Sam Harris presents major religious systems like Judaism, Christianity and Islam as forms of socially sanctioned lunacy, their fundamental tenets and rituals irrational, archaic and, important when it comes to matters of humanity’s long-term survival, mutually incompatible . . . This is an important book, on a topic that, for all its inherent difficulty and divisiveness, should not be shielded from the crucible of human reason’
Natalie Angier, New York Times Book Review
‘This book will strike a chord with anyone who has ever pondered the irrationality of religious faith and its cruel and murderous consequences – from the Spanish Inquisition to the suicide bombs of devout young Islamists . . . It is a clever thesis by a clever man . . . Even Mr Harris’s critics will have to concede the force of an analysis which roams so far and wide, from the persecution of the Cathars to the composition of George Bush’s Cabinet’
The Economist
'At last we have a book that focuses on the common thread that links Islamic terrorism with the irrationality of all religious faith. THE END OF FAITH will challenge not only Muslims but Hindus, Jews and Christians as well'
Peter Singer, author of THE PRESIDENT OF GOOD AND EVIL
'Harris' tour de force demonstrates how faith-blind deaf and dumb unreason threatens our very existence. His expose of faith-based unreason -- from the religious fanaticism of Islamic suicide bombers to the secular fanaticism of Noam Chomsky -- is a clarion call for reasonal debate in the age of terrorism. THE END OF FAITH shows how the perfect tyranny of religious and secular totalitarianism demonizes imperfect democracies such as the United States and Israel. A must read for all rational people'
Alan Dershowitz, author of AMERICA ON TRIAL
‘Impassioned . . . Harris whose background is in philosophy and neuro-science, giv[es] him an unusually comprehensive overview of the human mind . . . A radical attack on the most sacred of liberal precepts - the notion of tolerance . . . [The End of Faith] is an eminently sensible rallying cry for a more ruthless secularisation of society’
Stephanie Merritt, OBSERVER
'A bold and exhilarating thesis . . . His quotations are startling . . . a brave, pugilistic attempt to demolish the walls that currently insulate religious people from criticism . . . urgent reading'
INDEPENDENT
'Harris makes his case pugnaciously and for long stretches compellingly' David Honigmann, FINANCIAL TIMES WEEKEND
‘A timely if controversial book… A well-argued work that draws on history, politics, science and philosophy, the books is particularly relevant in the light of the rise of fundamentalism … thought-provoking, whether or not you agree with Harris’ conclusions.’
Brighton Argus 18/02
'[THE END OF FAITH] is engagingly written and its arguments challenge even when they shock or fail to persuade. Woven into the main theme are stimulating reflections on consciousness and 'spirituality' . . . Harris's next book . . . should be worth waiting for' David Boulton, NEW HUMANIST
'[Harris's] contribution in the contemporary battle of ideas is essential and provocative' GUARDIAN
‘The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris (Free Press) is a genuinely frightening book about terrorism, and the central role played by religion in justifying and rewarding it. Others blame "extremists" who "distort" the "true" message of religion. Harris goes to the root of the problem: religion itself. Even moderate religion is a menace, because it leads us to respect and "cherish the idea that certain fantastic propositions can be believed without evidence". Why do men like Bin Laden commit their hideous cruelties? The answer is that they "actually believe what they say they believe". Read Sam Harris and wake up’
Richard Dawkins, GUARDIAN
‘Do we need another book on the conflict between reason and faith? Yes, if it’s as well written as Sam Harris’ The End of Faith’
New Scientist 4/2

‘A blistering, readable and intelligent critique’
Glasgow Herald 11/2
‘Beginning his forthright attack on religion with an account of a bus bomber, Sam Harris insists ‘our most cherished beliefs… are leading us, inexorably, to kill one another’ … The trouble with Harris’ fierce and cogent argument is that humanity seems hard-wired to believe in deities’
Independent
‘A stimulating polemic’
Tribune,

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.