Sam Harris and Faith

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Categories : Religion, The New Atheists

Editor : MikeGene

published: vendredi 19 janvier 2007 10:02:45

In his internet debate with Andrew Sullivan, Sam Harris writes:

Where I think we disagree is on the nature of faith itself. I think that faith is, in principle, in conflict with reason (and, therefore, that religion is necessarily in conflict with science), while you do not. Perhaps I should acknowledge at the outset that people use the term "faith" in a variety of ways. My use of the word is meant to capture belief in specific religious propositions without sufficient evidence—prayer can heal the sick, there is a supreme Being listening to our thoughts, we will be reunited with our loved ones after death, etc. I am not criticizing faith as a positive attitude in the face of uncertainty, of the sort indicated by phrases like, "have faith in yourself." There's nothing wrong with that type of "faith."

Thus, Harris defines faith as belief in a proposition without sufficient evidence. He then presents this as something that is in “conflict” with reason and science.

Religion, Science,