“Thousands of people have written to tell me that
I am wrong not to believe in God. The most hostile
of these communications have come from Christians.
This is ironic, as Christians generally imagine that
no faith imparts the virtues of love and forgiveness
more effectively than their own. The truth is that
many who claim to be transformed by Christ’s love
are deeply, even murderously, intolerant of
criticism. While we may want to ascribe this to
human nature, it is clear that such hatred draws
considerable support from the Bible. How do I know
this? The most disturbed of my correspondents always
cite chapter and verse.”
Review
“Sam Harris’s elegant little book is most refreshing
and a wonderful source of ammunition for those who,
like me, hold to no religious doctrine. Yet I have
some sympathy also with those who might be worried
by his uncompromising stance. Read it and form your
own view, but do not ignore its message.”
–Sir Roger Penrose, emeritus professor of
mathematics, Oxford University,
author of The Road to Reality
“Reading Harris’ Letter to a Christian Nation
was like sitting ring side, cheering the champion,
yelling ‘Yes!’ at every jab. For those of us who
feel depressed by this country’s ever increasing
unification of church and state, and the ever
decreasing support for the sciences that deliver
knowledge and reduce ignorance, this little book is
a welcome hit of adrenalin.”
–Marc Hauser, Harvard College Professor, author of
Moral Minds: How Nature Designed Our Sense of
Right and Wrong
“I can’t sign my name to this blurb. As a New
York Times best selling author of books about
business, my career will evaporate if I endorse a
book that challenges the deeply held superstitions
and bigotry of the masses. That’s exactly why you
should (no, you must) read this angry and
honest book right away. As long as science and
rational thought are under attack by the misguided
yet pious majority, our nation is in jeopardy. I’m
scared. You should be too. Please buy two, one for
you and one for a friend you care about.”
–Unsigned, New York Times best selling author
“It’s a shame that not everyone in this country will
read Sam Harris’ marvelous little book Letter to
a Christian Nation. They won’t but they should.”
–Leonard Susskind, Felix Bloch Professor in
theoretical physics, Stanford University, author of
The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the
Illusion of Intelligent Design
“We all know about good things that have been
derived from bad ideas. Modern religions serve many
social goods such as health care for the poor. The
problem is that is also services many reprehensible
ideas. Harris blows the whistle, pointing out the
religions of the world are based on human generated
vengeful stories. Read this book and you decide your
stance for the future.”
–Michael S. Gazzaniga, Director of the Sage Center
for the Study of Mind, University of California,
Santa Barbara, author of The Ethical Brain
“Sam Harris fearlessly describes a moral and
intellectual emergency precipitated by religious
fantasies–misguided beliefs that create suffering,
that rationalize violence, that have endangered our
nation and our future. His argument for the
morality, the honesty, and the humility of atheism
is galvanizing. It is a relief that someone has
spoken so frankly, with such passion yet such
rationality. Now when the subject arises, as it
inevitably does, I can simply say: Read Sam Harris’
Letter to a Christian Nation.”
–Janna Levin, Columbia University, author of How
the Universe Got Its Spots and A Madman
Dreams of Turing Machines