"Letter to a Christian Nation"

[CP489]

My review:

This book just was not for me, and I mean that in the most literal sense possible. Harris didn't write this for me. He wrote it for the 150 Million fundamentalist Christians in America, unfortunately these are the people least likely to read his book.

It's not that it's difficult to read, it's use of direct, common language makes sure that it isn't. It's not that it's a huge undertaking, at 91 pages it takes less than 3 hours for a normal reader to finish it in it's entirety.

It's just that he uses that short space and direct language to make a point that will not be well recieved in the Bible Belt. That point being that faith is not only irrational, but harmful and divisive.

The brilliant and concise points he makes on stem-cell research, abortion, STD prevention, and other topics will go unread and unheeded by those who need to hear and consider them the most.

This book deserves to change people's minds. It deserves to reach those in danger of endangering our world. Regrettably, it will only reach those who can stomach the message, and largely those people will already agree with Harris.

 

[Pauliesonne]

Why do I feel like listening to Barry Manilow right after reading your review?

 

[Dark Jaguar]

I'm afraid you are right...

I wonder though. Personally I think the best effort to get the message across to certain types would be something a lot more gradual and, well, sneaky. The idea I have is simply to pretend to agree with a lot of it and perhaps sneak in some sort of "reason" why one agrees that might supplant the reasons the reader may already have. From there, just keep going onward with new books until eventually you've got them in a corner with a single statement that directly contadicts itself in an obvious fasion making them say "hold on now!".

Sneaky, desceptive, and it's likely once they start actually thinking for themselves using actual reasoning skills stealthily implanted in said series of books they'll figure out they've been had, but to be honest I doubt anyone that's found out later that the only reason they are thinking reasonably is due to deception is giong to actually get so mad they will throw away their rationality and just believe what they rejected again out of spite.

It's something I've thought about before. Middleground would probably be to write a book challenging the bible thumpers in less direct ways, or at least not addressing the issues that they are most adamant about until later books. I just don't think an open honest all at once attack on every single thing they believe is going to get anything done. I know in my case it was a gradual process that led me to enlightened thinking as opposed to some sudden "pop" of realization. Sudden "pops" of realization that totally overhaul one's personality seems the stuff of fiction to me. Reality is often much more long drawn out and subtle.

 

[ceo_esq]

Harris didn't write this for me. He wrote it for the 150 Million fundamentalist Christians in America, unfortunately these are the people least likely to read his book.

The number couldn't possibly be that high, could it? The sheer numbers of non-fundamentalist evangelicals, mainstream Protestants, Catholics etc. would seem to rule it out.

Thanks for the review.

 

[HeyLeroy]

The number couldn't possibly be that high, could it? The sheer numbers of non-fundamentalist evangelicals, mainstream Protestants, Catholics etc. would seem to rule it out.

Thanks for the review.

I was going to ask the same thing; half the US?

 

[CP489]

The number couldn't possibly be that high, could it? The sheer numbers of non-fundamentalist evangelicals, mainstream Protestants, Catholics etc. would seem to rule it out.

Thanks for the review.

Harris uses a fairly loose version of "fundamentalist", in fact he makes an assumption that, if made in a more important part of the book, might worry me.

He uses numbers from a Gallup poll that found that 50% of the respondents believe the literal version of Genesis to be true.

The reason it doesn't bother me so much is that I term all biblical literalists as fundamentalists, and if you take Genesis literally, I can't imagine what parts you believe to be metaphorical.

 

[CP489]

Why do I feel like listening to Barry Manilow right after reading your review?

I don't get it...

 

[Pauliesonne]

I don't get it...

Surrealism can be a bitch to understand.

 

[Marc L]

I disagree. While certainly a large percentage of fundamentalists won't read it, and another percentage who do read it will condemn it out of hand, there will be a small percentage of those who read it and either accept it, or at least begin questioning their beliefs. Back when I was a fundamentalist, I still read non-fundie approved literature (which, back then, included everything from Darwin to Star Trek), and that's what ultimately led me away from religion altogether.

Marc

 

[CP489]

I disagree. While certainly a large percentage of fundamentalists won't read it, and another percentage who do read it will condemn it out of hand, there will be a small percentage of those who read it and either accept it, or at least begin questioning their beliefs. Back when I was a fundamentalist, I still read non-fundie approved literature (which, back then, included everything from Darwin to Star Trek), and that's what ultimately led me away from religion altogether.

Marc

This is probably true. I suppose I could add "the vast majority" to the declaration that fundamentalists will not read the book and/or will read it and demonize it, however I think it's fine as it is. This book will not make the impact that it should due to that vast majority. The few that do de-convert, or at least soften their view of Biblical literalism, will of course be welcome, but it's a drop in the proverbial bucket.

 

[Cello Man]

The few that do de-convert, or at least soften their view of Biblical literalism, will of course be welcome, but it's a drop in the proverbial bucket.

Hey, we have to start somewhere. If a single person is freed from their mental shackles as a result of reading this book, it's already worth it.

 

[scotth]

I haven't read this book yet, it is still on its way, in the mail.

It is clear that a large number of Christians read his last book, hopefully an equally or larger faction will read this one. But still, CP489 is likely correct in his pesimistic assessment of its direct impact on them as a whole. Clearly his writing will sway some, but maybe (probably) not near as many as would be desirable.

I think that the real value of his writings to date has been in making the true dangers represented by religion in our modern world vivid enough to us to really increase our activism and recruitment of others into the free thinking world view. I hope that will be true for this book, if not to an even greater extent.

Pick a fence sitter that you know, and get them off the fence. If these books can help spur us to grow this community, they are very worthwhile.

 

[Upchurch]

FWIW

I found this one rather sad:

“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

So much for a free and open exchange in the marketplace of ideas.

 

[icantlogoff]

Still waiting for mine from amazon. I ordered this along with his last book.
Although i agree with the the points raised about not reaching the people who needed it, by being (from what i understand) extremely blunt is far better than making a more wishy washy book. Controversy causes discussion and discussion causes thought to defend either side. Even if mainly non--christians read this, it will give more public exposure of the dangers of religion.

I am sure he will get his fair share of hate mail from loving Christians again, but if nothing else those seeds have been planted in minds, which at least is a start.

regards

Steve