The Counterfactual Effect of Hitch and Dock on Religious Dogmatism

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Tamler: It could be more people could even have been convinced if it weren't for sort of the insult. I almost fear that Tamler was almost there, he almost made me religious. He was like putting ads in text. And so it's, yeah, we could be driving people into the arms of religion two for one. Every time we deconvert somebody, we convert two more people. That's totally possible. We wouldn't expect to see the evidence of it.

Bestselling author and friend of the podcast Sam Harris joins Tamler and Dave for a marathon podcast. (Seriously, pack two pairs of astronaut diapers for this one). We talk about the costs and benefits of religion, dropping acid in India, and the illusory nature of (a certain kind of) free will. Then we go at it on blame, moral responsibility, hatred, guilt, retribution, and vengeance. Sam thinks these are antiquated responses based on a belief in spooky metaphysics, Tamler thinks they are important components of human morality, and Dave just wants everyone to get along and be reasonable (like that nice Kant fellow).

Time markers (roughly)

0:00-47:00 Intro and costs and benefits of religion

47:00-77:30 Drugs, the self, free will

77:30-- Blame, guilt, vengeance, moral responsibility, desert.

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