If Books Could Kill

Sam Harris's "The End of Faith"

202 snips
Nov 4, 2024
Exploring the rise of New Atheism, the hosts discuss the cultural impact of Sam Harris's provocative ideas. They tackle the nuances of religious belief and violence, questioning the simplifications surrounding Islamic extremism. Amid humorous critiques, they examine the dangers of profiling in counter-terrorism and the implications of associating religion with security risks. The conversation also touches on the complexities of language, responsibility, and the fine line between critique and discrimination against Muslim communities.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Podcast Quirks

  • Michael and Peter joke about Sam Harris's racism and long pauses in his podcast.
  • They discuss their podcast's use of "zingers" and background music to create humor.
INSIGHT

New Atheism's Rise

  • Sam Harris's "The End of Faith" launched the New Atheism movement, challenging religious belief.
  • The book's popularity was fueled by 9/11, the Bush administration, and the rise of social media.
ANECDOTE

Hitchens on Falwell

  • Peter plays a clip of Christopher Hitchens criticizing Jerry Falwell after his death.
  • Michael and Peter find Hitchens' comments satisfying yet overly verbose.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app