Counterpoint

Back on November 18, I attended an event at Knox Presbyterian Church in Stratford that was a seminar and discussion on a book called "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris. Harris has become increasingly well known for both this work, and another one called "Letter to a Christian Nation." Despite their titles, Harris is an avowed athiest, and a rather strident one at that. His book is a broadside against religious expression, and he is not particularly kind to religious moderates either. We tend to get lumped together as just as "irrational" as the extremists within our own traditions. I find that Harris has a very narrow view of religious, religious expression, as well ignoring the human capacity for wanting a sense of meaning in life.

I've been wanting to get involved in some of the debates, perhaps presenting a voice of reason from within a religious tradition, and yet I go into the hostile environments of the discussion forums and see what sort of drivel that people of faith are posting in order to try and defend the position of religious expression. I may give it a try, but unfortunately, some of the best arguments that Sam Harris has been able to provide are the very people that ineptly try to defend the faith.

I have been sincerely encouraged from my experience in the Revelation study here at Clarkson, and people's response to it that faith can be a natural, rational human response to life. So wish me luck, I may tread in places that angels fear to tread...