Comments on: What Could Have Been http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/ A Journal of Jewish Thought and Opinion Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:39:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ahron http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/#comment-70383 Ahron Fri, 29 Sep 2006 17:36:23 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/#comment-70383 I've heard Sam Harris discussing his book on the radio. I find him intelligent, but strongly unconvincing and slightly pompous. He raises intelligent and rigorous questions--questions that any thinking person should raise on issues of religion--but ruins it by coming to answers that are far less rigorous and far less intelligent. (In fact many of the issues he raises are frequently addressed in shiurim today, and drawing all the way back from Chazal and meforshim.) I don't plan on reading his book, but if Harris is attacking false elements of religion I'm not sure that is something to fear. (The <i>midda</i> of rejecting popular beliefs seems well-established in <i>our</i> religion...) The contemporary American alliance between religious Jews and religious Christians does not change the fact that there remain some strong conceptual and philosophical differences between the two communities. (Some of those differences recently emerged in the stem cell debate). If we object to Harris's conclusions, it seems to me that there is no reason to reject his questions. In fact Harris's constant engagement with religious Americans (accomplished through sniping at them!) suggests to me that he wants a dialogue. I’ve heard Sam Harris discussing his book on the radio. I find him intelligent, but strongly unconvincing and slightly pompous. He raises intelligent and rigorous questions–questions that any thinking person should raise on issues of religion–but ruins it by coming to answers that are far less rigorous and far less intelligent. (In fact many of the issues he raises are frequently addressed in shiurim today, and drawing all the way back from Chazal and meforshim.)

I don’t plan on reading his book, but if Harris is attacking false elements of religion I’m not sure that is something to fear. (The midda of rejecting popular beliefs seems well-established in our religion…) The contemporary American alliance between religious Jews and religious Christians does not change the fact that there remain some strong conceptual and philosophical differences between the two communities. (Some of those differences recently emerged in the stem cell debate). If we object to Harris’s conclusions, it seems to me that there is no reason to reject his questions. In fact Harris’s constant engagement with religious Americans (accomplished through sniping at them!) suggests to me that he wants a dialogue.

]]> By: Steve Brizel http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/#comment-70376 Steve Brizel Fri, 29 Sep 2006 15:42:02 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/#comment-70376 Look at it this way-just ask yourself what the author would say about Malchuyos, Zicronos and Shofaros-HaShem's being the King, that He rememebers every event and reveals Himself in the world. One can certainly imply from that the author would have a similar opinion-despite the fact that the secular Nazis and athesist Communists have more blood on their hands for the events of the 20th Century than a believer in any religion. Look at it this way-just ask yourself what the author would say about Malchuyos, Zicronos and Shofaros-HaShem’s being the King, that He rememebers every event and reveals Himself in the world. One can certainly imply from that the author would have a similar opinion-despite the fact that the secular Nazis and athesist Communists have more blood on their hands for the events of the 20th Century than a believer in any religion.

]]> By: YM http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/#comment-70340 YM Thu, 28 Sep 2006 23:47:52 +0000 http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2006/09/28/what-could-have-been/#comment-70340 There was an ad for this book right here on cross-currents earlier this week; I clicked on it and was very surprised that cross-currents would run an advert for a book that argues that to be a religious Christian is about the same as being a nut; I coulnd't tell for sure if he puts Orthodox Judaism in the same boat, but I guess he does. There was an ad for this book right here on cross-currents earlier this week; I clicked on it and was very surprised that cross-currents would run an advert for a book that argues that to be a religious Christian is about the same as being a nut; I coulnd’t tell for sure if he puts Orthodox Judaism in the same boat, but I guess he does.

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