I recently finished Sam Harris' incredibly polemical book that takes on faith-based religion head-on. Harris' basic premise is that irrational belief systems lead to destructive behavior and that we must develop a new secular/rational form of ethics and morality for the good of all society. Harris is a neurobiologist studying the neural basis for belief, disbelief, decision-making, and uncertainty so the book is peppered w/lots of references to current science of mind/consciousness studies and philosophy.

Love it or hate it, Harris makes a well-reasoned and well-documented case in breezy prose. I am not a believer in faith-based religion myself but do find tremendous value in "spiritual" consciousness disciplines, such as meditation and yoga, as well as athletics. I thought his attempts to articulate the foundation of a "science of ethics" to be fascinating. This book is sure to have a big impact on those who read it. For the faithful, it will be a real test and for non-believers, it offers an opportunity to perhaps see some of the larger picture the faithful claim to see.

Personally, I am also amazed that Harris has not been killed. He says some pretty harsh, but well-documented, things about Christianity and reserves particular venom for Islam, even titling one chapter "The problem with Islam." I would imagine he has set several people's blood boiling.

incredible take on reconciling reason and blind faith...