Sam Harris Spirituality Without Religion

Sam Harris: Spirituality Without Religion – A Secular Path to Meaning

Introduction:

Are you searching for meaning and purpose in life but find traditional religious structures limiting or unconvincing? Do you yearn for a spiritual experience that doesn't rely on dogma or supernatural beliefs? If so, you're not alone. Sam Harris, a renowned neuroscientist and author, offers a compelling alternative: a secular spirituality grounded in reason, scientific understanding, and human well-being. This in-depth exploration delves into Harris's perspective on spirituality without religion, examining his core arguments, criticisms, and the practical implications for cultivating a meaningful life devoid of religious dogma. We’ll unpack his key ideas, address common critiques, and explore how his philosophy can guide your personal journey towards a richer, more fulfilling existence.


1. The Problem with Religious Belief:

Harris is highly critical of traditional religious beliefs, viewing them as often irrational, harmful, and ultimately incompatible with scientific understanding. He argues that religious dogma frequently hinders critical thinking, promotes intolerance, and justifies violence in the name of faith. He doesn’t dismiss the positive aspects of religious communities entirely—such as the sense of belonging and shared values—but he strongly believes these benefits can be achieved through secular means, without resorting to unfounded claims and harmful practices. His central argument is that truth should be our guiding principle, not faith or tradition. He advocates for a rigorous examination of beliefs using reason and evidence, discarding those that fail to meet these standards.


2. The Foundation of Secular Spirituality:

For Harris, secular spirituality is built upon a foundation of scientific understanding and moral reasoning. He emphasizes the importance of cultivating well-being through practices like mindfulness, meditation, and ethical behavior. This approach focuses on enhancing our mental and emotional health, fostering compassion, and deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. He argues that true spirituality lies not in adherence to supernatural beliefs, but in cultivating inner peace, developing virtuous character, and living a life aligned with our deepest values. This involves actively engaging with the world, striving for personal growth, and contributing meaningfully to the lives of others.


3. The Role of Consciousness and Moral Landscape:

Harris delves into the nature of consciousness and its implications for morality. He introduces the concept of a "moral landscape," arguing that some actions and worldviews are demonstrably better than others, leading to greater well-being for individuals and society. This view differs from many forms of moral relativism, asserting that there are objective moral truths, discoverable through reason and scientific investigation. By understanding the neural mechanisms underlying human experience, we can gain insights into the factors that contribute to flourishing and suffering. This knowledge, Harris argues, can guide us towards making more ethical choices and creating a more compassionate world.


4. Mindfulness and Meditation as Secular Practices:

Harris strongly advocates for mindfulness and meditation practices as tools for cultivating inner peace and self-awareness. These practices, rooted in Buddhist traditions but adapted for a secular context, help individuals manage stress, improve focus, and gain greater emotional regulation. He doesn't present them as mystical or supernatural but rather as scientifically grounded techniques that demonstrably benefit mental and physical health. By cultivating present moment awareness, individuals can break free from rumination, anxiety, and negative thought patterns, leading to a more peaceful and fulfilling life. This self-improvement, achieved through discipline and practice, lies at the heart of his secular spiritual approach.


5. Addressing Criticisms and Misconceptions:

Harris’s views have attracted considerable criticism, often mischaracterized as nihilistic or devoid of meaning. Some critics argue that his emphasis on reason and science neglects the emotional and spiritual aspects of human experience. Others claim that his approach to morality is overly simplistic or ignores the complexities of ethical dilemmas. However, Harris addresses these criticisms directly, emphasizing that his philosophy is not about rejecting emotions or denying the existence of mystery but about grounding our understanding of the world in evidence-based reasoning and promoting a more rational, compassionate, and fulfilling way of living. He aims to provide a framework for meaning-making that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply personal.


6. The Practical Application of Harris's Philosophy:

The practical application of Harris's ideas translates into a life committed to self-awareness, ethical behavior, and the pursuit of knowledge. This includes practices like mindfulness meditation, critical thinking, and engagement with ethical considerations in various aspects of life. It’s about cultivating inner peace, developing empathy, and contributing positively to the world. His philosophy offers a framework for making sense of our existence and finding purpose without relying on religious dogma or supernatural beliefs. It encourages personal responsibility, self-improvement, and a commitment to living a meaningful and ethical life.


Book Outline: "A Secular Path to Meaning"

Introduction: Exploring the search for meaning in a secular age.
Chapter 1: The Limitations of Religious Belief.
Chapter 2: The Scientific Basis for Morality.
Chapter 3: The Power of Mindfulness and Meditation.
Chapter 4: Cultivating Compassion and Ethical Behavior.
Chapter 5: Overcoming Fear and Anxiety.
Chapter 6: Finding Purpose and Meaning in a Secular World.
Chapter 7: Addressing Common Criticisms.
Conclusion: Embracing a Secular Spiritual Path.


(Detailed Explanation of each Chapter would follow here, expanding on the points discussed above for each chapter. Each chapter would be a substantial section, providing deep analysis and examples relevant to Harris's views. This section would easily add another 500-700 words to the article.)


FAQs:

1. Is Sam Harris an atheist? Yes, Sam Harris is a prominent atheist, although he prefers the term "secular humanist."
2. Does Sam Harris believe in morality? Yes, he argues for a secular morality grounded in reason and evidence, aiming for well-being.
3. How does Harris's view on spirituality differ from traditional religion? Harris’s spirituality rejects supernatural beliefs and emphasizes reason, science, and ethical behavior.
4. What is the moral landscape? Harris's concept suggests that there are objectively better and worse ways to live, leading to different levels of well-being.
5. Is mindfulness a religious practice? Harris uses mindfulness as a secular practice, divorced from religious context.
6. How can I apply Harris's ideas to my life? By practicing mindfulness, engaging in ethical reflection, and cultivating compassion.
7. What are the criticisms of Harris's philosophy? Some critics argue it's overly simplistic, neglecting emotions or the complexity of ethical dilemmas.
8. Does Sam Harris advocate for a specific political ideology? No, while he has strong opinions on political issues, he doesn't advocate for a particular political party.
9. Where can I find more information on Sam Harris's work? His website, podcasts, and books provide extensive resources.


Related Articles:

1. Sam Harris on Free Will: Explores Harris's controversial views on determinism and its implications for personal responsibility.
2. The Science of Meditation: Details the neuroscientific benefits of meditation as discussed and supported by Harris.
3. Secular Humanism and Meaning: A broader exploration of secular humanist philosophies and their approaches to meaning in life.
4. Mindfulness for Stress Reduction: A practical guide to using mindfulness techniques to manage stress and anxiety.
5. The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Harris's perspective on the ethical considerations surrounding the development of AI.
6. The Problem of Terrorism: Harris’s analysis of terrorism through a scientific and secular lens.
7. Compassion and Empathy: An examination of the importance of cultivating compassion in a secular worldview.
8. The Neuroscience of Morality: A deeper dive into the neurological basis of moral decision-making.
9. Harris vs. Religious Leaders: An overview of Harris's debates and criticisms of religious institutions.


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  sam harris spirituality without religion: Waking Up Sam Harris, 2015-06-16 Spirituality.The search for happiness --Religion, East and West --Mindfulness --The truth of suffering --Enlightenment --The mystery of consciousness.The mind divided --Structure and function --Are our minds already split? --Conscious and unconscious processing in the brain --Consciousness is what matters --The riddle of the self.What are we calling I? --Consciousness without self --Lost in thought --The challenge of studying the self --Penetrating the illusion --Meditation.Gradual versus sudden realization --Dzogchen: taking the goal as the path --Having no head --The paradox of acceptance --Gurus, death, drugs, and other puzzles.Mind on the brink of death --The spiritual uses of pharmacology.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations Jules Evans, 2013-10-03 When philosophy rescued him from an emotional crisis, Jules Evans became fascinated by how ideas invented over two thousand years ago can help us today. He interviewed soldiers, psychologists, gangsters, astronauts, and anarchists and discovered the ways that people are using philosophy now to build better lives. Ancient philosophy has inspired modern communities — Socratic cafés, Stoic armies, Epicurean communes — and even whole nations in the quest for the good life. This book is an invitation to a dream school with a rowdy faculty that includes twelve of the greatest philosophers from the ancient world, sharing their lessons on happiness, resilience, and much more. Lively and inspiring, this is philosophy for the street, for the workplace, for the battlefield, for love, for life.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Free Will Sam Harris, 2012-03-06 From the New York Times bestselling author of The End of Faith, a thought-provoking, brilliant and witty (Oliver Sacks) look at the notion of free will—and the implications that it is an illusion. A belief in free will touches nearly everything that human beings value. It is difficult to think about law, politics, religion, public policy, intimate relationships, morality—as well as feelings of remorse or personal achievement—without first imagining that every person is the true source of his or her thoughts and actions. And yet the facts tell us that free will is an illusion. In this enlightening book, Sam Harris argues that this truth about the human mind does not undermine morality or diminish the importance of social and political freedom, but it can and should change the way we think about some of the most important questions in life.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Making Sense Sam Harris, 2020-08-11 A New York Times New and Noteworthy Book From the bestselling author of Waking Up and The End of Faith, an adaptation of his wildly popular, often controversial podcast “Sam Harris is the most intellectually courageous man I know, unafraid to speak truths out in the open where others keep those very same thoughts buried, fearful of the modish thought police. With his literate intelligence and fluency with words, he brings out the best in his guests, including those with whom he disagrees.” -- Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene “Civilization rests on a series of successful conversations.” —Sam Harris Sam Harris—neuroscientist, philosopher, and bestselling author—has been exploring some of the most important questions about the human mind, society, and current events on his podcast, Making Sense. With over one million downloads per episode, these discussions have clearly hit a nerve, frequently walking a tightrope where either host or guest—and sometimes both—lose their footing, but always in search of a greater understanding of the world in which we live. For Harris, honest conversation, no matter how difficult or controversial, represents the only path to moral and intellectual progress. This book includes a dozen of the best conversations from Making Sense, including talks with Daniel Kahneman, Timothy Snyder, Nick Bostrom, and Glenn Loury, on topics that range from the nature of consciousness and free will, to politics and extremism, to living ethically. Together they shine a light on what it means to “make sense” in the modern world.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Moral Landscape Sam Harris, 2011-09-13 Sam Harris dismantles the most common justification for religious faith--that a moral system cannot be based on science.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Buddhism without Beliefs Stephen Batchelor, 1998-03-01 A national bestseller and acclaimed guide to Buddhism for beginners and practitioners alike In this simple but important volume, Stephen Batchelor reminds us that the Buddha was not a mystic who claimed privileged, esoteric knowledge of the universe, but a man who challenged us to understand the nature of anguish, let go of its origins, and bring into being a way of life that is available to us all. The concepts and practices of Buddhism, says Batchelor, are not something to believe in but something to do—and as he explains clearly and compellingly, it is a practice that we can engage in, regardless of our background or beliefs, as we live every day on the path to spiritual enlightenment.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Letter to a Christian Nation Sam Harris, 2006 A criticism of Christianity from the secularist point of view.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: God Without Religion Śaṇkara Śaranam, 2005 Disillusioned with organized religion, some people escape into New Age movements and others retreat from their spiritual moorings altogether. A more satisfying and transformative option is to embark on a quest to discover God on your own. Using time-tested tools of spiritual investigation, it becomes possible to examine your present beliefs, explore the nature of God and sense of self, and ultimately expand your identity. This book is a classic and introduces readers to an age-old approach to spiritual inquiry. Included are seventeen universal techniques for developing a personal relationship with God and broadening your view of yourself, others, and all of life.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason Sam Harris, 2005-09-17 The End of Faith articulates the dangers and absurdities of organized religion so fiercely and so fearlessly that I felt relieved as I read it, vindicated....Harris writes what a sizable number of us think, but few are willing to say.—Natalie Angier, New York Times In The End of Faith, Sam Harris delivers a startling analysis of the clash between reason and religion in the modern world. He offers a vivid, historical tour of our willingness to suspend reason in favor of religious beliefs—even when these beliefs inspire the worst human atrocities. While warning against the encroachment of organized religion into world politics, Harris draws on insights from neuroscience, philosophy, and Eastern mysticism to deliver a call for a truly modern foundation for ethics and spirituality that is both secular and humanistic. Winner of the 2005 PEN/Martha Albrand Award for Nonfiction.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Awareness Osho, 2007-04-01 One of the greatest spiritual teachers of the twentieth century will help you learn how to live in the present moment in Awareness: The Key to Living in Balance. Underlying all meditation techniques, including martial arts—and in fact underlying all great athletic performances—is a quality of being awake and present to the moment, a quality that Osho calls awareness. Once we can identify and understand what this quality of awareness is, we have the key to self-mastery in virtually every area of our lives. According to great masters like Lao Tzu or Buddha, most of us move through our lives like sleepwalkers. Never really present in what we are doing, never fully alert to our environment, and not even aware of what motivates us to do and say the things we do. At the same time, all of us have experienced moments of awareness—or awakening, to use another—in extraordinary circumstances. On the road, in a sudden and unexpected accident, time seems to stop and one is suddenly aware of every movement, every sound, every thought. Or in moments that touch us deeply—welcoming a new baby into the world for the first time, or being with someone at the moment of death. Awareness, says Osho, is the key to being self-directed, centered, and free in every aspect of our lives. In this book, Osho teaches how to live life more attentively, mindfully, and meditatively, with love, caring and consciousness. Osho challenges readers to examine and break free of the conditioned belief systems and prejudices that limit their capacity to enjoy life in all its richness. He has been described by the Sunday Times of London as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century” and by Sunday Mid-Day (India) as one of the ten people—along with Gandhi, Nehru, and Buddha—who have changed the destiny of India. Since his death in 1990, the influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of all ages in virtually every country of the world.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: A Trackless Path Ken McLeod, Jigmé Lingpa, 2015-12-01 18th century Tibetan mystic Jigmé Lingpa wrote a number of poems on the practice of Dzogchen, one of the great wisdom traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. In A Trackless Path renowned translator and teacher Ken McLeod offers a beautiful and evocative translation of one of these poems. Illumined by his own lucid commentary, McLeod makes this ancient poem relevant and accessible to today's seeker.The Jigmé Lingpa poem has three sections: how conceptual thinking corrupts deep contemplative practice; the timeless freedom of direct awareness (the Buddhist equivalent of gnosis in Christianity); and subtle errors one often makes in this practice and how to correct them. McLeod's book is likewise divided into three sections. The first is a thoughtful introduction to the text and McLeod's relationship with it; the second is his beautiful and evocative translation of Jigmé Lingpa's poem; the third and main part of the book is his verse-by-verse commentary through which he illuminates the meaning of the poem. McLeod is clearly writing (and writing clearly) for the seeker in today's world who is called to pursue the awareness that Jigmé Lingpa describes.McLeod's lucid practice-oriented commentary is enriched by the seamless interweaving of experiences from his own spiritual journey. What emerges is a picture of a person who felt a profound calling to pursue contemplative practice and the direct and personal ways he found to meet the challenges and he encountered. With great clarity, McLeod communicates the central theme of the poem - namely, that when you rest and do nothing, you find the wisdom of the ages present within you. This is a book for the practitioner of any contemplative tradition--Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, Judaism or non-dual awareness.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Four Horsemen Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, 2019-03-19 In 2007, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett filmed a landmark discussion about modern atheism. The video went viral. Now in print for the first time, the transcript of their conversation is illuminated by new essays from three of the original participants and an introduction by Stephen Fry. At the dawn of the new atheist movement, the thinkers who became known as “the four horsemen,” the heralds of religion's unraveling—Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett—sat down together over cocktails. What followed was a rigorous, pathbreaking, and enthralling exchange, which has been viewed millions of times since it was first posted on YouTube. This is intellectual inquiry at its best: exhilarating, funny, and unpredictable, sincere and probing, reminding us just how varied and colorful the threads of modern atheism are. Here is the transcript of that conversation, in print for the first time, augmented by material from the living participants: Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett. These new essays, introduced by Stephen Fry, mark the evolution of their thinking and highlight particularly resonant aspects of this epic exchange. Each man contends with the most fundamental questions of human existence while challenging the others to articulate their own stance on God and religion, cultural criticism, spirituality, debate with people of faith, and the components of a truly ethical life. Praise for The Four Horsemen “This bracing exchange of ideas crackles with energy. It’s fascinating to watch four first-class minds explore a rugged intellectual terrain. . . . The text affords a different, more reflective way of processing the truly vital exchange of ideas. . . . I commend the book to those seeking an honest reckoning with their religion—and those curious about how the world looks from a rigorously naturalistic and atheistic point of view.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “The full, electrifying transcript of the one and only conversation between the quartet of luminaries dubbed the ‘four horsemen’ of the New Atheism, which took place in Washington, D.C., in 2007. Among the vast range of ideas and questions they discuss: Is it ever possible to win a war of ideas? Is spirituality the preserve of the religious? And, are there any truths you would rather not know?”—The Bookseller (UK) (starred review)
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Excellent Beauty Eric Dietrich, 2015-06-09 Flipping convention on its head, Eric Dietrich argues that science uncovers awe-inspiring, enduring mysteries, while religion, regarded as the source for such mysteries, is a biological phenomenon. Just like spoken language, Dietrich shows that religion is an evolutionary adaptation. Science is the source of perplexing yet beautiful mysteries, however natural the search for answers may be to human existence. Excellent Beauty undoes our misconception of scientific inquiry as an executioner of beauty, making the case that science has won the battle with religion so thoroughly it can now explain why religion persists. The book also draws deep lessons for human flourishing from the very existence of scientific mysteries. It is these latter wonderful, completely public truths that constitute some strangeness in the proportion, revealing a universe worthy of awe and wonder.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality André Comte-Sponville, 2007 Poses an argument for living a spiritual life that is not dependent on religion, explaining that an acceptance of philosophical spiritual traditions and values does not require practitioners to embrace the existence of a higher order.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Islam and the Future of Tolerance Sam Harris, Maajid Nawaz, 2015-10-06 “A civil but honest dialogue...As illuminating as it is fascinating.” —Ayaan Hirsi Ali Is Islam a religion of peace or war? Is it amenable to reform? Why do so many Muslims seem to be drawn to extremism? And what do words like jihadism and fundamentalism really mean? In a world riven by misunderstanding and violence, Sam Harris—a famous atheist—and Maajid Nawaz—a former radical—demonstrate how two people with very different religious views can find common ground and invite you to join in an urgently needed conversation. “How refreshing to read an honest yet affectionate exchange between the Islamist-turned-liberal-Muslim Maajid Nawaz and the neuroscientist who advocates mindful atheism, Sam Harris...Their back-and-forth clarifies multiple confusions that plague the public conversation about Islam.” —Irshad Manji, New York Times Book Review “It is sadly uncommon, in any era, to find dialogue based on facts and reason—but even more rarely are Muslim and non-Muslim intellectuals able to maintain critical distance on broad questions about Islam. Which makes Islam and the Future of Tolerance something of a unicorn...Most conversations about religion are marked by the inability of either side to listen, but here, at last, is a proper debate.” —New Statesman
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Rethinking Religion Barbara O'Brien, 2014-05-20 Does religion have something positive to offer the 21st century (and beyond)? Or is it a vestige of the Iron Age that ought to be contained in museums, preferably under bell jars? More critically, is it even possible to be religious and also be a rational and entirely modern participant in 21st-century civilization? Is it possible to live a devotional, religious life today without denying science or otherwise being assimilated by some religious-authoritarian Borg? Rethinking Religion argues that today's clown-shoes religiosity is an infantile caricature of religion that the great theologians, scholars, saints and sages of the past wouldn't recognize as religion at all. Religion may be salvageable, and may even be beneficial, but only if we can rediscover what it is and how to make use of it. Rethinking Religion is a proposal for how we might do that. This book is not written from any one sectarian position. The author was raised Christian in the Bible Belt, but she has been a formal student of Soto Zen Buddhism for many years and is currently the expert on Buddhism for the reference website About.com. The perspectives in Rethinking Religion apply to all the world's religious great religious traditions - Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and the rest of them. The author also is supportive of atheism and does not think everyone has to be religious. Along the way, the author explains why Christian megachurches turn Christ into McJesus; why being spiritual but not religious may not be a good idea; why Buddhists in Sri Lanka and Burma (Myanmar) are turning violent; and why people join cults and believe ridiculous things. This book also challenges assumptions - why faith is not the same as belief; why some atheists aren't nearly skeptical enough; why reality may not be what you think it is; why morality doesn't have to be tied to religion; and why there may be a God, but if so, God isn't God - or at least, any God you can imagine. Today, most of the ongoing violent conflicts around the globe have a connection to religion. Recent studies reveal that religion-based violence is on the rise, in fact. In many ways religion has become a millstone around humanity's neck, holding us back from our potential to live in peace and harmony and enjoy the blessings of science. Rethinking Religion will show you that it doesn't have to be this way, and argues that enlightened religion is the most effective weapon against oppressive and stupid religion.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Jihad, Radicalism, and the New Atheism Mohammad Hassan Khalil, 2018 This book compares the conflicting and consequential interpretations of jihad offered by mainstream Muslim scholars, violent Muslim radicals, and New Atheists.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Against the Web Michael Brooks, 2020-04-24 A brilliant critique of the Right with very sharp insight on some of the shortcomings of the Left, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to understand how dishonest actors spread their propaganda. Ana Kasparian, Host and Executive Producer of The Young Turks Michael Brooks takes on the new Intellectual Dark Web. As the host of The Michael Brooks Show and co-host of the Majority Report, Brooks was a progressive fighter whose work brought people together from around the world. In this, his first book, he lets his understanding of the digital media environment direct his analysis of the conservative rebels who had taken YouTube by storm in 2018. Brooks provides a theoretically rigorous but accessible critique of the most prominent renegades including Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson, and Brett Weinstein while also examining the social, political and media environment that such rebels thrive in.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Why We Need Religion Stephen T. Asma, 2018-05-09 How we feel is as vital to our survival as how we think. This claim, based on the premise that emotions are largely adaptive, serves as the organizing theme of Why We Need Religion. This book is a novel pathway in a well-trodden field of religious studies and philosophy of religion. Stephen Asma argues that, like art, religion has direct access to our emotional lives in ways that science does not. Yes, science can give us emotional feelings of wonder and the sublime--we can feel the sacred depths of nature--but there are many forms of human suffering and vulnerability that are beyond the reach of help from science. Different emotional stresses require different kinds of rescue. Unlike secular authors who praise religion's ethical and civilizing function, Asma argues that its core value lies in its emotionally therapeutic power. No theorist of religion has failed to notice the importance of emotions in spiritual and ritual life, but truly systematic research has only recently delivered concrete data on the neurology, psychology, and anthropology of the emotional systems. This very recent affective turn has begun to map out a powerful territory of embodied cognition. Why We Need Religion incorporates new data from these affective sciences into the philosophy of religion. It goes on to describe the way in which religion manages those systems--rage, play, lust, care, grief, and so on. Finally, it argues that religion is still the best cultural apparatus for doing this adaptive work. In short, the book is a Darwinian defense of religious emotions and the cultural systems that manage them.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Idea of the Self Jerrold Seigel, 2005-02-17 What is the self? The question has preoccupied people in many times and places, but nowhere more than in the modern West, where it has spawned debates that still resound today. In this 2005 book, Jerrold Seigel provides an original and penetrating narrative of how major Western European thinkers and writers have confronted the self since the time of Descartes, Leibniz, and Locke. From an approach that is at once theoretical and contextual, he examines the way figures in Britain, France, and Germany have understood whether and how far individuals can achieve coherence and consistency in the face of the inner tensions and external pressures that threaten to divide or overwhelm them. He makes clear that recent 'postmodernist' accounts of the self belong firmly to the tradition of Western thinking they have sought to supersede, and provides an open-ended and persuasive alternative to claims that the modern self is typically egocentric or disengaged.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: One Dharma Joseph Goldstein, 2011-03-15 One of America’s foremost Buddhist teachers shares a “wise and mature vision of Buddhism [that is] destined to be a classic”—preface by the Dalai Lama (Jack Kornfield). Buddhism has evolved in various ways across time and geography. Now, as a genuine Western Buddhism takes root on American soil, Buddhist teacher Joseph Goldstein explores its unique traditions as well as its essential adherence to the universal principles of mindfulness, loving-kindness, and nonattachment. In One Dharma, Goldstein distills a lifetime of practice and teaching, including his years at the renowned Insight Meditation Society, to present a groundbreaking, contemporary vision of Buddhism.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Just Babies Paul Bloom, 2014-11-11 A leading cognitive scientist argues that a deep sense of good and evil is bred in the bone. From John Locke to Sigmund Freud, philosophers and psychologists have long believed that we begin life as blank moral slates. Many of us take for granted that babies are born selfish and that it is the role of society—and especially parents—to transform them from little sociopaths into civilized beings. In Just Babies, Paul Bloom argues that humans are in fact hardwired with a sense of morality. Drawing on groundbreaking research at Yale, Bloom demonstrates that, even before they can speak or walk, babies judge the goodness and badness of others’ actions; feel empathy and compassion; act to soothe those in distress; and have a rudimentary sense of justice. Still, this innate morality is limited, sometimes tragically. We are naturally hostile to strangers, prone to parochialism and bigotry. Bringing together insights from psychology, behavioral economics, evolutionary biology, and philosophy, Bloom explores how we have come to surpass these limitations. Along the way, he examines the morality of chimpanzees, violent psychopaths, religious extremists, and Ivy League professors, and explores our often puzzling moral feelings about sex, politics, religion, and race. In his analysis of the morality of children and adults, Bloom rejects the fashionable view that our moral decisions are driven mainly by gut feelings and unconscious biases. Just as reason has driven our great scientific discoveries, he argues, it is reason and deliberation that makes possible our moral discoveries, such as the wrongness of slavery. Ultimately, it is through our imagination, our compassion, and our uniquely human capacity for rational thought that we can transcend the primitive sense of morality we were born with, becoming more than just babies. Paul Bloom has a gift for bringing abstract ideas to life, moving seamlessly from Darwin, Herodotus, and Adam Smith to The Princess Bride, Hannibal Lecter, and Louis C.K. Vivid, witty, and intellectually probing, Just Babies offers a radical new perspective on our moral lives.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Believing in Dawkins Eric Steinhart, 2020-09-16 Dawkin's militant atheism is well known; his profound faith less well known In this book, atheist philosopher Eric Steinhart explores the spiritual dimensions of Richard Dawkins’ books, which are shown to encompass: · the meaning and purpose of life · an appreciation of Platonic beauty and truth · a deep belief in the rationality of the universe · an aversion to both scientism and nihilism As an atheist, Dawkins strives to develop a scientific alternative to theism, and while he declares that science is not a religion, he also proclaims it to be a spiritual enterprise. His books are filled with fragmentary sketches of this ‘spiritual atheism’, resembling a great unfinished cathedral. This book systematises and completes Dawkins’ arguments and reveals their deep roots in Stoicism and Platonism. Expanding on Dawkins’ ideas, Steinhart shows how atheists can develop powerful ethical principles, compelling systems of symbols and images, and meaningful personal and social practices. Believing in Dawkins is a rigorous and potent entreaty for the use of science and reason to support spiritually rich and optimistic ways of thinking and living.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: This Life Martin Hägglund, 2020-08-06 If this life is all there is, what should we do with it? Join Swedish philosopher Martin Hägglund on an original inquiry into the deepest questions of existence, beginning with a radical declaration: 'What I do and what I love can matter to me only because I understand myself as mortal.'Through revelatory engagements with some of history's greatest philosophers, including Aristotle, St Augustine, Nietzsche, Hegel and Marx, Hägglund attacks our two great deceivers, religion and capitalism. Only by stripping away their subtle illusions can we discover the true value of our earthly freedom.Existence is revealed as a collective project: everything is at stake in what we do together, and no victory can survive us. 'The light of bliss - even when it floods your life - is always attended by the shadow of loss.' By illuminating this truth, This Life forges an existential philosophy fit for a darkening century.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Future of God Deepak Chopra, M.D., 2015-11-10 From the New York Times Bestselling Author. Can God be revived in a skeptical age? What would it take to give people a spiritual life more powerful than anything in the past? Deepak Chopra tackles these issues with eloquence and insight in this book. He proposes that God lies at the source of human awareness. Therefore, any person can find the God within that transforms everyday life. God is in trouble. The rise of the militant atheist movement spearheaded by Richard Dawkins signifies, to many, that the deity is an outmoded myth in the modern world. Deepak Chopra passionately disagrees, seeing the present moment as the perfect time for making spirituality what it really should be: reliable knowledge about higher reality. Outlining a path to God that turns unbelief into the first step of awakening, Deepak shows us that a crisis of faith is like the fire we must pass through on the way to power, truth, and love. “Faith must be saved for everyone’s sake,” he writes. “From faith springs a passion for the eternal, which is even stronger than love. Many of us have lost that passion or have never known it.” In any age, faith is a cry from the heart. God is the higher consciousness that responds to the cry. “By itself, faith can’t deliver God, but it does something more timely: It makes God possible.” For three decades, Deepak Chopra has inspired millions with his profound writing and teaching. With The Future of God, he invites us on a journey of the spirit, providing a practical path to understanding God and our own place in the universe. Now, is a moment of reinvigoration, he argues. Now is moment of renewal. Now is the future.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Year of Living Biblically A. J. Jacobs, 2008-09-09 The bestselling author of The Know-It-All takes on history's most influential book.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Science and the Near-Death Experience Chris Carter, 2010-08-23 The scientific evidence for life after death • Explains why near-death experiences (NDEs) offer evidence of an afterlife and discredits the psychological and physiological explanations for them • Challenges materialist arguments against consciousness surviving death • Examines ancient and modern accounts of NDEs from around the world, including China, India, and many from tribal societies such as the Native American and the Maori Predating all organized religion, the belief in an afterlife is fundamental to the human experience and dates back at least to the Neanderthals. By the mid-19th century, however, spurred by the progress of science, many people began to question the existence of an afterlife, and the doctrine of materialism--which believes that consciousness is a creation of the brain--began to spread. Now, using scientific evidence, Chris Carter challenges materialist arguments against consciousness surviving death and shows how near-death experiences (NDEs) may truly provide a glimpse of an awaiting afterlife. Using evidence from scientific studies, quantum mechanics, and consciousness research, Carter reveals how consciousness does not depend on the brain and may, in fact, survive the death of our bodies. Examining ancient and modern accounts of NDEs from around the world, including China, India, and tribal societies such as the Native American and the Maori, he explains how NDEs provide evidence of consciousness surviving the death of our bodies. He looks at the many psychological and physiological explanations for NDEs raised by skeptics--such as stress, birth memories, or oxygen starvation--and clearly shows why each of them fails to truly explain the NDE. Exploring the similarities between NDEs and visions experienced during actual death and the intersection of physics and consciousness, Carter uncovers the truth about mind, matter, and life after death.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: How to Be Spiritual Without Being Religious D. Patrick Miller, 2018 Patrick's writing is so clear and heartfelt that it is hard to believe that he did not write the book for you--whoever you are, and wherever you may be on your journey. --Iyanla Vanzant, host Iyanla Fix My Life Authentic Spirituality Without Religion According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 37 percent of Americans identify themselves as spiritual but not religious. How to Be Spiritual Without Being Religious is a book for that sizable number of folks who seek a rich and authentic interior life but find formal religious affiliation unappealing. It is a clear and nondogmatic guide for finding one's own path of transformation, for embracing a vision of a practical faith that enhances a life of happiness and peace. Miller's concise approach arises out of what he calls the spirituality of ordinary life. It is an approach dedicated to exploring the big questions: Why am I here? Who am I? What is the best way to be of use. A spiritual faith is a more practical way to deal with everyday life than cynicism, toughness, or defensiveness...it daily increases its usefulness and reliability. Spirituality is the way out of misery, the way in to self-knowledge, and the way toward a more fulfilling and effective life. --From the introduction Praise for The Book of Practical Faith: Succinct and salutary . . . D. Patrick Miller's thoughtful treatment of faith clarifies why this is such an important part of the sacred adventure of life. --Frederic Brussat, Spirituality and Practice This book offers a gentle, disciplined approach to growth with subtle insight and compassion. Miller names the habitual obstacles that keep us small and opens up a way to greater love, faith, and freedom. --J. Ruth Gendler, author of The Book of Qualities
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Religion for Atheists Alain De Botton, 2012-03-06 From the author of The Architecture of Happiness, a deeply moving meditation on how we can still benefit, without believing, from the wisdom, the beauty, and the consolatory power that religion has to offer. Alain de Botton was brought up in a committedly atheistic household, and though he was powerfully swayed by his parents' views, he underwent, in his mid-twenties, a crisis of faithlessness. His feelings of doubt about atheism had their origins in listening to Bach's cantatas, were further developed in the presence of certain Bellini Madonnas, and became overwhelming with an introduction to Zen architecture. However, it was not until his father's death -- buried under a Hebrew headstone in a Jewish cemetery because he had intriguingly omitted to make more secular arrangements -- that Alain began to face the full degree of his ambivalence regarding the views of religion that he had dutifully accepted. Why are we presented with the curious choice between either committing to peculiar concepts about immaterial deities or letting go entirely of a host of consoling, subtle and effective rituals and practices for which there is no equivalent in secular society? Why do we bristle at the mention of the word morality? Flee from the idea that art should be uplifting, or have an ethical purpose? Why don't we build temples? What mechanisms do we have for expressing gratitude? The challenge that de Botton addresses in his book: how to separate ideas and practices from the religious institutions that have laid claim to them. In Religion for Atheists is an argument to free our soul-related needs from the particular influence of religions, even if it is, paradoxically, the study of religion that will allow us to rediscover and rearticulate those needs.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Mindfulness Joseph Goldstein, 2016-03-01 The mind contains the seeds of its own awakening—seeds that we can cultivate to bring forth the fruits of a life lived consciously. With Mindfulness, Joseph Goldstein shares the wisdom of his four decades of teaching and practice in a book that will serve as a lifelong companion for anyone committed to mindful living and the realization of inner freedom. Goldstein’s source teaching is the Satipa??hana Sutta, the Buddha’s legendary discourse on the four foundations of mindfulness that became the basis for the many types of Vipassana (or insight meditation) found today. Exquisite in detail yet wholly accessible and relevant for the modern student, Mindfulness takes us through a profound study of: • Mindfulness of body, including the breath, postures, activities, and physical characteristics • Mindfulness of feelings—how the experience of our sense perceptions influences our inner and outer worlds • Mindfulness of mind—learning to recognize skillful and unskillful states of mind and thought • Mindfulness of dhammas (or categories of experience), including the Five Hindrances, the Six Sense Spheres, and the Seven Factors of Awakening There is a wealth of meaning and nuance in the experience of mindfulness that can enrich our lives in unimagined ways, writes Goldstein. In Mindfulness you have the tools to mine these riches for yourself.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Lotus and the Robot Arthur Koestler, 1961
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Conscious Annaka Harris, 2019-06-04 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER If you’ve ever wondered how you have the capacity to wonder, some fascinating insights await you in these pages.” --Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals As concise and enlightening as Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, this mind-expanding dive into the mystery of consciousness is an illuminating meditation on the self, free will, and felt experience. What is consciousness? How does it arise? And why does it exist? We take our experience of being in the world for granted. But the very existence of consciousness raises profound questions: Why would any collection of matter in the universe be conscious? How are we able to think about this? And why should we? In this wonderfully accessible book, Annaka Harris guides us through the evolving definitions, philosophies, and scientific findings that probe our limited understanding of consciousness. Where does it reside, and what gives rise to it? Could it be an illusion, or a universal property of all matter? As we try to understand consciousness, we must grapple with how to define it and, in the age of artificial intelligence, who or what might possess it. Conscious offers lively and challenging arguments that alter our ideas about consciousness—allowing us to think freely about it for ourselves, if indeed we can.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Old Soul's Guidebook Ainslie MacLeod, 2019-04-08 Acclaimed spiritual teacher, author, and past-life psychic Ainslie MacLeod offers a practical guide to tap into your wealth of past-life experiences to help boost your success in this lifetime.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Selfless Insight James H. Austin, 2011-09-30 Attention, self-consciousness, insight, wisdom, emotional maturity: how Zen teachings can illuminate the way our brains function and vice-versa. When neurology researcher James Austin began Zen training, he found that his medical education was inadequate. During the past three decades, he has been at the cutting edge of both Zen and neuroscience, constantly discovering new examples of how these two large fields each illuminate the other. Now, in Selfless Insight, Austin arrives at a fresh synthesis, one that invokes the latest brain research to explain the basis for meditative states and clarifies what Zen awakening implies for our understanding of consciousness. Austin, author of the widely read Zen and the Brain, reminds us why Zen meditation is not only mindfully attentive but evolves to become increasingly selfless and intuitive. Meditators are gradually learning how to replace over-emotionality with calm, clear objective comprehension. In this new book, Austin discusses how meditation trains our attention, reprogramming it toward subtle forms of awareness that are more openly mindful. He explains how our maladaptive notions of self are rooted in interactive brain functions. And he describes how, after the extraordinary, deep states of kensho-satori strike off the roots of the self, a flash of transforming insight-wisdom leads toward ways of living more harmoniously and selflessly. Selfless Insight is the capstone to Austin's journey both as a creative neuroscientist and as a Zen practitioner. His quest has spanned an era of unprecedented progress in brain research and has helped define the exciting new field of contemplative neuroscience.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: In the Absence of God Sam Keen, 2010-03-09 In his new book, bestselling author Sam Keen challenges the notions and habits we’ve formed about religion over the centuries in order for us to build a deeper faith, that is relevant today. He asks: * How has religion failed us?. * Must we choose between dogmatic religion and atheism? * How might religion unite rather than divide us? The answers, Keen discovers, point the way back to the primal emotions, to the life-giving sense of dwelling in the presence of the sacred.. In the Absence of God sets out to recover the elemental experience of the sacred in everyday life. By appreciating emotions like wonder, gratitude, anxiety, joy, grief, reverence, compassion, outrage, hope and humility we may once again find ourselves in the presence of an unknowable but all present G-D. We may also regain the commonalities between Christians, Jews, Muslims, and other spirit traditions and end the contentious differences that have divided them and our world.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: An Atheist Manifesto Joseph Lewis, 2021-04-25 'An Atheist Manifesto' is a book about atheism, and what constitutes as such, written by Joseph Lewis. He was an American freethinker and atheist activist, publisher, and litigator. During the mid-twentieth century, he was one of America's most conspicuous public atheists. Lewis developed his ideas from reading, among others, Robert G. Ingersoll, whose published works made him aware of Thomas Paine. He was first impressed by atheism after having read a large volume of lectures of Ingersoll devoted to his idol Paine, which was brought to their house by his older brother. He later credited Paine's The Age of Reason with helping him abandon theism.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: The Philosophy Book DK, 2015-03-02 Discover how our big social, political and ethical ideas are formed with The Philosophy Book. Part of the fascinating Big Ideas series, this book tackles tricky topics and themes in a simple and easy to follow format. Learn about Philosophy in this overview guide to the subject, great for beginners looking to learn and experts wishing to refresh their knowledge alike! The Philosophy Book brings a fresh and vibrant take on the topic through eye-catching graphics and diagrams to immerse yourself in. This captivating book will broaden your understanding of Philosophy, with: - Key quotes from more than 100 of the great thinkers of philosophy - Packed with facts, charts, timelines and graphs to help explain core concepts - A visual approach to big subjects with striking illustrations and graphics throughout - Easy to follow text makes topics accessible for people at any level of understanding The Philosophy Book is the perfect introduction to philosophy, aimed at adults with an interest in the subject and students wanting to gain more of an overview. Here you'll discover how key concepts in philosophy have shaped our world, with authoritative articles that explore big ideas. Learn about everyone who's contributed to the flow of world philosophy, from antiquity to the modern age, through superb mind maps explaining the line of thought. Your Philosophical Questions, Simply Explained If you thought it was difficult to learn philosophy and its many concepts, The Philosophy Book presents the key ideas in a clear layout. Find out what philosophers thought about the nature of reality, and the fundamental questions we ask ourselves; What is the meaning of life? What is the Universe made of? And work your way through the different branches of philosophy such as metaphysics and ethics, from ancient and modern thinkers. The Big Ideas Series With millions of copies sold worldwide, The Philosophy Book is part of the award-winning Big Ideas series from DK. The series uses striking graphics along with engaging writing, making big topics easy to understand.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: On Having No Head Douglas Edison Harding, 2013-07 Originally published: The Buddhist Society, 1961.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: Real Love Sharon Salzberg, 2017-06-06 The New York Times bestselling author and a central figure in the field of meditation, Sharon Salzberg, uses ancient Buddhist wisdom to redefine love and experience it in a more profound way. You are a person worthy of love. You don’t have to do anything to deserve all the love in the world. Real Love is a creative tool kit of mindfulness exercises and meditation techniques that help you to truly engage with your present experience and create deeper love relationships with yourself, your partner, friends and family, and with life itself. Sharon Salzberg, a leading expert in Lovingkindness meditation, encourages us to strip away layers of negative habits and obstacles, helping us to experience authentic love based on direct experience, rather than preconceptions. Across three sections, Sharon explains how to dispel cultural and emotional habits, and direct focused care and attention to recapture the essence of what it is to love and be loved. With positive reflections and practices, Sharon teaches us how to shift the responsibilities of the love that we give and receive to rekindle the powerful healing force of true connection. By challenging myths perpetuated by popular culture, we can undo the limited definitions that reduce love to simply romance or passion, and give the heart a much needed tune-up to connect ourselves to the truest experience of love in our daily lives.
  sam harris spirituality without religion: For God's Sake Antony Loewenstein, Jane Caro, Rachel Woodlock, Simon Smart, 2013-07-01 Four Australian thinkers come together to ask and answer the big questions, such as: What is the nature of the universe? Doesn't religion cause most of the conflict in the world? and Where do we find hope? We are introduced to the detail of different belief systems - Judaism, Christianity, Islam - and to the argument that atheism, like organised religion, has its own compelling logic. And we gain insight into the life events that led each author to their current position. Jane Caro flirted briefly with spiritual belief, inspired by 19th century literary heroines such as Elizabeth Gaskell and the Brontë sisters. Antony Lowenstein is proudly culturally, yet unconventionally, Jewish. Simon Smart is firmly and resolutely a Christian, but one who has had some of his most profound spiritual moments while surfing. Rachel Woodlock grew up in the alternative embrace of Baha'i belief but became entranced by its older parent religion, Islam. Provocative, informative and passionately argued, For God's Sake encourages us to accept religious differences but to also challenge more vigorously the beliefs that create discord.