Comments on: Readers Sound Off on Harris vs Collins

By: Harris Lays the Smack Down on Collins | AnAtheist.Net

Harris Lays the Smack Down on Collins | AnAtheist.Net — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:10:36 +0000

[...] on the relationship between science and his evangelical Christianity. Unsurprisingly, the piece was roundly criticized. In response, Harris has published a longer version of the op-ed piece together with responses to [...]

By: Mariano

Mariano — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:39:51 +0000

Sam Harris has a one word answer to all of the world’s ills: religion.

Thus, anyone who is religious is, a priori, part of the problem.

Moreover, as evidenced at the following link, Harris himself is becoming a scientist not in order to conduct unbiased research but in order to attempt to evidence atheism.

http://atheismisdead.blogspot.com/2009/05/atheism...

Also, FYI: interesting info on Collins is found here:
http://atheismisdead.blogspot.com/2009/04/john-ho...

http://atheismisdead.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-ath...

By: James Tracy

James Tracy — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:28:31 +0000

Hold on there a minute – there are plenty of Christian scientists whose beliefs have no obvious effect on their science. Take Ken Miller, from the first letter, for example. He is an evolutionary biologist. His Catholicism does not prejudice his work in evolutionary biology. Collins, however, has frequently spoken about how morality and ethics are gifts from God and therefore do not fall under the purview of science – and this happens to be an area of active interest to Sam Harris (even if it is not for Collins). So, it should be clear why Collins' statements to that regard would make Harris uncomfortable.

Collins also frequently goes around using science in non-scientific ways to support his religious beliefs that should be embarrassing to any sincere scientist out there.

By: poetry

poetry — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 13:34:06 +0000

The funny thing about Harris's critique and it is echoed here, is intellectual dishonesty. Many of the letters came out in support Collins points to Mr Harris's prejudice. Mr. Harris's defenders say that he is not saying that a Christian cannot be a good scientist, only ones that who have kooky ideas, but according to Mr. Harris most if not all Christian ideas are kooky. He then can attack Christians and then retreat saying he is misunderstood and does not mean prejudice. Quote: "Francis Collins is an accomplished scientist and a man who is sincere in his beliefs. And that is precisely what makes me so uncomfortable about his nomination." It like saying he is not against Bald scientists, it just the ones without hair on the head who should be excluded. Nice Orwellian trick of language, irrationality at best, if you can get away with it. Such thinking maybe reason that is why Mr Harris lacks in any scientific advancement to his resume. The irony is that Dr Collins will be nominated; he will do a get job, and will remembered as a great scientist with a long resume of scientific accomplishments. Mr Harris, not so much.