Is this author right when he says that faith can not heal a divided world?

Question

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/sam_harris/2006/11/faith_and_an_undivided_world.html

Please, if you can't be bothered to read and think for 5 minuets, don't answer my question.

Answer 1

The key is not the faith, as I have said, but the close minded approach to denying what "could" be true. Absolute denial and absolute disrespect are bad in these cases where the actual truth does not matter. Absolute truth is more important in areas of science and mathematics, rather than history and religious dogma.

Answer 2

I have read Sam Harris opinions. Not sure if I agree. What is it that would heal a divided world? Even without a faith, there will still be divisions based on cultural differences, or political power. There would still be some type of belief(faith) system in place or replaced, and it too would clash.

Answer 3

I agree 100% with Sam Harris. He is one of the shining lights of the new atheist political movement.

Faith can't heal a divided world, because it is faith that is largely responsible for the divisions.

Answer 4

I can appreciate what Sam Harris is saying. My idea of faith in this case is; individuals building on the remote possibility that a divided world can be healed.---------I'm not talking about uniqueness and creative differences. I mean 'divided' in the sense that people are perpetuating conflicts like war on any level.

Answer 5

As far as using faith itself to "heal divided world," he is correct. But a cautionary note should be sounded here. Let's not lump all those of faith into narrow, exclusivist categories. Even though I am a non-believer, I have known people of faith who possess a drive to better the condition of their fellows - and I'm not referring to a missionary zeal to increase God's following.

My point is that love of humanity, as a felt-force in life, is a condition found in many degrees of faith - from all to none. The man whose idea is to "bring the truth of Jesus" to raging world conflict is suspect (at best). But let's admit that there are those who have space for humanity AND a God, in their hearts, and can be a positive force.

Answer 6

Yes, the author is correct. Faith has divided the world, not healed it. The only thing that can unify the world is forgiveness, understanding, compassion and love (wisdom).

Answer 7

Faith can heal a divided world. If we can get all on the same page, in one accord, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished.

Answer 8

I agree. To some extent religions have similarities and differences. It is not even possible to compromise one belief with another. Even inside a religion, there will be different ideas and opinion. There will be division when conflicts arise.

However, I have seen that this does not happen with JWs...they are one when it comes to faith and there is no division, not even of color, race, language. Because JWs have one defined Faith, one worshipping Jehovah, they know and respect each other (I am speaking worldwide) even in this chaotic, warring, divided world.

John 13:34 "I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another. 35 By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves.”

Answer 9

I think he is talking about the world divided by faith. Anyways, there is one thing that can make us together irrespective of what we believe, willingness to talk. He was saying about that. Lest we shall fight like the lilliputs who fought with each other because they break egg in different fashion.

Answer 10

Faith ALONE won't do the trick. You have to look beyond to the person within to try and heal the world.

And as long as the mentality is "My faith is the one true religion" nothing gets accomplished