When Atheists Attack

WHY on earth is this article headlined "When atheists attack"? This point of view has nothing to do with atheism--I am a mainstream god-fearing Jew married to a mainstream god-fearing Catholic, and we agree with every on of Harris' words. What is Newsweek trying to accomplish by this sensationalism?

If the comments below represent the best intellectual response by your readership to Harris's article, they serve as far greater evidence of their mediocrity and decision-making incompetence than any comments found in Hariss's article. I am with Sam. I want the "best of the best" at America's helm. I want someone *smarter* than the "average American" - an elite leader - to steer the direction of this country, not some backwater hick. "Gud enuf" is NOT good enough for America!

I understand Mr. Harris's views and respect the fact that he can hold them, but to lump all Christians into a collective idiot camp is contrived and disingenuous. Many of the greatest national and world leaders that have been able to successfully lead this nation among others have been Christian. Not to speak of the majority of founding fathers and historic presidents.
Even a brief assessment of Mr. Harris???s diatribe on the abilities of Christians to hold public office shows his disdain for all people of faith. This is a fundamental dichotomy which distracts from the realities of history and precedence. A casual observer of western civilization history would be hard pressed to assert the propositions that Mr. Harris has regarding the inability of people of faith to lead.
Recent history alone has shown that the same prejudice held by Mr. Harris is unwarranted and ultimately harmful to the dialog on policy and national interests. John F Kennedy was disdained by many, even Christians, as unfit to lead due to his Catholic faith. Ronald Reagan, a former actor and then governor, was chastised for his ties to the ???religious right??? but affected an unprecedented wave of democracy and freedom among the majority of the rest of the world including the former Soviet Union and communist Europe.
The hypocrisy of Mr. Harris???s argument is suppositional in that his obvious leaning toward the democrat ticket of Obama and Biden still leaves his arguments out in the cold. What faith do these nominees purport to hold to and follow? Whether Christian, Muslim, or the abject faith of modern humanism and Atheism ??? all form and shape worldviews which should be studied and understood by all voters and free thinkers as we approach this election.

Everyone keeps saying this election is important. What in the hell is so important about this election than any other. The issues are the same. They haven't change in 200 years you idiots. They are well known now with the media and all. But they are the same. Just know you know when someone changes their shoes. So don't give me this election is important. Maybe it is because of a black man running for president. If so, that is sad. Should not make a difference. But it has and that is the truth.

If the comments below represent the best intellectual response by your readership to Harris's article, they serve as far greater evidence of their mediocrity and decision-making incompetence than any comments found in Hariss's article. I am with Sam. I want the "best of the best" at America's helm. I want someone *smarter* than the "average American" - an elite leader - to steer the direction of this country, not some backwater hick. "Gud enuf" is NOT good enough for America!

Everyone keeps saying this election is important. What in the hell is so important about this election than any other. The issues are the same. They haven't change in 200 years you idiots. They are well known now with the media and all. But they are the same. Just know you know when someone changes their shoes. So don't give me this election is important. Maybe it is because of a black man running for president. If so, that is sad. Should not make a difference. But it has and that is the truth.

Mr. Harris;
Why not make the same analysis for Sen. Obama. He is not the pinical of political experience. In fact his short time in office and the number of his "Present" votes does not define a strong political knowledge or sterling performance. And this is the man running for the "Office of President", not VP!

Focus? Seems right on the mark to me to point out a little bit about the fundamentals of Pentacostal belief, and the potential ramifications of putting the trigger for nuclear doomsday into the hands of someone whose faith predisposes them to think Judgment Day will be a Good Thing! NONE of the other aspects of "effective governance" will matter one whit, if this ultimate power...basically the power to bring about the end of the world as we know it...is entrusted into the wrong hands. Like the hands of true-believers of apocalyptic religions, who MIGHT just honestly believe that God WANTS them to push the button.

Well said, but only "intellectual elite liberals" are likely to read this and get your message. The people who love Palin will love her until the day she sends us to heaven/oblivion.An interesting article from outside the US that puts this in perspective, albeit with conservative leanings, is here: http://tinyurl.com/4pq5sp

All this talk of liberal elitism slays me. Isn't what the Republicans are doing now the worst kind of elitism around? If they are not elite, how can they continue to get away with sounding off on issues that their own party engages in throughout campaigns? Earmarks are bad, unless it gets A LOT of money for your constituents (a la the Bridge to Nowhere that Palin "fought" after it was dead in the US Congress and all the projects that have brought billions into Arizona for McCain's constituents over the years). Teen pregnancy and pregnancy out of wedlock are bad, unless it is a conservative's kid doing it. Then it's a beautiful affirmation of love and devotion. Attacking female politicians like Clinton isn't sexist, but examining Palin is. Getting away from discussing the issues and talking without substance (as they accuse Obama of doing) is meaningless, unless it's the Republicnas doing it and then it's about "energizing the base" and "bringing change."
I wish conservative Republicnas could turn the microscope on themselves once in a while. This is the worst kind of elitism, the kind the Republicans decried the Democrats for in 2004 and are doing again in 2008. Oh, wait. It's probably NOT elitism, because now they are the ones doing it...

If there are any people with common sense left here is why we are in the financial mess we are in

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_hassett&sid=aSKSoiNbnQY0

Bravo for Sam Harris! It is about time someone recognizes the absurdity that this VP pick is and the hypocritical moral double talk of the conservative right. Sarah Palin is nothing more than a tool for McCain to get elected, and a figure head. He chose her for political gain and without any regard to her experience, education, or political past, which is full of mud. This whole political likeability personalities election - politicial + celebrity- is an insult to the educated minds of which Harris has plenty off. Thank goodness for reason, where will we be without our secularist friends, in the Dark Ages!!

What's with this palin-fixation? I am a strong Obama/Biden supporter. Yet your article offends me. You speak of her as if she is the anti-christ. Everyone already knows that Governor Palin is ill prepared to fully embrace the job of Vice President or step into the role of President. You are off task. Focus on effective governance issues when speaking about any of the candidates and I'll continue to read. We're losing our shirts right now! Stay focused!!!!

I was raised to know that politics and religion does not go together. At least in the same sentence. However, my view of your article. If I was on the street. You most certainly would be toast. Your view point is your view point. Isn't great to be an American?? One small thing from your article tho. If Sarah Palin isn't ready for that then you are saying that one must be an elite to be able to achieve and the last time I checked that sure in the hell isn't the American way. It would be like saying that I am not good enough for this position. GOOD ENOUGH. Now is that American.

Senator Obama ready to rumble says his debating coach John D. Sophist Professor of Rhetoric at Bowdoin College. "Obama has mastered my techniques. Look for him to obsfucate, question the premises, launch ad hominem attacks, and weasel out by saying that it is beyond his pay grade. "