# Sam Harris

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American neuroscientist and philosopher (born 1967)

For other people with the same name, see [Sam Harris (disambiguation)](/source/Sam_Harris_(disambiguation)).

Sam Harris Harris in 2016 Born Samuel Benjamin Harris (1967-04-09) April 9, 1967 (age 59) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Occupation Neuroscientist philosopher author podcaster Education Stanford University (BA) University of California, Los Angeles (PhD) Subject Neuroscience; philosophy; religion; spirituality; ethics; politics Notable awards PEN/Martha Albrand Award Webby Award Spouse Annaka Gorton ​ (m. 2004)​ Children 2 Parents Berkeley Harris Susan Spivak Signature Education Thesis The moral landscape: How science could determine human values (2009) Doctoral advisor Mark Cohen Philosophical work Era Contemporary philosophy Region Western philosophy Website samharris.org

**Samuel Benjamin Harris** (born April 9, 1967) is an American neuroscientist, philosopher, author, and podcast host. His work includes a range of topics, including [rationality](/source/Rationality), religion, ethics, [free will](/source/Free_will), [determinism](/source/Determinism), [neuroscience](/source/Neuroscience), [meditation](/source/Meditation), [psychedelics](/source/Psychedelics), [philosophy of mind](/source/Philosophy_of_mind), politics, terrorism, and artificial intelligence. Harris came to prominence for his [criticism of religion](/source/Criticism_of_religion), and he is known as one of the "[Four Horsemen](/source/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse)" of [New Atheism](/source/New_Atheism), along with [Richard Dawkins](/source/Richard_Dawkins), [Christopher Hitchens](/source/Christopher_Hitchens), and [Daniel Dennett](/source/Daniel_Dennett).

Harris's first book, *[The End of Faith](/source/The_End_of_Faith)* (2004), won the [PEN/Martha Albrand Award](/source/PEN_American_Center_inactive_awards#Martha_Albrand_Award_for_First_Nonfiction_(1989–2006)) for First Nonfiction and remained on *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* Best Seller list for 33 weeks. He has since written six additional books: *[Letter to a Christian Nation](/source/Letter_to_a_Christian_Nation)* (2006); *[The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values](/source/The_Moral_Landscape)* (2010); the essay *[Lying](/source/Lying_(Harris_book))* (2011); the short book *[Free Will](/source/Free_Will_(book))* (2012); *[Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion](/source/Waking_Up%3A_A_Guide_to_Spirituality_Without_Religion)* (2014); and (with British writer Maajid Nawaz) *[Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue](/source/Islam_and_the_Future_of_Tolerance)* (2015). His work has been translated into over 20 languages.

Since September 2013, Harris has hosted the *Making Sense* podcast (originally titled *Waking Up*). He also launched a meditation app called *Waking Up*, promoting [secular](/source/Secularity) [mindfulness](/source/Mindfulness) practices. Harris has debated with many prominent figures on religion, including [Reza Aslan](/source/Reza_Aslan), [David Wolpe](/source/David_Wolpe), [Robert Wright](/source/Robert_Wright_(journalist)), [Rick Warren](/source/Rick_Warren), [William Lane Craig](/source/William_Lane_Craig), [Jordan Peterson](/source/Jordan_Peterson) and [Deepak Chopra](/source/Deepak_Chopra). Some critics have argued that Harris's writings and public statements on [Islam](/source/Islam) are [Islamophobic](/source/Islamophobic); Harris and his supporters reject that characterization, arguing instead that the label is sometimes used to silence criticism.

## Early life and education

Samuel Benjamin Harris was born in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), California, on April 9, 1967.[1][2] He is the son of the late actor Berkeley Harris, who appeared mainly in [Western](/source/Western_(genre)) films, and television writer and producer [Susan Harris](/source/Susan_Harris) (née Spivak), who created *[Soap](/source/Soap_(TV_series))* and *[The Golden Girls](/source/The_Golden_Girls)*, among other series.[3][4] His father, born in [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina), came from a [Quaker](/source/Quakers) background, and his mother is [Jewish](/source/Jews).[5] He was raised by his mother following his parents' divorce when he was age two.[SH 1] Harris has stated that his upbringing was entirely secular and that his parents rarely discussed religion, though he also stated that he was not raised as an [atheist](/source/Atheist).[6]

While his original major was in English, Harris became interested in philosophical questions while at [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University) after an experience with [MDMA](/source/Empathogen%E2%80%93entactogen).[7][8][9] The experience interested him in the idea he might be able to achieve spiritual insights without the use of drugs.[10] Leaving Stanford in his second year, a quarter after his psychoactive experience, he visited [India](/source/India) and [Nepal](/source/Nepal), where he studied [meditation](/source/Meditation) with teachers of [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism) and [Hindu](/source/Hinduism) religions,[10][11] including [Dilgo Khyentse](/source/Dilgo_Khyentse).[SH 2] For a few weeks in the early 1990s, he was a volunteer guard in the security detail of [the Dalai Lama](/source/14th_Dalai_Lama).[12][11]

In 1997, after eleven years overseas, Harris returned to Stanford, completing a [B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree in [philosophy](/source/Philosophy) in 2000.[11][13][14] Harris began writing his first book, *[The End of Faith](/source/The_End_of_Faith)*, immediately after the [September 11 attacks](/source/September_11_attacks).[11] He received a [Ph.D.](/source/PhD.) in [cognitive neuroscience](/source/Cognitive_neuroscience) in 2009 from the [University of California, Los Angeles](/source/University_of_California%2C_Los_Angeles),[11][15][16] using [functional magnetic resonance imaging](/source/Functional_magnetic_resonance_imaging) to conduct research into the neural basis of belief, disbelief, and uncertainty.[11][16] His thesis was titled *The Moral Landscape: How Science Could Determine Human Values*. His advisor was [Mark S. Cohen](/source/Mark_S._Cohen).[17]

## Career

### Writing

Harris's writing concerns [philosophy](/source/Philosophy), [neuroscience](/source/Neuroscience), and [criticism of religion](/source/Criticism_of_religion). He came to prominence for his criticism of religion ([Islam](/source/Islam) in particular) and he is described as one of the [Four Horsemen of Atheism](/source/New_Atheism#The_"Four_Horsemen"), along with [Richard Dawkins](/source/Richard_Dawkins), [Christopher Hitchens](/source/Christopher_Hitchens), and [Daniel Dennett](/source/Daniel_Dennett).[18][19] He has written for publications such as *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*, *[The Economist](/source/The_Economist)*, *[The Times](/source/The_Times)* (of London), *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)*, and *[The Atlantic](/source/The_Atlantic)*.[20] Five of Harris's books have been [*New York Times* bestsellers](/source/The_New_York_Times_Best_Seller_list), and his writing has been translated into over 20 languages.[20] *[The End of Faith](/source/The_End_of_Faith)* (2004) remained on *The New York Times* Best Seller list for 33 weeks.[21]

### Podcast

In September 2013, Harris began releasing the *Waking Up* podcast (since re-titled *Making Sense*). Episodes vary in length but often last over two hours.[22] Releases do not follow a regular schedule.[23] The podcast focuses on a wide array of topics related to science and spirituality, including philosophy, religion, morality, free will, neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, politics, terrorism, and artificial intelligence. Harris has interviewed a wide range of guests, including scientists, philosophers, spiritual teachers, and authors. Guests have included [Jordan Peterson](/source/Jordan_Peterson), [Daniel Dennett](/source/Daniel_Dennett), [Janna Levin](/source/Janna_Levin), [Peter Singer](/source/Peter_Singer), and [David Chalmers](/source/David_Chalmers).[23][24][3][25]

### Meditation app

In September 2018, Harris released a meditation course app, *Waking Up with Sam Harris*. The app provides daily meditations; long guided meditations; daily "Moments" (brief meditations and reminders); conversations with thought leaders in psychology, meditation, philosophy, psychedelics, and other disciplines; a selection of lessons on various topics, such as *Mind & Emotion*, *Free Will*, and *Doing Good*; and more. Users of the app are introduced to several types of meditation, such as [mindfulness](/source/Mindfulness) meditation, [vipassanā](/source/Vipassan%C4%81)-style meditation, [loving-kindness meditation](/source/Mett%C4%81#Mettā_meditation), and [Dzogchen](/source/Dzogchen).[26] In September 2020, Harris announced his commitment to donate at least 10% of Waking Up's profits to highly [effective](/source/Effective_altruism) charities,[27] thus becoming the first company to sign the [Giving What We Can](/source/Giving_What_We_Can) pledge for companies.[28] The pledge was retroactive, taking into account the profits since the day the app launched two years previously.[27]

## Socio-religious views

### Religion

Part of a series on Atheism Concepts Implicit and explicit atheism Naturalism Negative and positive atheism History History of atheism Atheism during the Age of Enlightenment New Atheism Society Atheist feminism Criticism of religion Demographics of atheism Discrimination against atheists Secular ethics Secularism Separation of church and state State atheism Arguments Arguments for atheism Atheist's wager Creator of God Evil God challenge Fate of the unlearned Free will God of the gaps Hitchens's razor Incompatible properties Inconsistent revelation Nonbelief Occam's razor Omnipotence paradox Parody religion Poor design Problem of evil Problem of Hell Russell's teapot Theological noncognitivism People Lists of atheists Julian Baggini Mikhail Bakunin Simone de Beauvoir Mario Bunge Albert Camus Richard Dawkins Daniel Dennett Denis Diderot Nawal El Saadawi Ludwig Feuerbach Emma Goldman A. C. Grayling Sam Harris Martin Heidegger Christopher Hitchens Baron d'Holbach Frida Kahlo Fumiko Kaneko Lawrence Krauss Michael Lou Martin Karl Marx Jean Meslier Friedrich Nietzsche Michel Onfray Ayn Rand Bertrand Russell Peter Singer Victor J. Stenger Books Atheism: The Case Against God Breaking the Spell De rerum natura The End of Faith The God Delusion God Is Not Great The System of Nature Related stances Irreligion Agnosticism Freethought Secular humanism Atheism and religion Criticism of atheism Nontheistic religion Secular spirituality Outline Category Philosophy portal WikiProject v t e

Harris is generally a critic of religion, and is considered a leading figure in the [New Atheist](/source/New_Atheist) movement. Harris is particularly opposed to what he refers to as [dogmatic](/source/Dogma) belief, and says that "Pretending to know things one doesn't know is a betrayal of science – and yet it is the lifeblood of religion."[SH 3] While purportedly opposed to religion in general and their belief systems, Harris believes that all religions are not created equal.[3] Often invoking the non-violent nature of [Jainism](/source/Jainism)[29] to contrast with [Islam](/source/Islam),[30] Harris argues that the differences in religious doctrines and scriptures are the main indicators of a religion's value.[SH 4][31]

Harris has often noted some positive aspects of [Buddhist](/source/Buddhist) thought, especially in relation to meditation, such as [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism)'s emphasis that one's behavior and intentions impact the mind, and in order to achieve happiness, one needs to strive towards "overcoming fear and hatred" while "maximizing love and compassion".[31] In 2019, while discussing his book *Waking Up: Searching for Spirituality Without Religion,* Harris noted that the West could learn a lot from the East about the traditions of meditation found in [Hinduism](/source/Hinduism) and [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism),[3] though he considers that meditation can be practiced without any traditional religious beliefs.[32]

Harris emphasizes that all religions are not the same and that if any religion can be considered a "religion of peace", it is not Islam, but rather [Jainism](/source/Jainism),[30][29][31] which emerged in India around the same time as Buddhism, and has non-violence as its core doctrine.[31] He underscores that to be a practicing Jain, one has to be a vegetarian and a pacifist, while the Jain monks even wear masks in order to avoid breathing in any living thing.[31][29] He argues that even the Jain religion has its problems, as Jains believe certain things based on insufficient evidence, which leads to some religious dogmas.[31] Harris has participated in numerous debates on religion including with [Robert Wright](/source/Robert_Wright_(journalist)),[33] [Andrew Sullivan](/source/Andrew_Sullivan)[34] [David Wolpe](/source/David_Wolpe),[35] [Reza Aslan](/source/Reza_Aslan),[36] and [Jordan Peterson](/source/Jordan_Peterson).[37] In 2010, Harris joined [Michael Shermer](/source/Michael_Shermer) to debate with [Deepak Chopra](/source/Deepak_Chopra) and [Jean Houston](/source/Jean_Houston) on the future of God in a debate hosted by *[ABC News Nightline](/source/Nightline)*.[38]

#### Christianity

Harris is critical of the [Christian right](/source/Christian_right) in politics in the United States, blaming them for the political focus on "pseudo-problems like gay marriage".[39] He has described Christian philosophical arguments for the existence of God such as the [Leap of faith](/source/Leap_of_faith) and [Pascal's wager](/source/Pascal's_wager) which were developed by [Blaise Pascal](/source/Blaise_Pascal) and [Søren Kierkegaard](/source/S%C3%B8ren_Kierkegaard) as "epistemological [Ponzi schemes](/source/Ponzi_scheme)".[40] He is also critical of [liberal Christianity](/source/Liberal_Christianity) – as represented, for instance, by the theology of [Paul Tillich](/source/Paul_Tillich) – which he argues claims to base its beliefs on the Bible despite actually being influenced by secular modernity. He further states that in so doing liberal Christianity provides rhetorical cover to fundamentalists.[39]

Harris is highly critical of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church), saying that "The Catholic Church is more concerned about preventing [contraception](/source/Contraception) than preventing child rape".[30] In May 2010, Harris along with [Richard Dawkins](/source/Richard_Dawkins), [Christopher Hitchens](/source/Christopher_Hitchens), and Harris's foundation Project Reason called for the end of the [Vatican's](/source/Vatican_City) “diplomatic immunity" citing the [numerous allegations of sexual abuse against the Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church_sexual_abuse_cases) and its tolerance of such abuse.[SH 5] In April 2007, Harris debated with evangelical pastor [Rick Warren](/source/Rick_Warren) for *[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)* magazine.[41] Harris debated with Christian philosopher [William Lane Craig](/source/William_Lane_Craig) in April 2011 on whether there can be an [objective](/source/Objectivity_(philosophy)) [morality](/source/Morality) without God.[42]

#### Islam

In 2006, Harris described [Islam](/source/Islam) as "all fringe and no center",[SH 6] and wrote in *[The End of Faith](/source/The_End_of_Faith)* that "the doctrine of Islam ... represents a unique danger to all of us", arguing that the [war on terror](/source/War_on_terror) is really a war against Islam.[43] In 2007, Harris in the famous "Four Horsemen" debate asked fellow atheists, Hitchens, Dawkins, and Dennett, "Do you feel there's any burden we have, as critics of religion, to be evenhanded in our criticism of religion, or is it fair to notice that there's a spectrum of religious ideas and commitments and Islam is on one end of it and the [Amish](/source/Amish) and the [Jains](/source/Jains) and others are on another end, and there are real differences here that we have to take seriously."[44]

In 2014, Harris said he considers Islam to be "especially belligerent and inimical to the norms of civil discourse", as it involves what Harris considers to be "bad ideas, held for bad reasons, leading to bad behavior."[SH 4] In 2015 Harris and secular Islamic activist [Maajid Nawaz](/source/Maajid_Nawaz) cowrote*[Islam and the Future of Tolerance](/source/Islam_and_the_Future_of_Tolerance)*.[45] In this book, Harris argues that the word [Islamophobia](/source/Islamophobia) is a "pernicious meme", a label which prevents discussion about the threat of Islam.[43] Harris has been described in 2020 by Jonathan Matusitz, Associate Professor at the [University of Central Florida](/source/University_of_Central_Florida_College_of_Sciences), as "a champion of the [counter-jihad](/source/Counter-jihad) left".[46] Harris opposed [Executive Order 13769](/source/Executive_Order_13769), which limited the entry of refugees from Muslim-majority countries to the United States, stating that it was "unethical with regard to the plight of refugees ... and bound to be ineffective in stopping the spread of [Islamism](/source/Islamism)".[SH 7]

#### Accusations of Islamophobia

Harris has been accused of [Islamophobia](/source/Islamophobia) by linguist and political commentator [Noam Chomsky](/source/Noam_Chomsky).[47] After Harris and Chomsky exchanged a series of emails on terrorism and U.S. foreign policy in 2015, Chomsky said Harris had not prepared adequately for the exchange and that this revealed his work as unserious.[48] In a 2016 interview with *[Al Jazeera English](/source/Al_Jazeera_English)*'s *[UpFront](/source/UpFront)*, Chomsky further criticized Harris, saying he "specializes in hysterical, slanderous charges against people he doesn't like".[47] Other writers and political commentators including [Glenn Greenwald](/source/Glenn_Greenwald),[49] [Sam Seder](/source/Sam_Seder),[50] [Reza Aslan](/source/Reza_Aslan),[51] [Chris Hedges](/source/Chris_Hedges), and [Nathan J. Robinson](/source/Nathan_J._Robinson) have also accused Harris of Islamophobia and/or bigotry.[52][53][54][55] Hedges and Robinson have also criticized Harris for discussing in an excerpt from *[The End of Faith](/source/The_End_of_Faith)* the possibility of a nuclear first strike against an Islamist regime that would have acquired long-range nuclear weapons and that would be undeterred by the threat of mutual destruction due to beliefs in [jihad](/source/Jihad) and [martyrdom](/source/Martyr).[56][57][58]

Harris has countered that his views on this and other topics are frequently misrepresented by "unethical critics" who "deliberately" take his words out of context.[SH 4] He has also criticized the validity of the term "Islamophobia".[59][60][61] Following a disagreement with actor [Ben Affleck](/source/Ben_Affleck) in October 2014 on the show *[Real Time with Bill Maher](/source/Real_Time_with_Bill_Maher)*, he wrote: "My criticism of Islam is a criticism of beliefs and their consequences, but my fellow liberals reflexively view it as an expression of intolerance toward people",[62] Affleck had described Harris's and host [Bill Maher](/source/Bill_Maher)'s views on Muslims as "gross" and "racist", and Harris's statement that "Islam is the [mother lode](/source/Mother_lode) of bad ideas" as an "ugly thing to say". Affleck also compared Harris's and Maher's rhetoric to that of people who use [antisemitic canards](/source/Antisemitic_canard) or define African-Americans in terms of intraracial crime.[63] Several [American conservative](/source/American_conservative) media pundits in turn criticized Affleck and praised Harris and Maher for broaching the topic, saying that discussing it had become taboo.[64]

Harris's dialogue on Islam with [Maajid Nawaz](/source/Maajid_Nawaz) received positive reviews,[65][66][67] as well as mixed reviews.[68][69] [Irshad Manji](/source/Irshad_Manji) wrote that their "back-and-forth clarifies multiple confusions that plague the public conversation about Islam". Of Harris specifically, she said "[he] is right that liberals must end their silence about the religious motives behind much Islamist terror. At the same time, he ought to call out another double-standard that feeds the liberal reflex to excuse Islamists: Atheists do not make nearly enough noise about hatred toward Muslims".[69]

### Spirituality

Harris holds that there is "nothing irrational about seeking the states of mind that lie at the core of many religions. Compassion, awe, devotion, and feelings of oneness are surely among the most valuable experiences a person can have",[10] saying:[SH 8]

Everything of value that people get from religion can be had more honestly, without presuming anything on insufficient evidence. The rest is self-deception, set to music.

— Sam Harris (15 March 2007), *SamHarris.org*

Harris rejects the dichotomy between [spirituality](/source/Spirituality) and [rationality](/source/Rationality), favoring a middle path that preserves spirituality and science but does not involve religion.[70] He writes that spirituality should be understood in light of scientific disciplines like [neuroscience](/source/Neuroscience) and [psychology](/source/Psychology).[70] Science, he contends, can show how to maximize human well-being, but may fail to answer certain questions about the nature of being, answers to some of which he says are discoverable directly through our experience.[70] His conception of spirituality does not involve a belief in any god.[71]

In *[Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion](/source/Waking_Up%3A_A_Guide_to_Spirituality_Without_Religion)* (2014), Harris describes his experience with [Dzogchen](/source/Dzogchen), a [Tibetan Buddhist](/source/Tibetan_Buddhist) meditation practice, and recommends it to his readers.[70] He writes that the purpose of spirituality (as he defines it – he concedes that the term's uses are diverse and sometimes indefensible) is to become aware that our sense of self is illusory, and says this realization brings both happiness and insight into the nature of [consciousness](/source/Consciousness), mirroring core Buddhist beliefs.[70][72] This process of realization, he argues, is based on experience and is not contingent on [faith](/source/Faith).[70][3]

When you learn how to meditate, you recognize that there is another possibility, which is to be vividly aware of your experience in each moment in a way that frees you from routine misery.

— Sam Harris (February 2019), *The Guardian*

### Science and morality

See also: [Science of morality](/source/Science_of_morality)

Harris considers that the [well-being](/source/Well-being) of conscious creatures forms the basis of morality. In *[The Moral Landscape](/source/The_Moral_Landscape)*, he argues that science can in principle answer moral questions and help maximize well-being.[30] Harris also criticizes [cultural](/source/Cultural_relativism) and [moral relativism](/source/Moral_relativism), arguing that it prevents people from making objective moral judgments about practices that clearly harm human well-being, such as [female genital mutilation](/source/Female_genital_mutilation). Harris contends that we can make scientifically based claims about the negative impacts of such practices on human welfare, and that withholding judgment in these cases is tantamount to claiming complete ignorance about what contributes to human well-being.[30]

### Free will

See also: [Neuroscience of free will](/source/Neuroscience_of_free_will)

Harris says that the idea of [free will](/source/Free_will) "cannot be mapped on to any conceivable reality" and is incoherent.[73] Harris writes in *[Free Will](/source/Free_Will_(book))* that neuroscience "reveals you to be a biochemical puppet".[74] Philosopher [Daniel Dennett](/source/Daniel_Dennett) argued that Harris's book *Free Will* successfully refuted the common understanding of free will, but that he failed to respond adequately to the [compatibilist](/source/Compatibilist) understanding of free will. Dennett said the book was valuable because it expressed the views of many eminent scientists, but that it nonetheless contained a "veritable museum of mistakes" and that "Harris and others need to do their homework if they want to engage with the best thought on the topic."[75]

### Artificial intelligence

Harris is particularly concerned with [existential risks from artificial general intelligence](/source/Existential_risk_from_artificial_general_intelligence), a topic he has discussed in depth in several episodes of his podcast.[SH 9][SH 10][SH 11][SH 12][SH 13] In a 2016 [TED talk](/source/TED_talk), he argued that it will be a major threat in the future, and criticized the lack of human interest on the subject.[76] He said that [artificial superintelligence](/source/Artificial_superintelligence) will inevitably be developed if three assumptions hold true: intelligence is a product of information processing in physical systems, humans will continue to improve intelligent machines, and human intelligence is far from the peak of possible intelligence.[76] He described making [artificial superintelligence safe](/source/AI_alignment) as "one of the greatest challenges our species will ever face", indicating that it would warrant immediate consideration.[76]

## Political views

Harris describes himself as a [liberal](/source/Modern_liberalism_in_the_United_States).[77] He is a registered [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)),[78] and has never voted [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) in presidential elections.[23] He supports [same-sex marriage](/source/Same-sex_marriage) and [decriminalizing drugs](/source/Drug_liberalization).[SH 14]

### Criticism of the George W. Bush administration

Harris frequently criticized [George W. Bush](/source/George_W._Bush) over his support for [intelligent design](/source/Intelligent_design) and his coziness with [Christianity](/source/Christianity).[79][80] In an op-ed for the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* in 2006, Harris said that he supported most of the criticism against the [Bush administration](/source/Presidency_of_George_W._Bush)'s [war in Iraq](/source/War_in_Iraq), and all criticism of fiscal policy and the administration's treatment of science. Harris also said that liberalism has grown "dangerously out of touch with the realities of our world" regarding threats posed by [Islamic fundamentalism](/source/Islamic_fundamentalism).[SH 14] Harris criticized the Bush administration for its use of torture at [Abu Ghraib](/source/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse) and [Guantánamo Bay](/source/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp), but also argued that there can be a rational case for torture in rare circumstances.[SH 15][81]

### Israel

Harris opposes religious claims to Israel's right to exist as a [Jewish state](/source/Jewish_state). Nonetheless, Harris has said that due to the hostility towards Jews, if there is one religious group that needs protections in the form of a state, it is Jews and the state of Israel.[SH 16][82] Harris has criticized both [Israel Defense Forces](/source/Israel_Defense_Forces) (IDF) and [Hamas](/source/Hamas) for committing war crimes in the [Israeli–Palestinian conflict](/source/Israeli%E2%80%93Palestinian_conflict). He said in 2014 that he believes Israel genuinely wants peace and that its neighbors are more devoted to the destruction of Israel. Harris has also said that Hamas is more guilty than the IDF with regard to war crimes citing Hamas' use of human shields and genocidal rhetoric towards the Jews.[SH 16][82] He names these as reasons that Israel has a right to defend itself against Hamas.[SH 17][82]

During the [Gaza war](/source/Gaza_war) that began in October 2023, Harris expressed support for Israel and rejected arguments that Israel provoked Hamas by building [Israeli settlements](/source/Israeli_settlement) in the [West Bank](/source/West_Bank), arguing that [Gaza](/source/Gaza_Strip) had not been occupied since 2005. He also condemned the [October 7 attacks](/source/October_7_attacks), which led to the war.[SH 18] He described his July 2, 2024 interview with former [Knesset](/source/Knesset) member [Michal Cotler-Wunsh](/source/Michal_Cotler-Wunsh) as discussing "the bias against Israel at the [United Nations](/source/United_Nations), the nature of double standards, the precedent set by Israel in its conduct in the war in Gaza, the shapeshifting quality of [antisemitism](/source/Antisemitism), [anti-Zionism](/source/Anti-Zionism) as the newest strain of Jew hatred, the 'Zionism is racism' resolution at the UN, the lie that [Israel is an apartheid state](/source/Israeli_apartheid), the notion that Israel is perpetrating a ['genocide' against the Palestinians](/source/Palestine_genocide), the [Marxist](/source/Marxism) oppressed-oppressor narrative, the false moral equivalence between the atrocities committed by Hamas and the deaths of noncombatants in Gaza ...."[83] In July 2025, Harris wrote that despite his support for the war he has some reservations regarding his support for Israel citing allegations of corruption against [Benjamin Netanyahu](/source/Benjamin_Netanyahu) and the influence of religious extremists on the Israeli government.[84]

In June 2025, Harris supported [Operation Midnight Hammer](/source/Operation_Midnight_Hammer), which authorized military strikes against [Iran nuclear facilities](/source/Iran_nuclear_facilities) amid the ongoing [Iran–Israel war](/source/Twelve-Day_War).[85]

### Presidential elections

In the [2008 United States presidential election](/source/2008_United_States_presidential_election), Harris supported the candidacy of [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) and opposed Republican [John McCain](/source/John_McCain)'s candidacy.[SH 19][86] During the [2016 United States presidential election](/source/2016_United_States_presidential_election), Harris supported [Hillary Clinton](/source/Hillary_Clinton) in the Democratic Party presidential primaries against [Bernie Sanders](/source/Bernie_Sanders),[87] and despite calling her "a terribly flawed candidate for the presidency", he favored her in the general election and came out strongly in opposition to [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump)'s candidacy.[SH 20][24] Harris has criticized Trump for lying, stating in 2018 that Trump "has assaulted truth more than anyone in human history".[24]

In the [2020 United States presidential election](/source/2020_United_States_presidential_election), Harris supported [Andrew Yang](/source/Andrew_Yang) in the Democratic primaries.[88] Harris also introduced Yang to podcaster [Joe Rogan](/source/Joe_Rogan).[89] After the 2020 election, he said that he did not care what was on [Hunter Biden](/source/Hunter_Biden)'s [laptop](/source/Hunter_Biden_laptop_controversy), telling the [Triggernometry](/source/Triggernometry_(podcast)) podcast that "Hunter Biden literally could have had the corpses of children in his basement – I would not have cared",[90] arguing more broadly that both Trump and Biden had been in the public eye for decades, and that Biden would have had to have engaged in an extraordinarily large scale of mendacity to come even close to the level of scandal Trump is known to have engaged in.

In the [2024 United States presidential election](/source/2024_United_States_presidential_election), Harris endorsed [Kamala Harris](/source/Kamala_Harris). Just a few days before the elections, he joined in a debate on the *Honestly* podcast where he argued in favor of supporting Kamala Harris, while [Ben Shapiro](/source/Ben_Shapiro) presented the case for Trump.[91] After Kamala Harris lost the election, he blamed Democrats for their embrace of [identity politics](/source/Identity_politics), [gender identity](/source/Gender_identity),[92] and the [Biden administration](/source/Biden_administration) for poor handling of [immigration](/source/Immigration) at the southern border.[93]

### Economics

Harris supports raising taxes on the wealthy and reducing government spending, and has criticized billionaires like [Bill Gates](/source/Bill_Gates) and [Warren Buffett](/source/Warren_Buffett) for paying relatively little in tax. He has proposed taxing 10% for estates worth above 10 million dollars, taxing 50% for estates worth over a billion dollars, and then using the money to fund an infrastructure bank.[SH 21] He has accused conservatives of perceiving raising taxes as a form of theft or punishment, and of believing that by being rich they create value for others.[94][SH 21] He has described this view as ludicrous, saying that "[markets](/source/Free_market) aren't perfectly reflective of the value of goods and services, and many wealthy people don't create much in the way of value for others. In fact, as our recent financial crisis has shown, it is possible for a few people to become extraordinarily rich by wrecking the global economy".[SH 21]

### Gun rights

Harris owns guns and wrote in 2013 that he understood people's hostility towards [gun culture in the United States](/source/Gun_culture_in_the_United_States) and the political influence of the [National Rifle Association of America](/source/National_Rifle_Association_of_America). However, he argued that there is a rational case for gun ownership as the police may not arrive in time.[95][SH 22] Harris disagreed with an [assault weapons ban](/source/Assault_weapons_ban_(USA)), which he described as mostly symbolic, arguing that only 3% of murders in the US were committed with rifles of any type, compared to 47% with handguns. Harris also said that the "liberal media" gets many things wrong about guns; however, he offered support for certain regulations on gun ownership, such as mandatory training, licensure, and background checks before a gun can be legally purchased.[SH 22]

### COVID-19 pandemic

During the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), Harris criticized commentators for pushing views on [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) that he considered to be "patently insane". Harris accused these commentators of believing that COVID-19 policies were a way of implementing social control and to crackdown on people's freedom politically.[96] Harris has feuded with [Bret Weinstein](/source/Bret_Weinstein) over his views on COVID-19.[97] In 2023, he said that if COVID-19 had killed more children, there would be no patience for vaccine skepticism.[98] In March 2023, he hosted [Matt Ridley](/source/Matt_Ridley) and [Alina Chan](/source/Alina_Chan) on his podcast to discuss the [origins of COVID-19](/source/Origins_of_COVID-19) and the potential that the [COVID-19 virus was made in a lab](/source/COVID-19_lab_leak_theory).[SH 23][99]

### Intellectual dark web

Harris has been described, alongside others such as [Joe Rogan](/source/Joe_Rogan), [Bret Weinstein](/source/Bret_Weinstein), and [Jordan Peterson](/source/Jordan_Peterson), as a member of the [intellectual dark web](/source/Intellectual_dark_web), a group that opposes [political correctness](/source/Political_correctness) and [identity politics](/source/Identity_politics).[100] In an essay for *The New York Times,* [Bari Weiss](/source/Bari_Weiss) described the group as "a collection of iconoclastic thinkers, academic renegades, and media personalities who are having a rolling conversation – on podcasts, YouTube and Twitter, and in sold-out auditoriums – that sound unlike anything else happening, at least publicly, in the culture right now."[100] *Hatewatch* staff at the [Southern Poverty Law Center](/source/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center) (SPLC) wrote that members of the "skeptics" movement, of which Harris is "one of the most public faces", help to "channel people into the [alt-right](/source/Alt-right)".[101] Weiss wrote that the SPLC had misrepresented Harris's views.[100]

In November 2020, Harris stated that he does not identify as a part of that group.[102][103] In 2021, Harris stated that he had "turn[ed] in [his] imaginary membership card to this imaginary organization".[104] In 2023 during an interview with *[The Daily Beast](/source/The_Daily_Beast)*, Harris explained that he had broken away from the intellectual dark web due to disagreements with Weinstein, and [Maajid Nawaz](/source/Maajid_Nawaz)'s "obsession" with COVID-19 conspiracy theories and criticism of COVID-19 policies. He also described becoming disenchanted with [Dave Rubin](/source/Dave_Rubin) for having been captured by his audience and said, "Rubin became far more cynical than I would have thought possible. And it's very depressing. He was a friend, he's not a friend anymore."[105]

## Reception and recognition

Harris's first two books, in which he lays out his criticisms of religion, received negative reviews from Christian scholars.[39][106][107] From secular sources, the books received several negative reviews,[108][109][110] as well as positive ones.[111][112][113][114] In his review of *[The End of Faith](/source/The_End_of_Faith)*, American historian [Alexander Saxton](/source/Alexander_Saxton) criticized what he called Harris's "vitriolic and *selective* polemic against Islam", (emphasis in original) which he said "obscure[s] the obvious reality that the invasion of Iraq and the War against Terror are driven by religious irrationalities, cultivated and conceded to, at high policy levels in the U.S., and which are at least comparable to the irrationality of Islamic crusaders and Jihadists".[108] By contrast, [Stephanie Merritt](/source/Stephanie_Merritt) wrote of the same book that Harris's "central argument in *The End of Faith* is sound: Religion is the only area of human knowledge in which it is still acceptable to hold beliefs dating from antiquity and a modern society should subject those beliefs to the same principles that govern scientific, medical or geographical inquiry - particularly if they are inherently hostile to those with different ideas".[111] Harris's first book, *The End of Faith* (2004), won the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction.[115]

Harris's next two books, which discuss philosophical issues relating to ethics and free will, received several negative academic reviews.[116][117][118][119][120][121] In his review of *The Moral Landscape*, neuroscientist [Kenan Malik](/source/Kenan_Malik) criticized Harris for not engaging adequately with philosophical literature: "Imagine a sociologist who wrote about evolutionary theory without discussing the work of Darwin, Fisher, Mayr, Hamilton, Trivers, or Dawkins on the grounds that he did not come to his conclusions by reading about biology and because discussing concepts such as 'adaptation', 'speciation', 'homology', 'phylogenetics', or 'kin selection' would 'increase the amount of boredom in the universe'. How seriously would we, and should we, take his argument?".[119] On the other hand, *The Moral Landscape* received a largely-positive review from psychologists James Diller and Andrew Nuzzolilli.[122] Additionally, *Free Will* received a mixed academic review from philosopher Paul Pardi, who said that while it suffers from some conceptual confusions and that the core argument is a bit too "breezy", it serves as a "good primer on key ideas in physicalist theories of freedom and the will".[123]

Harris's book on spirituality and meditation received positive reviews,[124][125][70][72] as well as some mixed reviews.[126][71] It was praised by [Frank Bruni](/source/Frank_Bruni), for example, who described it as "so entirely of this moment, so keenly in touch with the growing number of Americans who are willing to say that they do not find the succor they crave, or a truth that makes sense to them, in organized religion."[124] In April 2017, Harris hosted the social scientist [Charles Murray](/source/Charles_Murray_(political_scientist)) on his podcast, discussing topics including the [heritability of IQ](/source/Heritability_of_IQ) and [race and intelligence](/source/Race_and_intelligence).[127] Harris stated the invitation was out of indignation at a violent protest against Murray at [Middlebury College](/source/Middlebury_College) the month before and not out of particular interest in the material at hand.[127] The podcast episode garnered significant criticism, most notably from *[Vox](/source/Vox_(website))*[25][128] and *[Slate](/source/Slate_(magazine))*.[129] In the *Vox* article, scientists, including [Eric Turkheimer](/source/Eric_Turkheimer), [Kathryn Paige Harden](/source/Kathryn_Paige_Harden), and [Richard E. Nisbett](/source/Richard_E._Nisbett), accused Harris of participating in "pseudoscientific racialist speculation" and peddling "junk science". Harris and Murray were defended by commentators [Andrew Sullivan](/source/Andrew_Sullivan)[130] and [Kyle Smith](/source/Kyle_Smith_(critic)).[131] Harris and *Vox* editor-at-large [Ezra Klein](/source/Ezra_Klein) later discussed the affair in a podcast interview in which Klein accused Harris of "thinking tribally" and Harris accused the *Vox* article of leading people to think he was racist.[132][133]

In 2018, [Robert Wright](/source/Robert_Wright_(journalist)), a visiting professor of science and religion at [Union Theological Seminary](/source/Union_Theological_Seminary_(New_York_City)), published an article in *[Wired](/source/Wired_(magazine))* criticizing Harris, whom he described as "annoying" and "deluded". Wright wrote that Harris, despite claiming to be a champion of rationality, ignored his own [cognitive biases](/source/Cognitive_bias) and engaged in faulty and inconsistent arguments in his book *The End of Faith*. He wrote that "the famous proponent of New Atheism is on a crusade against tribalism but seems oblivious to his own version of it". Wright wrote that these biases are rooted in [natural selection](/source/Natural_selection) and impact everyone, but that they can be mitigated when acknowledged.[133] The UK *[Business Insider](/source/Business_Insider)* included Harris's podcast in their list of "8 podcasts that will change how you think about human behavior" in 2017,[134] and *[PC Magazine](/source/PC_Magazine)* included it in their list of "The Best Podcasts of 2018".[135] In January 2020, Max Sanderson included Harris's podcast as a "Producer pick" in a "podcasts of the week" section for *[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian)*.[22] The *Waking Up* podcast won the 2017 [Webby Award](/source/Webby_Award) for "People's Voice" in the category "Science & Education" under "Podcasts & Digital Audio".[136] Harris was included on a list of the "100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People 2019" in the *Watkins Review*, a publication of [Watkins Books](/source/Watkins_Books), a London esoterica bookshop.[137] He was selected to receive the 2026 [Richard Dawkins Award](/source/Richard_Dawkins_Award) from the [Center for Inquiry](/source/Center_for_Inquiry).[138]

## Personal life

In 2004, Harris married [Annaka Harris](/source/Annaka_Harris) (née Gorton), an author and editor of nonfiction and scientific books, after engaging in a common interest about the nature of consciousness.[139] They have two daughters[140][SH 24] and live in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles).[141] In September 2020, Harris became a member of [Giving What We Can](/source/Giving_What_We_Can), an [effective altruism](/source/Effective_altruism) organization whose members pledge to give at least 10% of their income to effective charities, both as an individual and as a company with Waking Up.[28][27] Harris practiced [Brazilian jiu-jitsu](/source/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu).[142][143]

## Works

### Books

- Harris, Sam (2004). [*The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason*](/source/The_End_of_Faith). W.W. Norton & Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-393-03515-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-393-03515-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [62265386](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/62265386).

- Harris, Sam (2006). [*Letter to a Christian Nation*](/source/Letter_to_a_Christian_Nation). Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-307-26577-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-307-26577-3). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [70158553](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/70158553).

- Harris, Sam (2010). [*The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values*](/source/The_Moral_Landscape). Free Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4391-7121-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4391-7121-9). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [535493357](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/535493357).

- Harris, Sam (2011). [*Lying*](/source/Lying_(Harris_book)). Four Elephants Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-940051-00-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-940051-00-0).

- Harris, Sam (2012). [*Free Will*](/source/Free_Will_(book)). Free Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4516-8340-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4516-8340-0).

- Harris, Sam (2014). [*Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion*](/source/Waking_Up%3A_A_Guide_to_Spirituality_Without_Religion). Simon & Schuster. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4516-3601-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4516-3601-7).

- Harris, Sam; [Nawaz, Maajid](/source/Maajid_Nawaz) (2015). [*Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue*](/source/Islam_and_the_Future_of_Tolerance). Harvard University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-674-08870-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-674-08870-2).

- Harris, Sam; [Dawkins, Richard](/source/Richard_Dawkins); [Dennett, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Dennett); [Hitchens, Christopher](/source/Christopher_Hitchens) (2019). *The Four Horsemen: The Discussion that Sparked an Atheist Revolution*. Bantam Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-593-08039-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-593-08039-9).

- Harris, Sam (2020). *Making Sense: Conversations on Consciousness, Morality, and the Future of Humanity*. Ecco. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-06-285778-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-06-285778-1).

### Documentary

- Amila, D. & Shapiro, J. (2018). *Islam and the Future of Tolerance*. United States: The Orchard.[144]

### Peer-reviewed articles

- Harris, S.; Sheth, S. A.; [Cohen, M. S.](/source/Mark_S._Cohen) (February 27, 2008). "Functional neuroimaging of belief, disbelief, and uncertainty". *[Annals of Neurology](/source/Annals_of_Neurology)*. **63** (2): 141–147. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/ana.21301](https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fana.21301). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [18072236](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18072236). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [17335600](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:17335600).

- Harris, S.; Kaplan, J. T.; Curiel, A.; [Bookheimer, S. Y.](/source/Susan_Bookheimer); Iacoboni, M.; Cohen, M. S. (October 1, 2009). [Sporns, Olaf](/source/Olaf_Sporns) (ed.). ["The Neural Correlates of Religious and Nonreligious Belief"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748718). *[PLOS One](/source/PLOS_One)*. **4** (10) e7272. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2009PLoSO...4.7272H](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009PLoSO...4.7272H). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1371/journal.pone.0007272](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007272). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2748718](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748718). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [19794914](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19794914).

- Douglas, P. K.; Harris, S.; Yuille, A.; [Cohen, M. S.](/source/Alan_Yuille) (May 15, 2011). ["Performance comparison of machine learning algorithms and number of independent components used in fMRI decoding of belief vs. disbelief"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099263). *[NeuroImage](/source/NeuroImage)*. **56** (2): 544–553. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.002](https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.neuroimage.2010.11.002). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [3099263](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099263). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [21073969](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21073969).

- Kaplan, Jonas T.; Gimbel, Sarah I.; Harris, Sam (December 23, 2016). ["Neural correlates of maintaining one's political beliefs in the face of counterevidence"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5180221). *[Scientific Reports](/source/Scientific_Reports)*. **6** 39589. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2016NatSR...639589K](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016NatSR...639589K). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1038/srep39589](https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fsrep39589). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5180221](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5180221). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [28008965](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28008965).

- Seitz, Benjamin M.; [Aktipis, Athena](/source/Athena_Aktipis); [Buss, David M.](/source/David_M._Buss); Alcock, Joe; [Bloom, Paul](/source/Paul_Bloom_(psychologist)); [Gelfand, Michele](/source/Michele_Gelfand); Harris, Sam; Lieberman, Debra; [Horowitz, Barbara N.](/source/Barbara_N._Horowitz); [Pinker, Steven](/source/Steven_Pinker); [Wilson, David Sloan](/source/David_Sloan_Wilson); [Haselton, Martie G.](/source/Martie_Haselton) (November 10, 2020). ["The pandemic exposes human nature: 10 evolutionary insights"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7668083). *[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences](/source/Proceedings_of_the_National_Academy_of_Sciences)*. **117** (45): 27767–27776. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2020PNAS..11727767S](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020PNAS..11727767S). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1073/pnas.2009787117](https://doi.org/10.1073%2Fpnas.2009787117). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0027-8424](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0027-8424). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [7668083](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7668083). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [33093198](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33093198).

## References

### Harris blog citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Harris, Sam (September 15, 2014). ["I'm Not the Sexist Pig You're Looking For"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160418202514/https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/im-not-the-sexist-pig-youre-looking-for). *Sam Harris*. Archived from [the original](https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/im-not-the-sexist-pig-youre-looking-for) on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 23, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Science_on_the_Brink_of_Death_13-0)** Harris, Sam (November 11, 2012). ["Science on the Brink of Death"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170909005157/http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/science-on-the-brink-of-death). Archived from [the original](http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/science-on-the-brink-of-death) on September 9, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["Meme #8"](https://samharris.org/meme-8/). *Sam Harris*. May 3, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-response-controversy_34-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-response-controversy_34-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-response-controversy_34-2) Harris, Sam (June 21, 2014). ["Response to Controversy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161024151823/https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/response-to-controversy). Archived from [the original](https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/response-to-controversy) on October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** Harris, Sam. ["Home of the Making Sense Podcast"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/bringing-the-vatican-to-justice). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved October 10, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-48)** ["The Reality of Islam"](https://samharris.org/the-reality-of-islam/). *Sam Harris*. February 8, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-53)** Harris, Sam (January 29, 2017). ["A Few Thoughts On The Muslim Ban"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/a-few-thoughts-on-the-muslim-ban). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved August 15, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-77)** Harris, Sam (March 15, 2007). ["God's Dupes"](https://samharris.org/gods-dupes/). *SamHarris.org*. Retrieved April 10, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-edge-ai_84-0)** Harris, Sam (2015). ["Can We Avoid a Digital Apocalypse?"](https://www.edge.org/response-detail/26177). *Edge.org*. Retrieved June 14, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-85)** ["#312 – The Trouble with AI"](https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/312-the-trouble-with-ai). *Sam Harris*. March 7, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-86)** Harris, Sam (February 6, 2018). ["#116 – AI: Racing Toward the Brink"](https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/116-ai-racing-toward-brink). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved August 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-87)** Harris, Sam. ["#385 - AI Utopia"](https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/385-ai-utopia). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved January 13, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-88)** Harris, Sam. ["Can We Contain Artificial Intelligence?"](https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/332-can-we-contain-artificial-intelligence). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved January 13, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-laharris_92-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-laharris_92-1) Harris, Sam (September 18, 2006). ["Head-in-the-Sand Liberals: Western civilization really is at risk from Muslim extremists."](https://web.archive.org/web/20061101084519/http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-harris18sep18%2C0%2C1897169.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail) *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Archived at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-95)** Harris, Sam (October 17, 2005). ["In Defense of Torture"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/in-defense-of-torture_b_8993). *HuffPost*. Retrieved October 23, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-#2_—_Why_Don't_I_Criticize_Israel_97-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-#2_—_Why_Don't_I_Criticize_Israel_97-1) ["#2 — Why Don't I Criticize Israel?"](https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/why-dont-i-criticize-israel). *Sam Harris*. July 27, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-99)** ["Making Sense of Gaza | A Conversation Between Sam Harris and Andrew Sullivan"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/making-sense-of-gaza). *Sam Harris*. August 12, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-100)** ["The Sin of Moral Equivalence"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-sin-of-moral-equivalence). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved November 4, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-104)** ["What Barack Obama Could Not (and Should Not) Say"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/what-barack-obama-could-not-and-should-not-say). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved April 12, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-107)** Harris, Sam. [Trump in Exile](https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/trump-in-exile2) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170212091113/https://www.samharris.org/blog/item/trump-in-exile2) February 12, 2017, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine). samharris.org, October 13, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2017

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-too-rich_114-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-too-rich_114-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-too-rich_114-2) ["How Rich is Too Rich?"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/how-rich-is-too-rich). *Sam Harris*. August 17, 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211125163738/https://www.samharris.org/blog/how-rich-is-too-rich) from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-riddle_117-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-riddle_117-1) ["The Riddle of the Gun"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-riddle-of-the-gun). *Sam Harris*. January 2, 2013. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211126024809/https://www.samharris.org/blog/the-riddle-of-the-gun) from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-121)** ["Sam Harris | #311 – Did SARS-CoV-2 Escape from a Lab?"](https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/311-did-sars-co-v-2-escape-from-a-lab). *www.samharris.org*. Retrieved March 23, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-164)** Harris, Sam (July 4, 2011). ["Drugs and the Meaning of Life"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924093857/http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/drugs-and-the-meaning-of-life/). *Sam Harris*. Archived from [the original](http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/drugs-and-the-meaning-of-life) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2014.

### General citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** *[Current Biography](/source/Current_Biography)*, January 2012, Vol. 73, Issue 1, p. 37

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Playboy_Interview_2-0)** ["Playboy Interview: Sam Harris"](https://archive.org/details/Playboy_USA_Winter_2019/page/n45/mode/2up). *[Playboy](/source/Playboy)*. Vol. 66, no. 1. Winter 2019. p. 44.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-guardian-spiritual_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-guardian-spiritual_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-guardian-spiritual_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-guardian-spiritual_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-guardian-spiritual_3-4) [Anthony, Andrew](/source/Andrew_Anthony) (February 16, 2019). ["Sam Harris, the new atheist with a spiritual side"](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/16/sam-harris-interview-new-atheism-four-horsemen-faith-science-religion-rationalism). *The Observer*. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SusanHarris_4-0)** Anderson, Jon (October 20, 1985). ["'Girls' Series is solid gold for Harris"](https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/10/20/girls-series-is-solid-gold-for-harris/). *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune) TV Week*. Retrieved September 18, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tablet1_5-0)** [Samuels, David](/source/David_Samuels_(writer)) (May 29, 2012). ["Q&A: Sam Harris"](https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/belief/articles/qa-sam-harris). *[Tablet](/source/Tablet_(magazine))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230127023653/https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/belief/articles/qa-sam-harris) from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved October 6, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [Sam Harris – Extended Interview](https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2007/01/05/january-5-2007-sam-harris-extended-interview/3736/); [PBS](/source/PBS): *[Religion & Ethics Newsweekly](/source/Religion_%26_Ethics_Newsweekly)*; January 5, 2007

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Sam Harris."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWEbGsXTWR0&t=7m36s) (2008). *The Science Studio*. Science Network. October 3, 2008. [Transcript.](http://thesciencenetwork.org/media/videos/295/Transcript.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Harris, Sam (June 28, 2011). ["MDMA Caution with Sam Harris"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgUd0Xv5skk) – via [YouTube](/source/YouTube).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["First Time Sam Harris Took E"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200602232651/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFyg4blzlDM&gl=US&hl=en), *Cogent Canine*, December 6, 2017, archived from [the original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFyg4blzlDM) on June 2, 2020, retrieved December 8, 2017 – via YouTube

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-newsweek.com_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-newsweek.com_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-newsweek.com_11-2) [Miller, Lisa](/source/Lisa_Miller_(psychologist)) (2010). ["Sam Harris Believes in God"](http://europe.newsweek.com/rationalist-sam-harris-believes-god-73859?rm=eu). *Newsweek*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Segal2006_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Segal2006_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Segal2006_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Segal2006_12-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Segal2006_12-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Segal2006_12-5) [Segal, David](/source/David_Segal_(reporter)) (October 26, 2006). ["Atheist Evangelist"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/25/AR2006102501998_pf.html). *Washington Post*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0190-8286](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0190-8286). Retrieved May 4, 2023. [Alternative link](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2006/10/26/atheist-evangelist-span-classbankheadin-his-bully-pulpit-sam-harris-devoutly-believes-that-religion-is-the-root-of-all-evilspan/a82d61ff-28c0-4f22-af83-4e714f10c4c8/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Morrison, Patt](/source/Patt_Morrison) (September 24, 2014). ["No God? No problem, says god-free thinker Sam Harris"](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-morrison-sam-harris-spirituality-without-religion-20140924-column.html). [Opinion]. *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved May 4, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Rice, Lewis I. (2005). ["The Iconoclast: Sam Harris wants believers to stop believing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20091016012306/http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2005/julaug/show/books.html). *[Stanford Magazine](/source/Stanford_Magazine)*. Stanford Alumni Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2005/julaug/show/books.html) on October 16, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Sam Harris"](http://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/scientists/harris/). *The Information Philosopher*. Retrieved April 30, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Greenberg_17-0)** Greenberg, Brad A. (April 1, 2008). ["Making Belief"](http://www.magazine.ucla.edu/depts/quicktakes/making-belief/). *UCLA Magazine*. Retrieved October 28, 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-HealyLATimes_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-HealyLATimes_18-1) Healy, Melissa (September 30, 2009). ["Religion: The heart believes what it will, but the brain behaves the same either way"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140124025949/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/religion-the-heart-believes-what-it-will-but-the-brain-behaves-the-same-either-way.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Archived from [the original](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2009/09/religion-the-heart-believes-what-it-will-but-the-brain-behaves-the-same-either-way.html) on January 24, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-thesis_19-0)** Harris, Sam (2009). [*The Moral Landscape: How Science Could Determine Human Values*](https://www.proquest.com/docview/366925574) (PhD dissertation). UCLA. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-124-01190-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-124-01190-5). [ProQuest](/source/ProQuest) [366925574](https://www.proquest.com/docview/366925574). Retrieved June 5, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bowles_2019_20-0)** [Bowles, Nellie](/source/Nellie_Bowles) (December 14, 2018). ["Patreon Bars Anti-Feminist for Racist Speech, Inciting Revolt"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181224213124/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/technology/patreon-hate-speech-bans.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Archived from [the original](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/technology/patreon-hate-speech-bans.html) on December 24, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2019. On Dec. 6, Patreon kicked the anti-feminist polemic Carl Benjamin, who works under the name Sargon of Akkad, off its site for using racist language on YouTube. That same week, it removed the right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos a day after he opened an account. "The moves prompted a revolt. Mr. Harris, citing worries about censorship, announced that he would leave Patreon. ... [...] "... Mr. Harris, who gathered his fan base as a pugnacious atheist and fierce critic of Islam ...

1. **[^](#cite_ref-phil-now_21-0)** [Madigan, Tim](/source/Timothy_Madigan) (2010). ["Meet the New Atheism / Same as the Old Atheism?"](https://philosophynow.org/issues/78/Meet_the_New_Atheism_Same_as_the_Old_Atheism). *[Philosophy Now](/source/Philosophy_Now)*. Retrieved August 15, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-edge-bio_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-edge-bio_22-1) ["Sam Harris"](https://www.edge.org/memberbio/sam_harris). *[Edge.org](/source/Edge.org)*. Retrieved August 26, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** Van Biema, David (December 14, 2007). ["What Your Brain Looks Like on Faith"](http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1694723,00.html). *[Time](/source/Time_(magazine))*. Retrieved August 16, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-guardian-podcasts_24-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-guardian-podcasts_24-1) Davies, Hannah J; Verdier, Hannah; Sanderson, Max (January 3, 2020). ["The con woman who scammed New York's elite – podcasts of the week"](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jan/03/fake-heiress-anna-delvey-david-baddiel-podcasts-of-the-week). *The Guardian*. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_25-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_25-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_25-2) ["Waking Up with Sam Harris"](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/296-repairing-our-country/id733163012?i=1000579369510). *iTunes – Podcasts*. September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 13, 2022. I have been, traditionally, a liberal. I have never voted republican ... certainly not for president.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Weiss_26-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Weiss_26-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Weiss_26-2) [Weiss, Bari](/source/Bari_Weiss) (May 8, 2018). ["Meet the Renegades of the Intellectual Dark Web"](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/opinion/intellectual-dark-web.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved May 8, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vox-thn_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vox-thn_27-1) [Turkheimer, Eric](/source/Eric_Turkheimer); [Harden, Kathryn Paige](/source/Kathryn_Paige_Harden); [Nisbett, Richard E.](/source/Richard_E._Nisbett) (May 18, 2017). ["Charles Murray is once again peddling junk science about race and IQ"](https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2017/5/18/15655638/charles-murray-race-iq-sam-harris-science-free-speech). *[Vox](/source/Vox_(website))*. Retrieved October 16, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-app-review_28-0)** Freeland, Ben (March 29, 2019). ["Sam Harris' Waking Up App, Reviewed"](https://medium.com/@benfreeland/sam-harris-waking-up-app-reviewed-1d50e259e93d). *Medium*. Retrieved May 30, 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wakingup-2_29-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wakingup-2_29-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wakingup-2_29-2) ["Waking Up Turns 2"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220118033319/https://dynamic.wakingup.com/course/658). Archived from [the original](https://dynamic.wakingup.com/course/658) on January 18, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gwwc-members_30-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gwwc-members_30-1) ["Members"](https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/about-us/members/). *www.givingwhatwecan.org*. Retrieved September 25, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jains-Today_32-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jains-Today_32-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Jains-Today_32-2) ["Sam Harris Compares Islam with Jainism and Tells Which one of Them is the Religion of Peace"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRZrXM8J3wc). *Jains Today*. September 6, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2024. Jainism is a religion of peace

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Salon_don_33-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Salon_don_33-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Salon_don_33-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Salon_don_33-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Salon_don_33-4) Don, Katherine (October 17, 2010). ["'The Moral Landscape': Why science should shape morality"](https://www.salon.com/2010/10/17/sam_harris_interview/). *[Salon.com](/source/Salon.com)*. Retrieved July 28, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Sun-Sam_35-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Sun-Sam_35-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Sun-Sam_35-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Sun-Sam_35-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-Sun-Sam_35-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-Sun-Sam_35-5) ["The Temple of Reason Sam Harris On How Religion Puts The World At Risk"](https://www.thesunmagazine.org/articles/22970-the-temple-of-reason). *Sun Magazine*. September 1, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2024. Jainism is the best example that I know of [a peaceful religion]. ... Nonviolence is its core doctrine

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Salon-Sam_36-0)** Purser, Ronald; Cooper, Andrew (December 6, 2014). ["Mindfulness' 'truthiness' problem: Sam Harris, science and the truth about Buddhist tradition"](https://www.salon.com/2014/12/06/mindfulness_truthiness_problem_sam_harris_science_and_the_truth_about_buddhist_tradition/). *Salon*. Retrieved July 2, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** September 22, 2006 [\[1\]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dwD6XQ9Tsw) (a 90-minute debate).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-harris-sullivan_38-0)** Harris, Sam; Sullivan, Andrew (January 16, 2007). ["Is Religion 'Built Upon Lies'?"](http://www.beliefnet.com/story/209/story_20904.html) [Beliefnet](/source/Beliefnet).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-harris-wolpe-debate_39-0)** [Padilla, Steve](/source/Steve_Padilla) (December 29, 2007). ["Rabbi, atheist debate with passion, humor"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-29-me-beliefs29-story.html). Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 20, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-jennek-thesis_40-0)** Jennek, Rafal (2017). [*Sam Harris on Religion in Peace and Conflict*](https://uu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1110381/FULLTEXT01.pdf) (PDF) (Thesis). Department of Theology, [Uppsala University](/source/Uppsala_University). Retrieved June 20, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** Ruffolo, Michael (June 26, 2018). ["Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson waste a lot of time, then talk about God for 20 minutes | Canada's National Observer: Climate News"](https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/06/26/analysis/sam-harris-and-jordan-peterson-waste-lot-time-then-talk-about-god-20-minutes). *www.nationalobserver.com*. Retrieved August 9, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nightline-debate_42-0)** [Harris, Dan](/source/Dan_Harris_(journalist)); Brown, Ely (March 22, 2010). ["'Nightline' 'Face-Off': Does God Have a Future?"](https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaceOff/nightline-face-off-god-future/story?id=10170505). ABC News. Retrieved June 20, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-albert-mohler_43-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-albert-mohler_43-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-albert-mohler_43-2) [Mohler, R. Albert Jr.](/source/Albert_Mohler) (August 19, 2004). ["The End of Faith – Secularism with the Gloves Off"](http://www.christianpost.com/article/20040819/6130.htm). *[The Christian Post](/source/The_Christian_Post)*. Retrieved February 19, 2019.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** Harris, Sam (2006). [*The end of faith : religion, terror, and the future of reason*](http://archive.org/details/endoffaithreligi0000harr_l1a5). Internet Archive. London: The Free Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7432-6809-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7432-6809-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** Meacham, John (April 8, 2007). ["Poll: 90% Believe in God"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131204091502/http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611). *[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)*. with Sam Harris and Rick Warran. Archived from [the original](http://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-poll-90-believe-god-97611) on December 4, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-craig-new-theist_47-0)** [Schneider, Nathan](/source/Nathan_Schneider) (July 1, 2013). ["The New Theist"](http://chronicle.com/article/The-New-Theist/140019/). *[The Chronicle of Higher Education](/source/The_Chronicle_of_Higher_Education)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Adams-2016_49-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Adams-2016_49-1) Adams, Alex (2016). [*Political Torture in Popular Culture: The Role of Representations in the Post-9/11 Torture Debate*](https://books.google.com/books?id=XR9qDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA29). Routledge. p. 29. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-317-28939-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-317-28939-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-50)** ["The Four Horsemen by Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett: 9780525511953 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books"](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/586726/the-four-horsemen-by-christopher-hitchens-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-and-daniel-dennett/). *PenguinRandomhouse.com*. Retrieved September 14, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-51)** Harris, Sam; Maajid, Nawaz (2015). [*Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QgGnCgAAQBAJ). Harvard University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-674-08870-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-674-08870-2). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200507174420/https://books.google.com/books/about/Islam_and_the_Future_of_Tolerance.html?id=QgGnCgAAQBAJ) from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved December 14, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-52)** Matusitz, Jonathan (2020). [*Communication in Global Jihad*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Nx__DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1988). Routledge. p. 1988. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-000-22435-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-000-22435-1).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-aj-chomsky_54-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-aj-chomsky_54-1) ["Noam Chomsky tells 'UpFront' he would "absolutely" vote for Hillary Clinton"](https://network.aljazeera.net/pressroom/noam-chomsky-tells-%E2%80%98upfront%E2%80%99-he-would-%E2%80%9Cabsolutely%E2%80%9D-vote-hillary-clinton). *Al Jazeera*. January 25, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-salon-chomsky_55-0)** Schmidlin, Kyle (May 7, 2015). ["Scoring the Noam Chomsky/Sam Harris debate: How the professor knocked out the atheist"](https://www.salon.com/2015/05/07/scoring_the_noam_chomskysam_harris_debate_how_the_professor_knocked_out_the_atheist/). *[Salon](/source/Salon.com)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150508191505/http://www.salon.com/2015/05/07/scoring_the_noam_chomskysam_harris_debate_how_the_professor_knocked_out_the_atheist/) from the original on May 8, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-56)** Harris, Sam. ["Home of the Making Sense Podcast"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/dear-fellow-liberal2). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved January 28, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-57)** [*Right-Wing 'Intellectuals' Realizing Trump Is A Disaster*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToRRVYj2ZXQ) (Video). The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder. March 16, 2025. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250316232507/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToRRVYj2ZXQ) from the original on March 16, 2025. Retrieved October 21, 2025 – via YouTube.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-58)** Harris, Sam. ["Home of the Making Sense Podcast"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/on-the-mechanics-of-defamation). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved January 28, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-59)** Wilder, Charly (March 13, 2008). ["I don't believe in atheists"](https://www.salon.com/2008/03/13/chris_hedges/). *Salon*. Retrieved January 28, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-60)** Harris, Sam (July 27, 2011). ["Sam Harris Responds to Chris Hedges' 'Fundamentalism Kills' Column"](https://www.truthdig.com/articles/sam-harris-responds-to-chris-hedges-fundamentalism-kills-column/). *Truthdig*. Retrieved February 16, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-61)** Harris, Sam (July 26, 2011). ["Dear Angry Lunatic: A Response to Chris Hedges"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/response-to-chris-hedges). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved February 16, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-62)** Robinson, Nathan J. (July 27, 2022). ["Why We Still Need Atheism"](https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2022/07/why-we-still-need-atheism). *Current Affairs*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2471-2647](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2471-2647). Retrieved May 12, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-63)** Massey, Eli; [Robinson, Nathan J.](/source/Nathan_J._Robinson) (October 12, 2018). ["Being Mr. Reasonable"](https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2018/10/being-mr-reasonable). *[Current Affairs](/source/Current_Affairs_(magazine))*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [2471-2647](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/2471-2647). Retrieved April 24, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-64)** Harris, Sam. ["Home of the *Making Sense* Podcast"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/response-to-chris-hedges). *Sam Harris*. Retrieved August 5, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-65)** Wilder, Charly (March 13, 2008). ["I don't believe in atheists"](https://www.salon.com/2008/03/13/chris_hedges/). *Salon*. Retrieved August 5, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Indi12_66-0)** Taylor, Jerome (April 12, 2013). ["Atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris face Islamophobia backlash"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/atheists-richard-dawkins-christopher-hitchens-and-sam-harris-face-islamophobia-backlash-8570580.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-67)** Harris, Sam. ["What Is "Islamophobia"?"](https://www.samharris.org/blog/what-is-islamophobia). Retrieved October 8, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-68)** ["Atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris face Islamophobia backlash"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/atheists-richard-dawkins-christopher-hitchens-and-sam-harris-face-islamophobia-backlash-8570580.html). *The Independent*. April 13, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-69)** Harris, Sam (October 7, 2014), ["Can Liberalism Be Saved From Itself?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141226050007/http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/can-liberalism-be-saved-from-itself), *Sam Harris*, archived from [the original](http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/can-liberalism-be-saved-from-itself) on December 26, 2014, retrieved December 26, 2014

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1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wright-wired_156-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wright-wired_156-1) [Wright, Robert](/source/Robert_Wright_(journalist)) (May 17, 2018). ["Sam Harris and the Myth of Perfectly Rational Thought"](https://www.wired.com/story/sam-harris-and-the-myth-of-perfectly-rational-thought/). *[Wired](/source/Wired_(magazine))*. Retrieved August 30, 2019.

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1. **[^](#cite_ref-pc-mag-podcasts_158-0)** Moore, Ben (September 27, 2018). ["The Best Podcasts of 2018"](https://me.pcmag.com/cast/11729/the-best-podcasts-of-2018). PC Magazine. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-159)** ["The 2017 Webby Awards for the best science and education podcasts"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170511020918/http://webbyawards.com/winners/2017/podcasts-digital-audio/general-podcasts/science-education/). *The Webby Awards*. Archived from [the original](http://webbyawards.com/winners/2017/podcasts-digital-audio/general-podcasts/science-education/) on May 11, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-160)** ["Watkins' Spiritual 100 List for 2019"](https://www.watkinsmagazine.com/watkins-spiritual-100-list-for-2019). *Watkins Magazine*. April 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-161)** ["CFI Award"](https://centerforinquiry.org/press_releases/sam-harris-to-receive-cfis-2026-richard-dawkins-award-on-april-18/'). March 2026. Retrieved March 8, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-162)** ["Project Reason Trustees / Advisory Board"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140112053144/http://www.project-reason.org/about/individual_member/2819/). *www.project-reason.org*. Archived from [the original](https://www.project-reason.org/about/individual_member/2819/) on January 12, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarris2014a[httpsbooksgooglecombooksiddmhNAgAAQBAJqsamharrisemmaandvioletpgPP6_p._6]:_"Dedication:_For_Annaka,_Emma,_and_Violet"_163-0)** [Harris 2014a](#CITEREFHarris2014a), [p. 6](https://books.google.com/books?id=dmhNAgAAQBAJ&q=sam+harris+emma+and+violet&pg=PP6): "Dedication: For Annaka, Emma, and Violet". sfn error: no target: CITEREFHarris2014a ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Harv_and_Sfn_template_errors))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-165)** ["Sam Harris, the new atheist with a spiritual side"](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/16/sam-harris-interview-new-atheism-four-horsemen-faith-science-religion-rationalism). *The Guardian*. February 16, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHarris2012_166-0)** [Harris 2012](#CITEREFHarris2012).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BJJ_167-0)** [Wood, Graeme](/source/Graeme_Wood_(journalist)) (April 24, 2013). ["The Atheist Who Strangled Me"](https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/05/the-atheist-who-strangled-me/309292/). *[The Atlantic](/source/The_Atlantic)*. Retrieved August 11, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-168)** ["Islam and the Future of Tolerance"](http://www.islamandthefutureoftolerance.com/). *Islam and the Future of Tolerance*. Retrieved June 26, 2019.

## External links

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- [Official website](http://www.samharris.org)

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- Library resources [in your library](https://ftl.toolforge.org/cgi-bin/ftl?at=viaf&au=97888651) and [in other libraries](https://ftl.toolforge.org/cgi-bin/ftl?at=viaf&au=97888651&library=0CHOOSE0) by Sam Harris

v t e Sam Harris Books The End of Faith (2004) Letter to a Christian Nation (2006) The Moral Landscape (2010) Lying (2011) Free Will (2012) Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion (2014) Islam and the Future of Tolerance (2015) Other New Atheism Secular Coalition for America Spiritual but not religious

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v t e New Atheism Key people Dan Barker Peter Boghossian Greta Christina Jerry Coyne Richard Dawkins Daniel Dennett Rebecca Goldstein Sam Harris Christopher Hitchens TJ Kirk Michel Onfray Victor J. Stenger Michael Schmidt-Salomon Rebecca Watson Former New Atheists Ayaan Hirsi Ali PZ Myers Major works The End of Faith (2004) Atheist Manifesto (2005) Manifesto of Evolutionary Humanism (2005) Breaking the Spell (2006) The God Delusion (2006) Letter to a Christian Nation (2006) The Root of All Evil? (2006) God Is Not Great (2007) God: The Failed Hypothesis (2007) The Portable Atheist (2007) Godless (2008) Institutions The Clergy Project Pitchstone Publishing Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science Opposition "Go God Go" (2006) Darwin's Angel (2007) The Dawkins Delusion? (2007) The Irrational Atheist (2008) Atheist Delusions (2009) The Case for God (2009) Unscientific America (2009) The Rage Against God (2010) The Evolution of Atheism (2015) Related Blasphemy Day Ex-Muslims Flying Spaghetti Monster Out Campaign RationalWiki Reason Rally Regressive left

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sam Harris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Harris) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Harris?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.