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About this quote

What does it mean?
The ancient deity linked to Middle East violence is unfit for ethical guidance.
In plain terms
The god linked to old violence should not guide ethics.
What can you take from it?
Old gods are not ethical guides.

Where it applies

  • ethical reasoning
  • religious history

Putting it to work

  • seeking ethics
  • reviewing history

Questions to consider

  • Should history dictate ethics?

Another view

Believers would reject this view.

More from Sam Harris

  1. The Creator who purports to be beyond human judgment is consistently ruled by human passions-jealousy, wrath, suspicion, and the lust to dominate.[2]

    Permalink to quote #33
  2. The God of Abraham is not only unworthy of the immensity of creation; he is unworthy even of man.[2]

    Permalink to quote #35
  3. Theology is now little more than a branch of human ignorance. Indeed, it is ignorance with wings.[2]

    Permalink to quote #32

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